ABSTRACT
A variety of marking and tagging methods were tested on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) with the aim of identifying suitable methods for genetic studies in this and other species of carp. Elastomer and Alcian blue dye marking; Cold and Silver nitrate branding; Floy, Fingerling, Carlin disc and visible implant tags; and fin clipping were all tested on a range of sizes of common carp (from mean weights of 10-25 g up to 600-800 g). The branding and tagging methods tested did not give satisfactory retention rates. A combination of elastomer marking and fin clipping was then tested as a method for strain identification in a growth comparison trial on catla (Catla catla Hamilton) and found to be satisfactory for this purpose. Passive integrated transponders (PIT) tags were used to individually identify catla of wild or hatchery origin being grown for use as broodstock. These had almost 100% (98.8%) retention rates, but are expensive compared to most other tagging methods.