Binaural beat stimulation - a non-invasive method for inducing zebrafish growth

An initial experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of binaural beats on fish growth performance. A 90-day trial with four triplicate groups was conducted with 240 zebrafish, Danio rerio, under aquarium conditions. Binaural beat file complexes were played for each aquarium using computer controlled directional speakers for 0 min d-1(Control), 90 min d-1(Group 1), 180 min d-1 (Group 2), and 270 min d-1 (Group 3). Fish with an average initial weight of 0.26±0.001g were fed twice a day on standard commercial feeds meant for ornamental fish. Body weight gain improved significantly and the highest final body weight was observed in Group I, followed by the other two treatment groups, and finally the Control. Specific growth rate data similarly resulted in significant differences (p<0.05). The highest Average Daily Growth (ADG: 0.26±0.038) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR: 0.31±0.034) values were found for Group I, while other treatments were found statistically equal and all represented significantly higher values than the Control. Improved Feed Efficiency (FE) was also observed in Group I. These results support the enhancing effects of binaural beats on growth performance and feed utilization in D. rerio. The system and the procedure followed in this study hold the promise of being regarded as eco-friendly and non-invasive growth promoters for fish.