Feeding behavior of black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus (Pisces: Cyprinidae) on fry of other fish species and trematode transmitting snail species

Fish raised in aquaculture ponds may get infected with fishborne zoonotic trematodes (FZT) during the nursing stage. Freshwater snails serve as intermediate hosts for FZT and we wanted to explore the possibility of controlling snails by stocking nursery ponds with a few juvenile specimens of the mollusc-eating fish, black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus). Obviously, the risk that black carp might also prey on the juvenile fishes in nursery ponds should first be assessed. Laboratory trials showed that all size classes of juvenile black carp consumed fry of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) even when offered snails as food; the odds of survival of fry from tanks with medium sized and large black carp was 5.6% and 39.9%, respectively of that of fry in tanks with small sized black carp. Since the large black carp also consumed fewer snails than medium sized fish, we believe that large specimens were stressed in the experimental aquaria. Under semi-field conditions, presence of the black carp had no effect on survival of fry of Oreochromis niloticus and C. carpio both in the absence and presence of snails as alternative food. The black carp consumed most snails offered with the exception of some of the large snails. We conclude that under field conditions, predation by black carp on fish fry is minimal and field trials in nursery ponds are warranted. Due to the risks that black carp pose to native imperiled snails and other molluscs, trials should be restricted to ponds within the fish’s native or existing range.     

Effect of total dissolved gas supersaturation on the survival of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

Flood discharge results in total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation downstream of a dam during the flood period. Fish suffer death from gas bubble disease (GBD) caused by TDG supersaturation. Nonetheless, current studies mainly attach importance to the survival of benthic fish affected by TDG supersaturation in the Yangtze River in China. Few studies have attempted to investigate the survival of pelagic fish influenced by TDG supersaturated water and compare the tolerance characteristics to TDG supersaturation between benthic and pelagic fish. To identify the survival of fish species that inhabit the various water layers affected by TDG supersaturation, silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) (pelagic fish) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (benthic fish) were chosen to conduct an acute exposure experiment of four different TDG supersaturation levels (125%, 130%, 135% and 140%). The findings illustrated that the two fish species both exhibited evident aberrant behaviours of maladjustment in TDG supersaturated water. Obvious GBD symptoms were also found in the test fish. The survival probability of silver carp and common carp decreased with increasing levels of TDG supersaturation. The median survival time (ST₅₀) values of the silver carp exposed to four levels of TDG supersaturated water (125%, 130%, 135% and 140%) were 26.84, 7.96, 5.56 and 3.62 h, respectively, whereas the ST₅₀ values of common carp were 53.50, 26.00, 16.50 and 11.70 h, respectively. When compared with common carp, silver carp had a weaker tolerance to TDG-supersaturated water and were vulnerable to GBD. It shows that levels above 125% are not safe for common carp survival. In terms of the tolerance threshold value, silver carp merits further investigation because it showed lower tolerance to TDG than did common carp.     

Consequences of the size structure of fish populations for their effects on a generalist avian predator

Size-structured interspecific interactions can shift between predation and competition, depending on ontogenetic changes in size relationships. I examined the effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), an omnivorous fish, on the reproductive success of the red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena), an avian gape-limited predator, along a fish size gradient created by stocking distinct age-cohorts in seminatural ponds. Young-of-the-year (0+) carp were an essential food source for young grebes. Only adult birds were able to consume 1-year-old (1+) fish, while 2-year-old (2+) fish attained a size refuge from grebes. Amphibian larvae were the principal alternative prey to fish, followed by macroinvertebrates, but the abundance of both dramatically decreased along the carp size gradient. Fledging success was 2.8 times greater in ponds with 0+ versus 1+ carp; in ponds with 1+ carp, chicks received on average 2.6–3 times less prey biomass from their parents, and over 1/3 of broods suffered total failure. Breeding birds avoided settling on 2+ ponds. These results show that changes in prey fish size structure can account for shifts from positive trophic effects on the avian predator to a negative impact on the predator’s alternative resources. However, competition did not fully explain the decrease in grebe food resources in the presence of large fish, as carp and grebes overlapped little in diet. In experimental cages, 1+ carp totally eliminated young larvae of amphibians palatable to fish. In field conditions, breeding adults of palatable taxa avoided ponds with 1+ and older carp. Non-trophic interactions such as habitat selection by amphibians or macroinvertebrates to avoid large fish may provide an indirect mechanism strengthening the adverse bottom-up effects of fish on birds.     

