Zantiks AD


The Zantiks AD unit is recommended when bench space is a concern. For example, when running a large number of systems at once is necessary. Its smaller size in comparison to the Zantiks LT allows for many multiples of the systems to fit in a more compact space. 

The Zantiks AD is ideal for measuring the behaviour of small fish and rodents and other similarly sized animals.

17 Zantiks Adbig
18 units in operation in the Brennan lab, Queen Mary University London
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Benefits


All Zantiks systems are built along the same principles, enabling high throughput and easy-to-run experiments. The benefits of choosing Zantiks are that each unit:

  • An isolated and stable testing environment
  • Networked and controlled via the web browser
  • Live video view and real-time video recording
  • Includes software, uses the Zanscript language for experiment specification
  • Real-time results processing and output in .csv format
  • Integrated camera, computer, experimental chamber and built-in stimuli
  • Takes up little bench space
  • Requires only 12V power and a network connection
Ad Z2 S 65Percent
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Target studies


The Zantiks AD unit is suitable for but not exclusive to:

Please contact us if you have any specific behavioural studies in mind.

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Zantiks AD kit


Overall unit size (external, approx. mm): 220 width, 300 length, 500 height

Tank / cage size (internal, mm): 140 width, 200 length, 150 height

Technical specification

Integrated unit AD for rodents AD for fish
Computer
Camera
Overhead lights
Screen (for visual stimuli)
Sound card (for audio/sound stimuli)
Motor (operation of peristaltic pump or solid food delivery)
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Built-in stimuli


  • Overhead illumination – colour, brightness and duration can be specified with ms accuracy
    • Can be used for ambient lighting, circadian rhythm entrainment and light flashes
  • Solid and liquid delivery – both solid and liquid food reward, as well as chemical liquid stimuli can be supplied
  • Visual stimuli – supplied on a screen from underneath the tank. These can be specified with sizes, shapes, colours, locations and bitmaps
    • As they are displayed via a screen, response times and update times can be controlled up to the 60Hz refresh rate of the display
  • Audio stimuli - allows playback of *.wav files through a range of speaker options.
    • Suitable for startles, predator cues, vocal calls of conspecifics, etc.
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Included equipment for fish


  • One tank with mesh lid approx. 150mm H; 200mm D; 140mm W and with clear bottom and opaque white sides
  • Two stainless steel shocking plates with cable and testing LED strip -For use as a mild shocking stimulus in aquatic environments
    • Controllable voltage and duration
  • Brass feeder mechanism for solid food delivery - attaches to the motor
  • Peristaltic pump unit for liquid delivery - attaches to the motor
    • We recommend you use the following tubing with it: 2mm internal diameter, 4mm external diameter silicone tubing
  • External light with an extra connector

  • Tank inserts to create multiple different arenas:
    • Arena lengthwise dividing inserts x 3
    • Arena widthwise dividing inserts x 3
      • Arena dividers can be used to create up to four separate testing compartments for tracking four fish in one unit
    • Light/Dark inserts x 1
    • Open base lengthwise inserts x 2
    • Open base lengthwise inserts x 2
    • 5-aperture insert x 1
      • Creates five distant entry points at the opposite end of the tank from food delivery. The five apertures act in a similar fashion to the five nose poke holes in rodent tasks

Please contact us for additional inserts and tanks or if you would like bespoke inserts for your experiment.

Tank And Food Hopper 5 Choice Inserts
AD tank which fits the adjacent food hopper and 5-choice inserts
Ad Tanks
AD tanks
Ad Tank 3 Width Inserts
AD tank set up with 4 width chambers
Ad Tank W Shocking Plates And Insets
AD tank set up with shocking plates and 4 length inserts
Novel Tank Inserts For Ad Unit
Inserts for the AD unit for novel tank diving with fish (from left to right): stand, tank, funnel, foam door
Light Dark Box Insert In Ad Unit
Inserts that create a dark box within the AD tank, a gap at the bottom of the tank allows fish to swim between light and dark zones
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Included equipment for mice


  • One cage with lid - approx. 150mm H; 200mm D; 140mm W and with clear bottom and opaque white sides
  • Pellet feeder mechanism for solid food delivery - attaches to the motor
  • Peristaltic pump unit for liquid delivery - attaches to the motor
    • We recommend you use the following tubing with it: 2mm internal diameter, 4mm external diameter silicone tubing
  • External light with an extra connector
  • Cage inserts to create multiple different arenas:
    • 5-aperture insert x 1
    • Two-choice insert x 1

Please contact us for additional inserts and tanks or if you would like bespoke inserts for your experiment.

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Add-on equipment


Please see the Optional add-ons page for additional equipment offered.

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How to Operate


Fully networked, Zantiks units are supplied with a router and controlled via a web browser, allowing users to operate them from their own phone, tablet, laptop, PC, Mac or Chromebook.

From the web browser on your device you can access the Zantiks Control Console to write & edit scripts, start & stop chosen services (i.e. experiments), view the live video feed, and download results and media files

For details on how to use the Zantiks Control Console, see the Zantiks Control Console manual.

High-throughput studies are easy to conduct with multiple units. All units are operated via the same web browser and can run identical experiments consecutively.

Slide 1
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Tracking and video recording


Tracking of up to 4 singly housed individuals of appropriate model organisms can be carried out in the AD using the tank inserts. Live tracking up to 30fps. Video recordings can be made simultaneously.

Pavlovian aversion learning with a grey vs check background for adult zebrafish

A mouse explores the AD unit, the cage has a food hopper and a 5 aperture inserts

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Software features


All Zantiks data output is exported live and in realtime as a *.csv file. The system can export up to four separate data files and four separate video files simultaneously. Software features and output options include:

  • Distance travelled (mm)
  • Mean pixel change
  • Zone use
    • Time spent in zone (sec)
    • Distance travelled in zone (mm)
    • Number of entries into zone
  • XY coordinate data
  • XYZ coordinate data
  • Heatmaps
  • Track trace drawing
  • Realtime & timelapse video
  • Image capture
  • Video labelling

All Zantiks systems are operated via Zanscript proprietary scripting language which allows for:

  • Open loop scripting
  • Closed loop scripting
  • Operant training/learning
  • Control of all stimuli with millisecond accuracy