Article

A comparison of three techniques for fluorochrome marking of juvenile Clarias gariepinus otoliths

Published in: African Zoology
Volume 46 , issue 1 , 2011 , pages: 72–77

DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2011.11407480

Author(s): Reece Wartenberg Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, South Africa , Anthony J. Booth South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa , Olaf L. F. Weyl South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa

Keywords: African sharptooth catfish , oxytetracycline , fluorochrome marking

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Abstract

Intramuscular injection of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) has been the only method previously employed for chemically marking C. gariepinus otoliths for ageing studies. This study compared intramuscular injection, immersion, and dietary incorporation methods of administering OTC to determine the most effective technique. No differences in either growth or mortality were found between experimental groups while intramuscular injection of OTC was found to be superior to either mass immersion or dietary inclusion of OTC when marking Clarias gariepinus otoliths.

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