The duration of residence at identifiable refuges in separate territories was assessed over an 800-d period for the goldsinny, Ctenolabrus rupestris, a territorial labrid (Osteichthyes: Perciformes: Labridae), on the west coast of Scotland. Goldsinny (N=12; seven male, five female) were taken from, tagged and returned to, marked refuges using anaesthetics applied underwater. Over the whole study period two goldsinny (one male, one female) moved between adjoining territories, but most (eight out of the ten recaptured or observed) remained in the refuge in which they were released.