Evaluation of surgery procedures for implanting telemetry transmitters into the body cavity of tilapiaOreochromis aureus

Surgery procedures were used to implant telemetry transmitters into the body cavity of adult (574–1 033 g) tilapias Oreochromis aureus in aquaculture tanks (4 m2, 1.5 m3, 26.5 ± 0.5 °C, ≥ 5.0 mg O2 l−1) and their effect on fish survival, growth and behaviour was evaluated. Only one out of 35 implanted fish died. With one exception, all fish consistently retained their transmitter until the end of the study (up to 30 months). Healing was faster when the incision was sutured with polyamide monofilament (5–14 days) than with other suture materials, due to tunnelling with atraumatic needles for catgut or fouling of braided silk. In all 10 fish sacrificed after 30 and 50 days, the transmitter had become encapsulated by connective tissue. No infection or damage to the viscera was observed.