Visible implant fluorescent elastomer tagging of the big-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis

摘要: Abstract Wild and captive management of seahorses often requires individual or batch identification. In this has proven difficult in the past because seahorses’ rigid body structure, reduced size fins susceptibility to infection. We investigated suitability visible implant fluorescent elastomer (VIFE) for tagging big-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, Leeson 1827. Thirty-six were tagged their mortality, growth tag retention assessed over a period 7 months together with 36 control seahorses. No animal died. animals rate standard length (SL) was 6% less than untagged (non-significant), weight 10% (significant) experimental period. tags lost during experiment. Tag visibility under LED blue light did not decline significantly although detection naked eye decreased first month Our results show that VIFE is highly effective method minimal biological effects.