Zebrafish

The Zebrafish, (Danio rerio), is a tropical freshwater fish. They are native to India and Pakistan and usually inhabit fast-moving water such as rivers and streams.

They are hardy fish and can survive aquarium life. They eat insect larvae, worms and small crustaceans. They prefer water temperatures between 71.6 and 80.6 degreesGlofish: Ideal Temperature

The Zebrafish was first used as a genetic model in the 1980s for a number of reasons; they are easy to breed, they have similar anatomical and genetic traits to humans and in their embryonic stage, their transparent body provides a clear view into its internal make up. These characteristics make them valuable in the study of disease.