Retention and Physiological Effects of Surgically Implanted Telemetry Transmitters in Blue Catfish

Abstract The study of movement in catfish via telemetry can be problematic because of transmitter expulsion. Information regarding transmitter retention in blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus is limited. We examined transmitter retention and physical condition after implantation in adult blue catfish (≥600 mm) for two surgical implantation methods. Fifteen fish were implanted with Vemco V16 transmitters that were left free floating in the abdominal cavity (traditional method). Another fifteen fish were implanted with capsules constructed to duplicate externally mounted Vemco V16 transmitters. These capsules were implanted in the abdominal cavity and then anchored to the pectoral girdle using sterile pseudo-monofilament suture (modified method). Fish were held in a flow-through circular tank for 244 d following surgery. Sixteen fish expelled their capsules, 10 from the traditional procedure and 6 from the modified procedure. Expulsions were observed between 23 and 243 d post surgery. The condition of fish with...