Diel behavioral pattern of hatchery-reared black-spot tuskfish determined by acoustic telemetry in the natural environment and video observation in a fish tank

Abstract

Diel behavioral pattern of hatchery-reared black-spot tuskfish was examined by acoustic telemetry in the natural environment and video observation in a fish tank. Nine tuskfish were monitored using acoustic telemetry for 150 days; five fish were observed in a fish tank for 2 days. In the acoustic telemetry tracking, tuskfish moved horizontally and vertically during the day; they stayed still at night. The tuskfish tended to utilize depths near the bottom both during the day and night. In the video observation, the tuskfish tended to move actively and sweep sand at bottom during the day; they tended to stay still in the crater they made during the night. These results indicated that tuskfish might make their night-time resting house by sweeping sand near structures and forage benthic preys during the day, and rest in the resting house at night.