Coded Wire Tags are tiny rarely visible after injection. However, their presence can be electronically detected using Coded Wire Tag detectors.
When do you need a detector?
Detectors are used at four stages in most Coded Wire Tag projects:
- During tagging, you won’t be able to see if a tag has been injected, so you will need a detector to verify successful implantation. If you are using a Mark IV Injector, a common choice is to pair it with the Quality Control Device (QCD) to verify tag injection. However, this can also be done using a V-Detector or T-Wand.
- After tagging, but before release, you will need a detector to measure tag retention rates. A V-Detector is an excellent tool for this, and a T-Wand can also be a good choice.
- At recapture, you will need a detector to sort tagged and untagged animals unless they can be distinguished by a secondary tag or mark (eg a fin clip). The most suitable detector depends on the application. Tunnel detectors are a good choice for high volume sorting such as at hatcheries or processing plants. The T-Wand detectors is rugged and portable for field sampling. In some cases, it can be used to identify the specific body location of a tag when the body location is used as a batch code. V-Detectors are a good choice when they can be placed on a stable surface.
- Once tagged animals have been identified, you will need a Coded Wire Tag detector during the dissection process to quickly locate and remove tags. A V-Detector is the preferred tool for this job.
Available detectors
We offer four types of Coded Wire Tag detectors: T-Wand (specifications (pdf), how-to video (YouTube)), V-Detector (specifications (pdf)), and R9500 Tunnel Detectors.
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- The T-Wand is used for sampling in the field and where the volume of animals to sample is relatively low. It is portable, rugged and waterproof.
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- V-Detectors are commonly used in labs for tag recovery from heads. They are also used at hatcheries or other sampling sites. They are not suitable for use on boats.
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- R9500 Tunnel Detectors are used for detecting tags in large numbers of fish that must be sampled at hatcheries and processing plants. A gate can be added to the back of the detector to count and sort tagged and untagged fish. R9500 detectors can accommodate conveyor belts running through the tunnel.