Arapaima gigas genetic sexing test – Individual PCR test to identify the sex of the fish.

It is a molecular sexing test to identify the sex of arapaima at any stage of development, especially those with no apparent sexual characteristics. Its main application is for the management of prepubescent animals, improving the management of fish farming enterprises in relation to the formation of squads. Such knowledge improves the management of fish farms and, consequently, their productivity. In addition to increasing productivity, the use of the sexing test has great potential to add value to the fingerlings, if they are marketed with the identified sex. This technological solution is based on molecular DNA markers associated with sex and makes use of the polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) technique. Its advantage is the rapid and early identification of the sex of young and adult animals, using a low-invasive procedure. Within seconds, a 0.5 cm sample of the animal's caudal fin is collected. Once the sample is in the laboratory, the sex result is generated in a few hours.