NMT - Products (VIE)

Products

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VI Alpha

VIE

Visible Implant Elastomer Tags (VIE)

Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) is a two-part silicone based material that is mixed immediately before use. VIE tags are injected as a liquid that soon cures into a pliable, biocompatible solid. The tags are implanted beneath transparent or translucent tissue and remain externally visible. In many amphibians, VIE tags are even visible through darkly pigmented skin. VIE tags are widely used for marking an ever-broadening range of finfish, crustaceans, reptiles, and amphibians. Extensive information about using VIE is available in the Visible Implant Elastomer Tag Project Manual (PDF 294K)

VIE tagged coho salmon (O. kisutch) smolt under ambient light

VIE tagged coho salmon (O. kisutch) smolt viewed with NMT's VI Light.

Photo courtesy K. Kendall, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division

VIE is available in six fluorescent and four non-fluorescent colors. The fluorescent colors are highly visible under ambient light and provide the option of greatly enhanced tag detection when fluoresced with the VI Light. This feature was used to advantage by Buckley et al. (1994) [Abstract] in recovering small tagged reef fishes underwater; and also by Bonneau et al. (1995) [Abstract] in enumerating tagged trout in streams at night.

The pliability of the cured VIE tags, the small volume of material required to make a visible tag, and its tendency to occupy available space rather than displace and irritate surrounding tissue, combine to make VIE usable in specimens smaller than most other tags can accommodate. For example, Frederick (1997) [Abstract] successfully VIE tagged reef fishes as small as 8 mm. Godin et al. (1995) [Abstract] applied VIE tags to shrimp as small as 0.2 grams.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Please note that components of different VIE formulas are not interchangeable. Please use only the components that are shipped together. The syringes will be marked with a date code. Both components should have the same code.