Our Thoughts
You’re thinking about starting research using a zebrafish rearing system in the future.
But the budget for buying one…
And building one yourself seems hard. What if it leaks?
When it comes to acquiring a small-fish rearing system, there are really only two options: (1) build it yourself, or (2) buy a manufactured unit.
The budget gap between these two options is simply too large. “Alright, let’s start!” is easier said than done.
To help close that gap, we’d like to suggest a third option: renting a small-fish rearing system.
We’d love for this to be used by anyone just starting out in research, moving over from another department, or wanting to try research on small fish species — anyone who shares that hope.
We can’t do the research, publish the papers, give lectures, or train researchers ourselves — but we can rent out small-fish rearing systems with confidence.
So that research results can reach society even a little sooner, we aim to be a bridge.
What Is a Small-Fish Rearing System?
A small-fish rearing system is equipment that allows individual housing of small fish species such as medaka or zebrafish for research and experiments. It goes by many names, including:
- Small-Fish Group Tank System (LABREED)
- Small-Fish Rearing System / Rearing Unit
- Zebrafish Rearing System / Rearing Unit
- Medaka Rearing System / Rearing Unit
- Xenopus Rearing System / Rearing Unit
- Aquatic Organism Rearing System / Rearing Unit
Why Rental Makes Sense
Manufactured small-fish rearing systems are expensive, built on years of accumulated experience and technology, and are not something you can simply purchase on a whim. In practice, most researchers who own one have done so only after years of research results and a substantial budget.
Isn’t there a way to use this equipment more easily, even on a small budget? Our answer is rental — a way to keep the initial investment low.
In an era where the time from research results to publication and patent filing keeps shrinking, funding for both basic and applied research is never guaranteed to continue, and researchers need to be able to change direction at any time. That is exactly why we believe rental — a way to get started reliably on a small budget — is needed. It also works as risk management: if after three years you haven’t gotten results, move to another department, or go abroad to study, you can simply return the unit.
Steps to Get Started
- 1
No budget yet, but you have passion, curiosity, and a bit of hands-on skill → Take action first — build your own rearing tank
- 2
Want to start on a small budget → Rent a small-fish rearing system (One-Coin Tank)
- 3
You have a large budget and big ambitions → Our recommendation (LABREED)
Who This Is For
- Haven’t settled on a research topic yet (small fish are easy to raise, easy to observe, and develop quickly — worth considering as a subject)
- Want a fast, low-cost start while waiting to be awarded a research grant
- Need a bridge until a new purchase arrives, or want to move on from a leaking self-built tank
- Want to run research individually, on your own
- Only need the equipment for a fixed, short-term period
- Want to use it as teaching material to train the next generation of researchers
Supporting those working to bring research results to society, sooner. kogatagyorui.com