Scielex Electronic Measuring Boards

The  Scielex Fish Measuring Board provides fisheries researchers with a fast, efficient and cost-effective method for transferring fish length, together with other information to almost any digital device.

An industrial linear position sensor is used to provide a highly linear and repeatable length measurement and data is transferred automatically via RS232 cable or Bluetooth when a sample is taken.

The Bluetooth connection may be made with almost any device that can connect to a Bluetooth keyboard. This includes, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. The Measuring Board appears as a Bluetooth Keyboard and data is sent as key presses.

Standard length ranges: 400 mm, 900 mm, 1200 mm. Other lengths area available on request.

The Scielex board has an internal NiMh battery which provides approximately 40 hrs of continuous use.

Dimensions: Width: 250 mm; Height: 130 mm; Length: 380 mm + Length Range.

The unit is also sealed to IP66 rating.

See a short video link here showing the measuring board integrated with an external RFID (PIT) tag reader - https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ctj2f47r1jKHivcf1.

Hallprint VP-S tagging guns (for TBA tags)

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Hallprint's new VP-S tagging gun for TBA tags with all stainless parts. quick release button and pin guide

Plastic Tipped Dart Tag (PDX, PDS and PDA) Applicator Handles

Retractable aluminium and hypalon rubber handles shown for removable PDS applicator needles (top) and PDA applicator needles (second from top) and budget plastic handles with non removable PDX, PDS and PDA applicator needles (bottom three).

Hallprint T-Bar tags

T-Bar tags - convenient, cost-effective and popular

Hallprint's range of T-bar anchor tags are without doubt the most popular tag types produced by Hallprint. They represent a generational improvement in fish tag design with a single moulded construction that has a protective outer sheath around the coloured and individually numbered marker.

T-bar tags are popular on fish, crustacean and even some shellfish species where large numbers of fish may need to be tagged in a short space of time and/or holding time is critical for fish survival.

T-bar anchor tags are available in a wide range of colours in both fine anchor (TBF) and standard anchor (TBA) versions. TBA tags may have either one or two lines of print (TBF one line only). Please note that both exposed filament length and marker length can easily be varied on all T-Bar tag types to suit your custom requirements (see below).

New - in exciting news for researchers we have developed a super heavy duty T-Bar tag (type TB-SHD) for larger finfish above 30 cm in length. With a robust nylon T-bar anchor and tough higher breaking strain nylon monofilament these are expected to be a viable option to plastic tipped dart tags for larger finfish such as small tuna, cod, snapper and salmonids allowing faster tag deployment in sequential number order.

We are also able to custom print in numerous languages (subject to font provision for no additional charge. 

As a general rule only, fine anchor tags (type TBF) are suitable for most Finfish and crustaceans according to the following optimal size ranges -

• Finfish (between dorsal or anal fin rays) 10 cm total length - 20 cm total length

• Rock lobster (through moult suture) 3 cm carapace length - 6 cm carapace length

• Crabs (through moult suture) 4 cm carapace width - 7 cm carapace width

Standard anchor tags (type TBA) are suitable for most Finfish and crustaceans according to the following optimal size ranges -

• Finfish 15 cm total length - 35 cm total length

• Rock lobster 6 cm carapace length to max. size

• Crabs 7 cm carapace width to maximum size

Average marker length is around 20 mm for TBF tags and 30 mm for TBA tags but can vary from around 12 mm to around 40 mm for TBF tags and from around 12 mm to 60 mm for TBA tags. The length of exposed filament is normally around 15 mm for TBF tags and 20 mm for TBA tags.  Exposed filament lengths of between 10 mm and 40 mm are possible for both tag types.

Please ensure that both the exposed filament length and the marker length preferred are provided when requesting quotations or ordering tags.

Type TBF Fine Anchor T-bar tags

Type TBA Standard anchor T-bar tags

Type TBA LEVO tags

Gamefish & Shark Tags

Stainless Steel Dart Tags (type SSD)

Stainless steel head dart tags (type SSD) are for marking large fish such as billfish and especially sharks which can not be easily brought aboard. The tag head is specially ground and sharpened to anchor smoothly in firm tissue or muscle. All metal used in the dart head and wire is 316S marine grade surgical steel. SSD tags are made with the stainless steel wire covering the inside of the first 5 cm of the marker. Some researchers prefer to have a stainless steel wire core along the length of the tag if there is a high likelihood of the tags being bitten by other sharks or predatory fish. These tags have superior legibility and integrity to our competitor’s products.

