Swimming performance and behavior of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and white perch (Morone americana): effects of attaching telemetry transmitters

Abstract

We conducted experiments to determine effects of external, surgical, and stomach tag attachments on the swimming performance and behavior of Rainbow Trout (a representative long duration swimming species) and White Perch (a representative short duration swimming species). Only one rainbow trout changed dominance rank after dummy tag attachment. Subordinate trout had significantly lower weights than subdominant and dominant fish, but there were no significant differences in swimming exhaustion times. Externally tagged trout had significantly lower exhaustion times than other tagged trout and controls. White Perch did not establish dominance hierarchies, and there were no significant differences in exhaustion times among tagged White Perch and controls. Externally and surgically tagged White Perch contracted serious fungal infections during a 45-d survival study; however, few diseases and no survival problems were noted among tagged and untagged Rainbow Trout up to 21 d. Considering all factors, it appears that stomach tagging is the best method of transmitter attachment, except when regurgitation or stomach atrophy are likely to be encountered.