Enables potassium ion binding activity; tubulin deacetylase activity; and zinc ion binding activity. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including hemopoiesis; protein deacetylation; and swimming behavior. Predicted to be part of histone deacetylase complex. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in chondrodysplasia with platyspondyly, distinctive brachydactyly, hydrocephaly, and microphthalmia. Orthologous to human HDAC6 (histone deacetylase 6).