Type SSD Stainless Steel tipped dart tags

Plastic Gamefish Tags (type PIMS & PIMA)

Like the SSD tags the plastic head intra-muscular tags - type PIMS (small) and PIMA (large) - are also used for tagging large gamefish that cannot easily be brought on board. The tag head was developed by the Billfish Foundation (US) and the US National Marine Fisheries Service and has become the favoured tag head for billfish in most parts of the world. These tags are not suitable for tagging sharks due to the toughness of the skin. There is some evidence that the softer, rounder nylon head promotes tissue healing faster than in the stainless steel head version resulting in an apparent increase in tag retention over SSD tags in some species of billfish. There is also some published evidence (in tuna) of higher mortality with this tag type compared with standard plastic tipped dart tags so the right tag for your needs will be determined by a number of factors including your study objectives as well as cost considerations.

Hallprint's PIMS and PIMA tags will not suffer problems associated with legibility or detachment of the marker that have been reported from similar tags made using these heads by other manufacturers. This is because our markers are moulded to the stainless wire to produce an integrated unit without the need for glue or print-obstructing mono doubles to keep the marker on. We consider that print legibility and retention on our tags is also far superior to our competition - view this for yourself by asking for some free samples.

Gamefish tags Type PIMA-W & PIMS-W (heads developed by NMFS in the USA)

NOTE: Scale rulers on images are in cm with 1mm per minor div mark. (1" = 2.54cm)

Satellite / Archival Tag Tether Systems

Hallprint now specialises in the development of customised anchoring systems for use with pop-up satellite tags.  These can also be customised for a range of acoustic and radio tags.  There are two basic stainless steel head designs and sizes available for tether systems, the stainless steel medium darts (SSMD) and the stainless steel large darts (SSLD) - see below. A further option preferred by some researchers is the extra large nylon "umbrella" heads developed by Michael Domeier (XL-DOM) in the USA (see below at bottom). These have the option of being attached to high breaking strain stainless swivels using 7 strand stainless wire or 2.0 mm monofilament crimped at either end.  A completely print protected "tether tube" has been developed to cover the tether wire or monofilament.

External RFID PIT Tags

Hallprint's external RFID PIT tags

Hallprint's external radio frequency identification (RFID) PIT tags are already providing researchers with much needed peace of mind when tagging fish that could one day become food on the plate. 

Why expose your organisation to unacceptable risks of expensive litigation by implanting fish with glass capsule PIT tags?   

Any tagged fish that may enter the human food chain must remain safe to eat. Glass capsule tags are considered too risky to be used as implant tags for obvious reasons, so Hallprint only provide external tags where the PIT tag itself is outside the body of the fish.

Hallprint have developed innovative processes that enable glass capsule PIT tags to be moulded into most of our standard external fish tags including (but not limited to) T-Bar tags (types TBF-PIT and TBA-PIT) and plastic tipped dart tags (all except type PDX and PDXL).  These tags can also be printed with ID numbers and return information to allow additional recapture information from anglers and commercial fishers and have been successfully used on fishway migration projects and saltwater stock assessment projects already.

Type PDA-PIT (7 mm PICO PIT)

Type PDAT-PIT (12mm PIT)

Type PDL-PIT (top) and PDS-PIT (7 mm PICO PIT)

Cable tie PIT Module (12 mm PIT)

PIT tag readers

Hallprint supplies and recommends the Tru-Test Datamars SRS-2 and XRS-2 stick readers for our FDX-B ISO 11784/11785 134.2 KHz external PIT tags. Click here for all relevant product information. Contact us direct for further technical information and pricing including shipping within and from Australia.

