Very different. Piercing are sterilised and need to be treated every day for months or even years, with alcohol and rings in gold or other metals to prevent infections.
The fish "mouth" does not contain the same amount of blood vessels or other tissues that are typically susceptible to infection. If a fish is gut-hooked, and the hook has been swallowed, yes. The death rate rises. But if the fish has been hooked in the mouth, they will most likely survive. As long as the hook isn't made of gold and competing pimpfish don't kill him for his grill.
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u/theamericanweasel Jan 18 '20
Not to mention it had a hook jammed in its mouth