Novel object test - ToxTrac setup suggestions?

Milena Zduniak — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:01:51 -0000

I plan to analyze my novelty test videos in ToxTrac.

My idea is to compare time spent in the center after the novel object is inserted to the arena in relation to the time in the center while the object is absent (during previous oft).
Second idea is to create a zone where the object is and count how many times animal enters the zone or has contact with it (touches it?).

What do you think of that approach? Or are there other standardized ways to analyze this test in ToxTrac? I will be grateful for advice and references if someone already did analyze it using ToxTrac.

Thanks

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Milena Zduniak — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:39:09 -0000

Thanks a lot of advice, the instruction video is also very helpful!

Best,

Milena

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Magnus Andersson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:26:06 -0000

Check my arena definition. Yours is not filled.

But always align the camera with the experimental arena so it is easier to define it in ToxTrac! It will be easier to calibrate the image if you do that also.

//Magnus

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Magnus Andersson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:22:15 -0000

Hi Milena,

I cut out a 4 min sequence from your 2.8 GB video using VirtualDub2 and made a background subtraction image from that video before the rat was added. I loaded the cut video into ToxTrac and added the image as background subtraction under Advanced Settings. I set the size range from Min 400 to Max 5000 pixels and used the Filtered Detection.

See the attached results.

Regards,
Magnus

Issue with reading calibration image

Magnus Andersson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:35:56 -0000

Hi Elenor,

Did you get it to work?

Regards,
Magnus

Zone type missing

Magnus Andersson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:35:13 -0000

Hi Vi,

Did you get it to work?

Regards,
Magnus

Unable to detect subject

Magnus Andersson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:34:20 -0000

Hi Johanna,

Please check this video an see if this can help you optimize the tracking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhuwGuUlAuE

Regards,
Magnus

Query Regarding Fish Detection Issue in ToxTrac

Magnus Andersson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:33:28 -0000

Hi Shri,

We have just posted a new instruction video that you can take a look at to optimize your tracking.

It show step-by-step how to: cut your video sequence, make a good background image from the video, set Advanced Detection settings in ToxTrac to have good tracking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhuwGuUlAuE

Regards,
Magnus

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Magnus Andersson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:31:22 -0000

Hi Milena,

Here is a new instruction video that you can take a look at to optimize your tracking. Please try it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhuwGuUlAuE

Also, there are several things you can improve when you perform your experiements.
• The camera is aligned so that the arena is centered and the walls are parallel to the sensor.
• You have a lot of distortion on the edges, make sure to correct for them if you can.

Regards,
Magnus

Query Regarding Fish Detection Issue in ToxTrac

Brenda Maria Alho — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:27:34 -0000

Hi, you can check the link to a previous discussion where I described the configuration I used to analyze juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). The detection worked well, with the fish visible in more than 98% of the entire video.

https://sourceforge.net/p/toxtrac/discussion/general/thread/4e082a2ea9/?limit=25#49a7

What Advanced Detection settings are you currently using?

Also, could you share a bit more about your setup?

What is the size of the fish you are analyzing?

Are you tracking individual fish or groups?

What is the background color of the tank?

These factors can strongly influence detection performance.

Recent posts to Discussion

Novel object test - ToxTrac setup suggestions?

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Issue with reading calibration image

Zone type missing

Unable to detect subject

Query Regarding Fish Detection Issue in ToxTrac

Tilted arena and subject visibility

Query Regarding Fish Detection Issue in ToxTrac