Effects of temperature and stocking density on food consumption and growth of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, Val.

Grass carp were raised in 227 1 indoor tanks at 12.8, 18.3, 23.9 and 29.4° C temperatures, each experimental condition received five fish. Five grass carp were also raised in a 1135 1 tank maintained at 29.4° C representing low stocking density (29.4° C-L). Food consumption, food conversion, and growth of carp were not different among the 18.3, 23.9, and 29.4° C experimental conditions with identical stocking density. The least growth and food consumption were noted for the fish at the 12.8° C temperature. The fish at the low stocking density had the best growth and maximum food consumption.     

从ATPase8-6基因研究杂交多倍体鱼线粒体母性遗传

异源四倍体鲫鲤是世界上首例人工培育的两性可育并形成群体的且能自然繁殖的四倍体鱼。本文采用质粒克隆测序法测定了红鲫、异源四倍体鲫鲤、三倍体湘云鲫和三倍体湘云鲤的ATPase8和ATPase6基因全序列 ,结合鲤鱼、日本白鲫和斑马鱼的同源序列 ,对不同倍性水平鲤科鱼类的ATPase8和ATPase6基因进行了比较 ,分析了碱基组成、变异情况以及核苷酸和氨基酸序列差异。红鲫、鲤鱼、异源四倍体鲫鲤、日本白鲫、三倍体湘云鲫和三倍体湘云鲤之间的序列差异为 0 0 % - 1 3 4 % ,它们与外群斑马鱼之间的序列差异为 2 7 9% -31 0 %。用MEGA软件中的MP法、ME法、NJ法和UPGMA法构建分子系统树 ,得到了相似的拓扑结构。结果分析表明 ,人工杂交多倍体异源四倍体鲫鲤、三倍体湘云鲫和三倍体湘云鲤在线粒体ATPase8和ATPase6基因上具有严格的母性遗传特征。值得注意的是 ,异源四倍体鲫鲤经过 1 1代的繁育后 ,与其原始母本红鲫仍然保持了非常高的同源性 ,说明了新的异源四倍体基因库在线粒体ATPase8和ATPase6基因上拥有稳定的遗传特性。对不同倍性鲤科鱼类线粒体ATPase8和ATPase6基因的研究表明 ,ATPase8和ATPase6基因是杂交鱼后代遗传变异研究的一个很好的分子标记     

一种新型草鱼呼肠孤病毒人工感染方法

研究从患病草鱼中新分离到一株草鱼呼肠孤病毒（Grass carp reovirus,GCRV）,对其进行了病毒纯化与电镜观察、基因组RT-PCR分型以及病毒量定量分析等,并在此基础上探索了一种新的病毒人工感染方法。取病鱼肌肉组织进行病毒纯化与电镜观察,观察到大量病毒粒子,直径在70-80 nm。病毒基因组RT-PCR扩增结果表明,该草鱼呼肠孤病毒新分离株属基因型Ⅱ型GCRV;通过绝对定量的方法,对病毒悬液的浓度进行了测定,为2.97×103 copy/μL。通过灌胃法,对3个组别的实验鱼分别感染不同浓度的病毒液,同时设置灌胃PBS的组别作为对照组。结果显示,3个实验组死亡率均在80%左右,而对照组仅出现一例死亡个体。实验组死亡个体体表发黑,腹部、鳍条基部以及鳃盖处均有明显的出血症状,为草鱼出血病的典型症状。随机选取死亡的个体进行RT-PCR检测,均能检测出Ⅱ型GCRV的条带。以上结果说明,灌胃法可以作为一种新的方法,用于草鱼的GCRV人工感染实验。     

Susceptibility of Prussian carp infected by metacercariae of Posthodiplostomum cuticola (v. Nordmann, 1832) to fish predation

The susceptibility of prey fish infected by metacercariae of Posthodiplostomum cuticola (Digenea: Diplostomatidae) to the predation of non-host predators under experimental conditions was investigated. Parasitized young-of-the-year Prussian carp Carassius auratus were consumed significantly more often by perch Perca fluviatilis compared to non-parasitized individuals, independent of Prussian carp density. The proportion of parasitized and non-parasitized fish consumed by the predator remained stable at four different prey densities. The probability of predation did not increase with the intensity of parasite infection. The effect of P. cuticola on the host seems to result mostly from pathological changes (poor condition, black spots). However, our results provide evidence of higher probability of parasitized Prussian carp being consumed by fish predators under experimental conditions.     

