Repeated measures of shoaling tendency in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and other small teleost fishes

This protocol details a method for constructing and using both a holding tank and a test tank to assess the shoaling tendency of zebrafish and other teleosts. The test tank consists of a central compartment with two side compartments, one of which contains a shoal of stimulus fish. The focal fish is released and the amount of time spent associating with the stimulus shoal is recorded over a 10-min period. A holding tank enables individual fish to be accurately retested with a minimum of stress. Testing takes around 15 min per fish.