Primary Assay — Ferret
Open Field / Exploration
Mustela putorius furo
Ferrets are exploratory carnivores with high baseline activity, freezing under stress, and curiosity for novel objects. Open-field metrics index general state and welfare.
Quantitative Output
Measured Parameters
Every parameter is automatically tracked frame-by-frame in the ConductVision pipeline for Mustela putorius furo.
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Distance traveled | m | Locomotion |
| Rearing events | count | Vertical exploration |
| Freezing duration | s | Immobility |
| Object contact time | s | Novel-object exploration |
References
Citations for Open Field / Exploration
- Hartman EE, Brodbelt DC, Church DB. (2002). Behavioural assessment of welfare in laboratory ferrets. Lab Anim, 36(2), 225-235.
Compatible Equipment
Hardware for Ferret Research
Ferret Housing with Enrichment
Long-term welfare-focused housing
Visual Stimulus Arena (Gratings)
Acuity and orientation testing
ECoG / EEG System (Carnivore-Sized)
Cortical recording
Ferret Olfactometer
Odor-guided behavior
Play Arena with Multi-Cam
Social development analysis
Related Assays
Other Ferret Primary Assays
09
Visual Acuity / Orientation Tuning
Mustela putorius furo
Ferrets are a classical model for orientation maps and ocular dominance plasticity. Behavioral acuity and physiological …
09
Social Play
Mustela putorius furo
Juvenile ferrets engage in vigorous play, including chase, wrestle, and "weasel-war-dance" hops. Play bouts and partner …
09
Reaching / Manipulation
Mustela putorius furo
Ferrets perform skilled reaches with the forepaw to manipulate small objects, supporting comparative carnivore motor res…
Run Open Field / Exploration on ConductVision
Our team will configure the protocol, camera rig, and analysis pipeline for your ferret facility.
