Dana L. Winkelman Tyler R. Swarr Christopher A. Myrick Timothy W. D’Amico 2021 <p>Members of the freshwater catfishes (order Siluriformes) are capable of transintestinal expulsion of foreign bodies, including internally implanted tags, which can bias movement and survival estimates. We evaluated long-term (120-week) retention rates of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in a laboratory setting to assess potential tag loss in Stonecat <i>Noturus flavus</i>. The PIT tags were surgically implanted into the peritoneal cavity of fish (n = 157) ranging from 71 to 213 mm TL. We demonstrated that Stonecats can successfully be tagged with 12- and 23-mm PIT tags with low levels of mortality (5.0%) and tag loss (9.6%). Based on individual encounter histories and covariates, we further evaluated our data set in a multistate framework using program MARK. Based on our findings, tag age has a negative effect on tag loss; if Stonecats lose tags, it is relatively soon after tagging. Additionally, Stonecat TL has a negative effect on tag loss, with tag loss decreasing with increasing fish TL.</p> application/pdf 10.1002/nafm.10550 en American Fisheries Society Retention of passive integrated transponder tags in a small-bodied catfish article