Technical Notes: Passive Integrated Transponder Tagging of Channel Catfish

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, manufactured by BioSonics, were implanted into adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to determine the suitability of the tag as a method to identify individual fish held in a hatchery. The 10.0 × 2.1-mm tags were injected by syringe into 92 male and 135 female catfish during the 1988 and 1989 spawning seasons. Tags were injected into three areas: (1) base of dorsal fin, (2) anterior base of adipose fin, and (3) posterior base of adipose fin. Examination of tagged fish in 1989 and 1990 revealed 97% tag retention. There was no evidence of tissue rejection, and all tags were easily read with a hand-held wand. The PIT tags appear to be a viable method of marking and identifying channel catfish for hatchery brood stock purposes.