Danionella translucida, a tankful of new opportunities

Danionella translucida (DT) are cyprinid fish with the smallest known vertebrate brain, a small transparent body, and a partially open cranium. They are also very closely related to the more popular genetic model zebrafish. This makes the adaptability of established genetic tools for transgenesis and mutagenesis easier. These features, along with a diverse behavioral repertoire, make them an interesting model organism in neuroscience to investigate complex behaviors. In addition to neuroscience, they can also be a valuable model organism in developmental and evolutionary biology, and for modeling adult-onset diseases. Here, we describe the biology and ecology of this fish with an emphasis on the research questions that are made more accessible with this new fish model. We also report the husbandry and breeding practices used in our laboratory, which can make it easier for other laboratories to house this fish species.