Effects of intracoelomic tagging procedure on white seabream (Diplodus sargus) behavior and survival

The effects of intracoelomic tagging procedure (i.e. implantation by surgical incision into the abdominal cavity or laparotomy) on wild white seabream (Diplodus sargus) were evaluated by the comparison of the behavior of tagged and untagged control fish. Activity budgets were made to examine their behaviors, using an instantaneous scan sampling method. This method consists in recording the occurrence of specific behaviors at a regular time interval. An ethogram was previously established, summarizing the different possible behaviors for white seabream in captivity conditions. The occurrence of the isolated behaviors from the ethogram between tagged and untagged groups and the temporal evolution of these behaviors were tested.The activity budgets of individual fish showed no significant differences, but high variability in behavioral patterns. No differences were detected for the occurrence of the different behaviors between the tagged and control groups, except for socializing behavior. Tagged fish were more often grouped than control fish. One fish lost its tag after 17 days, due to suture shedding (i.e. the loss of surgical monofilament used to close a wound by joining the edges). After 18 days, suture inspection showed that the incision regions had not healed, but no other fish had lost sutures. No mortality was recorded during the experiment, regardless of fish group. After 48 days, the tagged fish presented neither visceral damage nor inflammation. Incision regions presented no inflammation and had totally healed with only one out of the two or three suture points we made persisting for each tagged fish.In conclusion, neither tag presence in the body cavity nor the tagging procedure cause any adverse effects on the behavior and survival of wild seabream in captivity conditions. Therefore, we consider that the monitoring of tagged white seabreams is representative of untagged fish and reflect their natural behavior. Additionally, as white seabream recover quickly after surgery and present no adverse behavioral effects due to intracoelomic tag implantation, we recommend maintaining fish for as short a time as possible in captivity conditions to avoid extra stress, and to release them as soon as they recover from the tagging procedure.

► Behavioral comparison of tagged and control fish using instantaneous scan sampling
► No significant differences in activity budgets of tagged and untagged control fish
► No fish mortality, regardless of fish group
► After 48 days, total wound healing and no visceral damages due to tag presence