Genetic Evidence for Gonochoristic Reproduction in Gynogenetic Silver Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch) as Revealed by RAPD Assays

Sex evolution has been a debating focus in evolutionary genetics. In lower vertebrates of reptiles, amphibians, and fish, a species or a bioform reproduces either sexually or asexually but never both. A few species were found to consist of all females in fish. These all-female species can propagate by asexual reproduction modes, such as gynogenesis and hybridogenesis. However, the coexistence of sexuality and asexuality in a single species was recently noted only in a cyprinid fish silver crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio. This fish had been demonstrated to be capable of gynogenesis stimulated by sperm from other related species. Surprisingly, natural populations of this fish consist of a minor but significant portion (approx. 20%) of males. As different clones with specific phenotypic and genetic characteristics have been found, and RAPD markers specific to each clone have recently been identified, this fish offers many advantages for analyzing whether or not genetic recombination occurs between different clones. In this study, artificial propagation was performed in clone F and clone D. Ovulated eggs from clone F were divided into two parts and respectively inseminated with sperm from a clone D male and from a red common carp (Cyprinus carpio) male. The control clone D individuals were selected from gynogenetic offspring of clone D activated by sperm of red common carp. The phenotype and sex ratio in the experimental groups were also observed. Using RAPD molecular markers, which allow for reliable discrimination and genetic analysis of different clones, we have revealed direct molecular evidence for gonochoristic reproduction in the gynogenetic silver crucian carp and confirmed a previous hypothesis that the silver crucian carp might reproduce both gynogenetically and gonochoristically. Therefore, we conclude that the silver crucian carp possesses two reproductive modes, i.e., gynogenetic and gonochoristic reproduction. The response mechanism of two reproductive development modes may be the first discovery in vertebrates. Additionally, we discuss the evolutionary implication between gynogenetic and gonochoristic reproduction modes and the contribution of the minor proportion of males to genetic flexibility in the gynogenetic silver crucian carp. Received: 5 January 2000 / Accepted: 3 August 2000     

Anaerobic wintering of crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.)--II. Metabolic products

In long-term experimental anoxia (up to 140 days) crucian carp excreted ethanol and acetic acid. The maximum concentration of ethanol found in fish blood was ca 0.1%. The excretion rate of ethanol at temperatures from -0.5 to +5 degrees C was ca 25 micrograms/g fish wet wt/hr, but increased rapidly with increasing temperature. At 2 and 5 degrees C the ethanol excretion rate was independent of fish size, but at 12 and 18 degrees C a higher rate was observed in smaller fish. The decrease of water pH below 5 in the experimental vial during long anoxia was assumed to be due to excretion of acid compounds by the fish.     

Prevalence of zoonotic trematodes in fish from a Vietnamese fish-farming community

The prevalence of fish-borne zoonotic trematode (FZT) metacercariae was investigated in fish farmed by rural households in Nghe An Province, located in northern Vietnam. In total, 716 fish, including tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and 6 carp species, i.e., grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), silver carp (Hypophthalmychthys molitrix), and roha (Labeo rohita), collected from 53 fish farms were examined. The overall prevalence of FZT metacercariae was 44.6%, ranging from 12.5% to 61.0% in fish species collected from grow-out ponds, which are the production system for growing fish from fingerling size to market size. The overall prevalence was 43.6% in fingerlings cultured in nurseries, ranging from 7.4% to 62.8% for different fish species. The FZT species recovered were heterophyids and echinostomatids and included Haplorchis pumilio, H. taichui, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus formosanus, Stellantchas musfalcatus, and Echinochasmus japonicus, all of which are intestinal flukes in humans, other mammals, and birds. This is the first report of H. yokogawai and E. japonicus in fish in Vietnam, and the first record for S. falcatus in northern Vietnam. Although a previous cross-sectional survey of the people living in these fish farm households revealed a very low prevalence of FZTs (< 1%), our results demonstrate that intestinal flukes are common in farmed fish in this area, suggesting that reservoir hosts such as dogs, cats, and pigs are more important in sustaining the life cycles of these flukes in fish farms than human hosts. This has implications for the effectiveness of control programs focused mainly on treatment of humans.     

