A test of two methods for marking larvae and postlarvae of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

This paper describes the successful use of two tagging systems, both produced by Northwest Marine Technology Inc., on larval and postlarval giant freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Visible implant (VI) elastomer tags (a coloured liquid that solidifies under the epidermis) were used on stage XI larval prawns (mean weight 0.01 g) and postlarval prawns (mean weight 0.07 g). VI alphanumeric tags (small biocompatible plastic labels also inserted under the epidermis) were tested on postlarval prawns (from a weight of 0.5 g). Tags were inserted using clove oil as anaesthetic, and survival, mortality and growth rates of tagged animals were compared with those of controls that were handled but not anaesthetized or marked. Twenty per cent of the larval prawns (the smallest of the group) died just after tagging, but thereafter the remaining prawns survived well, as did all the tagged postlarval prawns. Visibility of the VI elastomer tags in larval prawns deteriorated with time, though 79% of marks were still visible to the naked eye 70 days after tagging. VI elastomer tags in the postlarval group remained clearly visible for up to 100 days. Visibility of the VI alphanumeric tags fell shortly after tagging, but remained adequate thereafter. Moult rates in control and tagged animals were the same in larvae with VI elastomer tags and postlarvae with VI alphanumeric tags, but the moult rate in the postlarval prawns given elastomer tags was slower than in controls. Rates of growth were similar in tagged (elastomer and alphanumeric) and control postlarval prawns, once the size‐dependent mortality of tagged larval prawns was taken into account. We conclude that VI elastomer tags could be used to mark small numbers of individual larval and immediately postlarval prawns for periods of several months, and that VI alphanumeric tags could be used to mark an unlimited number of individuals from a size of approximately 0.5 g.