Top 5 Alternatives to EthoVision XT for Multi-Species Tracking (2025 Edition)

Conduct Science | Multi-Species Behavioral Research, Made Simple

One Platform for All Your Animal Models?

Alternatives to EthoVision XT for multi-species tracking, Whether you’re studying zebrafish shoaling, Drosophila activity, rodent social interaction, or even avian flight behavior, your tracking system needs to be just as versatile as your research questions. EthoVision XT, developed by Noldus, has been a go-to solution for behavioral analysis for years—but as experimental complexity increases, researchers need a system that goes further.

Researchers looking for alternatives to EthoVision XT for multi-species tracking need solutions that match the growing complexity of behavioral research. Whether you’re studying zebrafish shoaling… If you need a platform that works across aquatic and terrestrial models—without tagging or cumbersome calibration—read on.

#1. ConductVision Zebrafish (by Conduct Science)

The Most Versatile Multi-Species Tracking Platform

Why it’s #1: ConductVision Zebrafish combines AI-powered, markerless tracking with the flexibility to handle a wide variety of species in one intuitive interface. Developed by Conduct Science, it supports:

• Mice
• Rats
• Zebrafish
• Drosophila
• Birds and small vertebrates

What sets it apart:

• 11 key body points tracked per subject, including nose, limbs, and spine
• Tracks 4+ untagged animals simultaneously in a shared arena
• 30+ frames per second for capturing rapid behavior like flight, darting, and shoaling
• Built-in paradigms for Light/Dark Box, T-maze, Open Field, Social Interaction, and more
• Infrared and visible light compatibility for day/night research
• Seamless batch processing for high-throughput experiments
• No coding required, no manual annotation, no tag stress

Best for: Labs seeking a one-stop solution for aquatic and terrestrial species with no technical burden.

#2. EthoVision XT (by Noldus)

A Familiar Tool That Still Gets the Job Done

Strengths:

• Time-tested platform with strong community support
• Solid integration with many behavioral chambers
• Good for rodent and zebrafish path tracking

Limitations:

• Requires species-specific module setup and camera calibration
• Not built for markerless tracking across multiple untagged animals
• High cost for full feature set
• Limited support for insects and birds without extensive customization

#3. Zebralab (by ViewPoint Behavior Technology)

A Dedicated Aquatic Model Platform

Strengths:

• Specializes in zebrafish larvae, adults, and shoaling behavior
• Offers features like startle reflex and optomotor response tracking
• Real-time stimulus delivery

Limitations:

• Primarily designed for aquatic research only
• Cannot track rodents, flies, or birds
• Requires custom modules for paradigm integration
• Price scales with required add-ons

Best for: Zebrafish-exclusive labs that want real-time response delivery.

#4. DeepLabCut

AI-Powered, Open-Source Pose Estimation

Strengths:

• Highly accurate body-point tracking via deep learning
• Open-source and continuously improving
• Supports many species including rodents, fish, birds, and primates

Limitations:

• Requires manual annotation and significant training time
• Coding experience needed
• Batch processing and GUI not intuitive for new users

Best for: Computational labs or those needing custom behavioral pipelines.

#5. ToxTrac

Free, Lightweight Multi-Animal Tracking

Strengths:

• Free and open-source
• Works well for rodent and fish locomotion
• Multi-animal tracking possible

Limitations:

• Contour-based tracking only—no posture or body point estimation
• No aquatic model specificity or support for airborne species
• Limited post-processing and integration features

Best for: Labs on a budget needing basic locomotion tracking.

Final Thoughts: ConductVision Zebrafish Leads the Pack

When considering the best alternatives to EthoVision XT for multi-species tracking, ConductVision Zebrafish leads the field with its plug-and-play AI-powered capabilities.

ConductVision Zebrafish isn’t just an alternative—it’s a next-generation solution for labs juggling multi-species studies. With plug-and-play simplicity, high-speed tracking, and advanced AI posture detection, it makes multi-animal, multi-model research easier, more accurate, and more scalable than ever.Ready to simplify your workflow and scale your experiments? 👉 Learn more about ConductVision Zebrafish

References

1. Noldus Information Technology. EthoVision XT. https://www.noldus.com/ethovision-xt
2. ViewPoint Behavior Technology. Zebralab. https://www.viewpoint.fr/en/
3. Mathis, A. et al. (2018). DeepLabCut: Markerless pose estimation of user-defined body parts with deep learning. Nature Neuroscience.
4. Rodriguez, A. et al. (2018). ToxTrac: a fast and robust software for tracking organisms. Scientific Reports.