综合养鱼高产池塘的溶氧变化周期

根据1979—1984年对主养鲢、鳙、非鲫,主养青、草鱼,主养青鱼3种养殖结构类型高产鱼池溶氧变化周期的系统研究,揭示了高产养鱼池塘溶氧的昼夜、垂直、水平变化及季节变化周期,分析了光合作用、呼吸作用、扩散作用在高产养鱼池塘溶氧动力学上的地位和作用。对高产养鱼池塘的溶氧收入、支出及平衡情况进行了定量研究,在主要饲养季节,测得晴到多云天、晴天的溶氧来源分别为:浮游植物光合产氧占86.0和95.3%,大气扩散溶入占14.0和4.7%;氧的消耗分别为:“水呼吸”消耗氧占72.0和72.0%,鱼类呼吸消耗氧占22.0和13.1%,淤泥中生物呼吸消耗氧占2.9、5.5%,扩散逸出占3.1、8.8%。文中还对溶氧变化周期与养鱼池塘管理的环境控制、结构控制之间的关系进行了分析。       

Diet spectrum of great cormorants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis</Emphasis> L.) at the Donji Miholjac carp fishponds in eastern Croatia

This paper reports the results of a diet analysis from the digestive tracts of 203 great cormorants shot at the Donji Miholjac fishponds in eastern Croatia, in the period 2000–2002. Eight fish species were determined. The dominant species was common carp (Cyprinus carpio) with a relative frequency of 73.4%, followed by grass carp (Ctenopharingodon idella) (11.6%), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) (7.2%), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) (2.0%), wels catfish (Silurus glanis) (1.7%), pike (Esox lucius) (1.5%), topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva) (1.5%) and Prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) (1.1%). The diet spectrum of the great cormorants from the Donji Miholjac fishponds was in accordance with the structure of the fish population in the fishponds. The average stomach weight per bird was 244 g. When birds shot with an empty stomach were excluded, the average stomach weight increased to 286 g. The length of consumed fish ranged from 40–335 mm, with 47% of the fish belonging to the length category 100–149 mm. The study revealed no significant relationship between the weight of the consumed fish and the body weight of male and female cormorants.     

Mark retention and fish survival associated with a low-cost marking technique for common carp Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio, [Linnaeus, 1758]) have long been established in the United States and in some cases their populations can be very dense, leading biologists to expend significant effort towards reducing numbers of common carp in some populations. Estimating abundance of common carp prior to removal efforts would be useful in evaluating success of these removal efforts, but marking large numbers of fish can be expensive. Therefore, a low-cost tagging option is needed. In this study, we used tank and field experiments to determine the retention and longevity of hole-punch marks in the opercula of common carp. For the tank experiment, fish were double marked with a size-3 self-piercing tag and an operculum hole-punch mark (using a paper hole-punch tool with a hole diameter of 6.4 mm) on opposite sides of the fish. Over the entirety of the 180–day tank experiment, retention of the self-piercing tags and hole-punch marks was 100% and no marking mortality was observed. For the field experiment, 883 common carp were tagged at random in two groups, a double-marked group (n = 416, both self-piercing tags and hole-punch) and a single-mark group (n = 467, self-piercing tag). Fish were sampled monthly for 398 days. Because the length distribution sampled was bimodal, we evaluated tag retention of fish <330 mm TL (small fish, n = 273) and > 331 mm TL (large fish, n = 143), separately. Hole-punch mark retention was high for both size classes throughout most of the field experiment. For large fish, retention of hole-punch marks was 100% for the entire 398-day experiment. For small fish, retention of hole-punch marks was 100% through 184-day and remained above 93% through 328-days, but declined to 0% by day 398. Our results suggest that the operculum hole-punch mark is a valuable low-cost, long-term technique for tagging common carp.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> in feed probiotic on the digestion of fish cultured in cages

