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.