Worlds Tiniest PIT Tag Is Coming Smaller Than Ever Now

Traditional PIT tags have transformed fisheries and wildlife research by allowing scientists to uniquely identify individuals over long periods of time. But tag size has always been a limiting factor. 

Smaller organisms often could not be tagged safely, ethically, or at all. 

By shrinking PIT tag technology to this extreme scale, Voda IQ is opening the door to studying species that were previously off limits to individual electronic identification. 

That means
• tracking smaller animals
• reducing implantation impact
• enabling higher welfare standards
• expanding study design possibilities
• gathering cleaner, more precise datasets 

When tags get smaller, science gets bigger. 

Designed With Zebrafish in Mind 

One of the primary inspirations behind this new micro tag was zebrafish, a cornerstone species in biomedical and genetic research. 

Zebrafish are used worldwide to study
• human disease models
• genetics and development
• toxicology
• regenerative biology
• pharmaceutical testing 

Yet researchers often face a major challenge
how do you reliably identify individual fish within large schooling populations over time? 

Current approaches rely heavily on visual marks, dyes, fin clips, or tank level tracking. These methods can fade, require repeated handling, or limit long term individual level data collection. 

Ultra small PIT tags change that. 

Being able to uniquely identify each animal electronically allows researchers to
• follow individuals throughout their life cycle
• connect genotype to phenotype
• track survival and growth
• monitor treatment effects
• reduce repeated handling
• improve data integrity 

For schooling species like zebrafish, this is a potential game changer. 

Understanding Read Distance at This Scale 

With technology this small, physics comes into play. 

Because of the extremely small antenna and coil required in a 4 mm x 0.5 mm PIT tag, read distance is naturally more limited than with larger tags. These micro tags are best suited for research designs where animals can be recaptured, netted, or handled for scanning rather than detected at long range by fixed antennas. 

That makes them ideal for
• laboratory and hatchery environments
• controlled tanks or raceways
• mark recapture studies
• short range handheld scanning
• behavioral or treatment based experiments 

In these settings, the benefits of individual electronic identification still far outweigh the constraints of shorter detection range. 

Beyond Fish: New Frontiers for Tiny Tags 

While zebrafish were central to the design, the applications extend far beyond aquatics. 

This new micro PIT tag could support work with 

• insects used in pollination, population dynamics, or disease vector research
• small amphibians and reptiles such as frogs, lizards, and juvenile snakes
• very small mammals where traditional tags have been impractical
• early life stages in aquatic species 

For researchers studying cryptic species, micro habitats, or rapid life cycles, individual identification at this scale opens entirely new experimental designs. 

Built With the Same Voda IQ Standards 

Shrinking a PIT tag does not mean shrinking expectations. 

Our newest micro tag is being developed with the same principles that guide every Voda IQ product
• read reliability
• manufacturing consistency
• rigorous quality control
• animal welfare first design
• real world usability 

From field biologists to hatchery managers to laboratory researchers, our goal is always to deliver tools you can trust when the data matters most. 

Coming This Fall 

We are putting the final touches on testing and validation, and we cannot wait to share more details as we approach release. 

If your research involves zebrafish, insects, herpetology, or other ultra small species, keep an eye out. 

This fall, Voda IQ is going smaller than anyone has before. 

And in doing so, helping science think bigger.