Stainless Steel Dart Tags

Stainless steel head dart tags (SSD) are for marking large fish such as billfish and sharks which can not be easily brought aboard. The tag head is specially ground and sharpened to anchor smoothly in firm tissue or muscle. All metal used in the dart head and wire is 316S grade surgical steel. SSD tags are made with the stainless steel wire covering the inside of the first 7cm of the marker. Some researchers prefer to have a stainless steel wire core along the length of the tag if there is a high likelihood of the tags being bitten by other sharks or predatory fish. These tags have superior legibility and integrity to our competitor’s products.

Glue-on Shellfish Tags

Hallprint's type FPN glue-on shellfish tags are rapidly becoming the industry standard for individual identification of shelled molluscs such as abalone, geoduck, scallops and mussels. The thin (150 um), flexible polyethylene conforms to the shell surface and attaches firmly with cyanoacrylate glues or super glue/crazy glue to hard shell surfaces. Three major sizes are available viz.-

1. 8 x 4 mm oval (type FPN 8x4)

2. 8 mm circle (type FPN 8x8)

3. 16 x 8 mm oval (type FPN 16x8)

The 8 x 4 mm oval tag is by far the most popular as it generally conforms well with the grooves on the shell surface. The 8 x 4 mm oval and 8 mm diameter circle tags can be produced with up to four alpha-numeric characters (eg A000 - A999) whereas the 16 x 8 mm tags can utilise up to seven characters per tag (e.g. A000001 - A001000). Tags are presented on strip rolls for easy detachment in ascending sequential number order. As with most of our tags the full colour range is available.

New - we are now able to supply rolls with identical “twin” tags for double tagging experiments (see below at bottom). This saves time and ensures trouble free double tagging.

Type FPN 8 mm x 4 mm Glue-on Tags

Type FPN 8 mm x 16 mm Glue-on Tags

Type FPN 8 mm Circle Glue-on Tags

New type FPN 8 mm x 4 mm “Twin” glue-on shellfish tags for double tagging experiments

Polyethylene Streamer Tags

Hallprint's polyethylene streamer tags are extremely popular with researchers for a wide variety of finfish and crustaceans including especially prawns (shrimp), juvenile fish and clawed lobster. A range of sizes are available with a variety of notch styles and sizes.

Hallprint pioneered a streamlined attachment of the disposable applicator needle to the tag to minimise the tag entry wound which is critical for tag retention and survival of delicate young fish and prawns. The standard needle length is now 58 mm (see on 2XW tag below) although the previous standard size of 38 mm (see on 2W tag below) is still available on request. Both needles are exactly the same gauge or diameter but most find the longer needles easier to use. Up to a maximum of seven alphanumberic characters may be used including sequential tag numbers.

Our streamer tags are all packaged in sequential number order in folded cards (25 per card) ready for easy field application as standard but can also be purchased in sequential lots of 50 in plastic bags at a reduced price.

Please note that we are now only able to print sequential numbers on one "wing" of most of the PST tag range as per the 13S tag below. It may be possible to print on both wings on some of the larger models but please check with Hallprint first before ordering.

Type: Streamer PST13S

Type: Streamer PST4S

Type: Streamer PST2S

Type: Streamer PST13P

Type: Streamer PST12P

Type: Streamer PST7P

Type: Streamer PST2P

Type: Streamer PST2W

Type: Streamer PST2XW

Plastic Tipped Dart Tags

Hallprint's range of plastic tipped dart tags (see below) are designed to provide a diversity of high quality options for researchers embarking on a finfish tagging program.

Please note that all dart tags can be custom produced to the length required for each study and need not be made to the lengths shown.

As with the T-bar anchor tags, dart tags are normally applied in such a way that the barb locks behind about the second or third basal rays or "pterygiophores" of the first or second dorsal fins.  A detailed "slow motion" video on an anaesthetised fish showing exact angles etc can be viewed at  https://www.dropbox.com/s/iz2lsk1uzp597qx/dart%20tag%20application.wmv?dl=0 

In elasmobranchs the barb is lodged in a cartilagenous section of the fish, usually in the body of the fish below the dorsal fin in sharks or in the "wings" of rays and skates.