We studied the activity of the digestive enzymes, qualitative composition, and bacteria genera ratio in the intestinal chyme of carp Cyprinus carpio and sterlet Acipenser ruthenus grown on an artificial diet in cage culture. It was shown that the inclusion of live bacteria Bacillus subtilis in the probiotic ProStor had a positive impact on the size and the structure of the microbial community in intestinal chyme, on the activity of some digestive enzymes, and on the digestibility and the weight gain of carp and sterlet. The total amount of micro-organisms in the carp chyme was by 13% higher and in sterlet it was 3.5 times higher in the experimental groups compared to the control. In the studied species of fish, the increase in the activity of digestive enzymes was accompanied by the decrease in nitrogen, ammonia, and urea. Presumably, it happened because of better absorption of protein and more intensive use of nitrogen metabolites by intestinal microflora for the synthesis of their own biomass. The average daily weight gain of carp and sterlet was 25 and 35% higher, respectively, in the experimental groups than in the control.     

Growth and production of O+ bream (Abramis brama), O+ roach (Rutilus rutilus) and O+ carp (Cyprinus carpio) in 10 drainable 0.1 Ha ponds

In ten 0.1 ha drainable ponds O⁺ cyprinids were stocked to assess their impact on the aquatic community. Bream and roach were stocked in early June, 1986, and carp in early July, 1986. The ponds were drained mid November, 1986. The relationship between the fish community and its food resource was estimated in terms of production and consumption with use of the data on growth and mortality of the fish. The average gross production of the fish species in the ten ponds (48.4 kg during the experiment) was dominated by the carp (58.5%). A minimum estimate of the food consumption of the O⁺ cyprinids is 760 kJ.m^–2. The average production of bream and roach was much lower than that of carp due to a higher mortality and a more specialized feeding pattern. The gross productions of carp, bream and roach in the ten ponds were not significantly related, although stomach analysis showed diet overlap between the carp and the bream.     

鲢幼鱼通过水流速度障碍的模拟

鱼类能否通过水流速度障碍直接影响过鱼设施的过鱼效果。利用计算机技术,综合水力因素、鱼类行为、地理特征及环境因子,展开鱼类通过水流速度障碍的模拟,有助于过鱼设施的优化设计。以国外涵洞式鱼道模拟软件Fish Xing为切入点,结合主要模块和关键因子,对我国特有鱼类鲢幼鱼进行模拟,得到鲢通过不同水流速度障碍的成功率;对比鲢在物理模型中的游泳表现,从模型主要模块和影响鱼类游泳表现的关键因子角度,分析影响鱼类通过水流速度障碍模拟的因素。结果表明,Fish Xing软件不能精确模拟鲢通过水流速度障碍的表现。分析表明,该软件在地理要素、管道特征和水力信息等参数方面具备独特的优势,但对我国鱼类有一定局限性,主要体现在鱼类的生物学信息如鱼类游泳特征等方面存在不足;进行鱼过障碍的模拟需要深入研究目标鱼类的生理特征、游泳能力及其与水力环境因子的响应关系。     

Effects of thermal acclimation on the relaxation system of crucian carp white myotomal muscle.

