Consistency of stress response to repeated handling in the gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758

Gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 were subjected to repeated stresses, namely confinement and handling once a month for 5 consecutive mo nths, Plasma cortisol concentration was determined as a primary stress resp onse, and plasma glucose and osmolality, serum agglutination and growth rat e were analysed as indicators of the secondary and tertiary effects of stre ss. The results of the mean values after the five trials showed that most i ndicators followed a consistent pattern with time. Cortisol and growth rate were positively correlated, and cortisol and osmolality were negatively co rrelated after stress. Analysis of the individual responses throughout all 5 months showed that 6-20% of the fish displayed a consistently high or low response depending on the parameter analysed.