The smallest dart tags, the type PDX and PDXL (see below), have a ~ 1.2 mm diameter marker and are applied with an approx. 2.4 mm outside diameter applicator needle. They are suited to finfish species between about 20 cm and 30 cm (PDX) or 28-40 cm (PDXL). These tags are popular for small fish likely to undergo fast growth rates such as juvenile tuna.  A tag ID number can only be produced at the distal end of the marker and only one line of print is possible on these particular tags.

Type PDX extra small plastic tipped dart tag

Type PDXL extra small dogleg plastic tipped dart tag

The small dart tag range (type PDS, PDL and PDW - see below) have a ~1.6 mm diameter marker and are applied with an ~3.3 mm outside diameter applicator needle. This range is suited to fish across a wide range of sizes, with the PDS and PDW tag suitable for fish from about 35 cm up to about 55 cm and the "dogleg barb" PDL tag (see bottom of page) which is suited for fish from about 40 cm up to about 80 cm. These tags are very popular with recreational fish tagging programs for a wide variety of species due to the ease of use and lower unit cost of applicators compared to T-bar tags.  An ID number is usually printed at both ends of the marker and two lines of text are possible although only one is recommended in order to maximise the font size and hence readability of the print.

Type PDW small flat barb plastic tipped dart tag

Type PDS small plastic tipped dart tag

Type PDL small dogleg barb plastic tipped dart tag

Large dart tags (type PDA - see below) have a ~1.6 mm diameter marker and are applied with a ~4.0 mm outside diameter needle and are proven performers with finfish and sharks from about 45 cm and above including tuna, barramundi, snoek, tarpon and spanish (king) mackerel to name a few.

A thicker and more visible version of the type PDA tag called the PDAT (see below) is often produced with a ~2.0 mm marker (see below).  This uses the same diameter needle as the type PDA tag and has an identical tag head.  The PDAT tag is only available in high visibility yellow or orange colours.

Type PDA large plastic tipped dart tag

Type PDAT large thick marker plastic tipped dart tag

Dart Tag Applicator Tips (plastic tipped and gamefish)

Plastic tipped and in-water dart tag applicator tips

Hallprint VP-S Tagging Tool (for type TBA standard anchor T-Bar tags)

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Hallprint VP-S Tagging Tool (for type TBA standard anchor T-Bar tags)

Avery Dennison 10312 Fine Anchor (for type TBF tags)

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Avery Dennison 10312 fitted with a fine gauge all steel needle

A&D Scales (for use on stable surfaces)

Electronic weight measurement equipment

Hallprint is now a global supplier of A&D brand weight scales to the fisheries market. These are fully waterproof (IP67 rated) and excellent value for money. We can offer you a package to suit your needs from scales with a 3200g capacity at 0.01g accuracy to a 30kg capacity scale with 1g accuracy. We work closely with each customer to ensure the best suited product combination for their requirements. A&D scales are backed by a 5 year warranty on selected models.

Please contact us for more information and pricing on A&D scale options.

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Scielex Electronic (Bluetooth) Vernier Caliper Adapter (out of stock)

Please note that this item as at September 2022 is currently “Out of Stock”. It will be superseded by a new upgraded model expected to be available in early 2023. Please contact Hallprint through “Contact Us” for details.

Hallprint can also supply waterproof (IP67) Scielex Bluetooth adapters for easily converting your carapace and shell measurements to key presses by Bluetooth.  Animals can be sexed at the same time as they are measured by simply pressing the M or F button when measurements are taken.  The speed and accuracy of measuring and sexing is enhanced as is the recording accuracy as the data can be bluetoothed to your smartphone or bluetooth tablet.

Features

• Converts Mitutoyo Calliper measurements to key presses via Bluetooth

• May be used in ‘keyboard’ mode (unit appears as a Bluetooth keyboard) or in ‘serial pipe’ mode (data appears on a virtual RS232 port)

• Three waterproof press buttons to take samples

• Class 1 Bluetooth link

• Rechargeable Lithium battery

• Sealed and waterproof to IP67

• Supplied with PC software for setup - adjustable prefix, button press text, delimiter, and terminator

Record and store length and other parameters immediately on your tablet or smart phone with Scielex's Bluetooth calliper adapters.

Scielex's Bluetooth calliper adapters attach easily to Mitutoyo stainless steel callipers saving time and boosting data security and accuracy