Many cyprinid fish are able to compensate for a decrease in ambient temperature by process of physiological adaptation in the function of muscles. In the winter habitat of crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.), low temperature is associated with simultaneous oxygen shortage. Because of the oxygen deprivation, there is probably little space for compensatory adaptation because positive thermal compensation would increase energy demand and accelerate depletion of glycogen reserves. Thus, we assumed that the crucian carp, unlike many other cyprinid fish, would not show positive thermal compensation but either no compensation or inverse compensation in muscle function. To test this hypothesis in the relaxation system of skeletal muscles, we determined the parvalbumin content and the activity of sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) Ca-ATPase in white myotomal muscle of winter- and summer-acclimated crucian carp. In the laboratory, the winter fish were kept at 2 degrees C and the summer fish at 22 degrees C for a minimum of 3 weeks before the experiments. The specific activity of SR Ca-ATPase at low experimental temperature (2 degrees C) was similar in summer- and winter-acclimated fish (0.26 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.04 mM/mg/min; P > 0.05). Because of the bigger Q(10) of cold-acclimated carp, the enzyme activity at 30 degrees C was higher in cold-acclimated winter fish than in warm-acclimated summer fish (7.42 +/- 0.90 vs. 5.18 +/- 0.53 mM/mg/min; P < 0.05). In contrast, the yield of SR protein was 70% higher in summer than winter fish (0.315 +/- 0.045 vs. 0.187 +/- 0.017 mg/g; P < 0.001). Because of these opposing changes, total Ca-ATPase activity of SR (per gram muscle weight) remained relatively constant. Similarly, the parvalbumin content of the myotomal muscle was not different between summer (4.09 +/- 0.95 mg/g) and winter (3.70 +/- 0.60 mg/g) fish. Although there were no seasonal changes in the total relaxing system of the crucian carp white myotomal muscle, the same activity of SR Ca-ATPase in winter fish was obtained with less amount of SR pump protein, owing to the increased catalytic activity of the enzyme. The higher catalytic activity of winter fish SR Ca-ATPase might be caused by differences in fatty acid composition noted in membrane lipids; i.e., fewer saturated fatty acids and more n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), at the expense of n-3 PUFAs, were present in the SR of cold-acclimated winter fish. Temperature-induced changes in enzyme protein, however, cannot be excluded. Thus, the present results indicate the absence of positive thermal compensation in the relaxing system of crucian carp white muscle. It seems, however, that lipid composition of SR membranes and temperature dependence of SR Ca-ATPase are altered by seasonal acclimation.     

加速流对鲢、鳙幼鱼下行过程中游泳行为的影响

研究以具有下行洄游需求的鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)、鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)幼鱼为实验对象, 分别在2种不同流态加速流(Ⅰ: 22—55 cm/s, Ⅱ: 25—60 cm/s)中进行下行实验, 对实验鱼在2种加速流中的游泳行为(下行率、下行方式及各区域游泳时间)进行定量分析并利用游泳停留时间百分比F_t衡量其偏好水流速度。结果显示: 加速流下鲢、鳙均表现出了直接下行与非直接下行两种行为。其中加速流Ⅰ中鲢、鳙直接下行率分别为35.71%、30.00%, Ⅱ中分别为45.83%、59.09%。非直接下行的鲢在2种加速流中小于30 cm/s流速区域的停留时间显著高于其他区域(P<0.05), 即鲢在实验条件下的偏好水流速度范围为小于30 cm/s; 非直接下行的鳙在加速流Ⅰ中小于30 cm/s及50—55 cm/s流速区域的停留时间显著高于其他区域(P<0.05), Ⅱ中小于30 cm/s流速区域的停留时间显著高于其他区域(P<0.05), 即鳙本实验条件下偏好水流速度范围为小于30 cm/s。将2种加速流流速相同区域合并分析发现鲢、鳙在小于30 cm/s和50—55 cm/s流速区域的停留时间存在显著性差异(P<0.05), 中间及高流速区域无明显性差异(P>0.1)。研究表明: 加速流对鲢、鳙下行游泳行为产生了影响且2种鱼在下行通过方式和偏好流速选择上存在一定的种间差异性。     

Tag retention and survival of juvenile bighead carp implanted with a dummy acoustic tag at three temperatures

Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (together, the bigheaded carps) are invasive fishes in North America that have resulted in substantial negative effects on native fish communities and aquatic ecosystems. Movement and behavior of adult bigheaded carps has been studied previously using telemetry, while similar studies with juvenile bigheaded carps have yet to be attempted. Recent technological advances in telemetry transmitters has increased the availability of tags sufficiently small enough to implant in juvenile carps. However, the effects of surgical implantation of telemetry tags on juvenile bigheaded carps have not been evaluated. We determined tag retention and survival associated with surgical implantation of acoustic telemetry tags into juvenile bighead carp (range 128–152 mm total length) at three temperatures (13, 18, and 23°C). In addition, we assessed the effect of surgically implanted transmitters on the fitness, defined as changes in weight or critical swimming speed, of carp implanted with transmitters. Survival was high among tagged fish (85%) with 47% of tags retained at the conclusion of the 45‐day study. No substantial decline in fitness of the fish was observed in tagged fish compared to untagged fish.