Oh How They've Grown!

It has been a while since any pictures have been added.  Here's what's been happening.  Over Christmas break, Mrs. McGlaughlin and Miss Myers fed the trout and tested the water to make sure our trout survived!  Thanks for all of their hard work!  We had some fish not make it, but we are finding that this can be very normal over a break since they are not being fed quite as often and water changes do not resume until after the break. 

The fourth grade then learned about watersheds and the part that aquatic macroinvertebrates play in helping determine stream health.  We will review these concepts over the next couple of months, but they are well on their way to understanding the basics of stream ecology. :)

The fourth grade will begin feeding the fish and monitoring some of the water parameters this week, and they are excited!  The most excitement was when the students learned one of our trout was caught with another fish hanging out of its mouth.  Students were told that it is normal for fish to eat each other, but it never seems real until you have a chance to see it happen.  Below are some pictures of the trout (including the one that felt they needed an extra meal!).

Until next time,
Mrs. Baugh

You can really see the fins in this picture.

Picture 1 of 3 of our hungry fish.

Picture 2 of 3

Picture 3 of 3

Freedom Part 2

Below are some clearer pictures of the trout swimming in the tank.  They are really starting to move and search for food.  Students will get to see them this week and the rest of the school can start scheduling times to sign-up to come in and see the trout. 

Based on their size they are still fry, but very soon we should be able to call them fingerlings (longer than an inch).  If you look closely you can see several bands on dark blue on the sides of the trout.  These are parr marks and the trout will have these until they become adults.

Freedom . . .

The trout were moved this week from their hatching basket into the tank!  They are doing fine and some have learned how to eat.  The food has to be "stirred" into the water at this point and it has been exciting to see the fish start to get the hang of how to snatch it out of the water.  They are becoming more active, however many are still comfortable sitting on the bottom until they learn how to eat.  Keep checking back for updated pictures.

Growing Trout

The trout are doing well and as you can see they are really starting to move around.  Water levels are good and we weathered through Thanksgiving break with only one casuality.  A BIG thank you to Miss Myers and Mrs. McGlaughlin for their help!  The Trout Room will be decorated this week and the students are really excited about making regular visits to monitor various things (temperature, pH).  They're also looking forward to having the trout move from their hatching basket into the tank.

Nothing but alevin. . .

The eggs have all hatched and as you can see, our trout are growing.  The water parameters have been good, but I had to do a 4-5 gallon water change today based on elevated nitrite levels.  I also added something called StressZyme that helps increase the amount of healthy bacteria in the tank.  This bacteria helps convert ammonia to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates. 

Students are getting excited to see the trout once the styrofoam insulation comes off.  This insulation helps keep the tank dark, which is what the trout need at this stage, and helps keep the tank between 48-52 degrees.  Pictured below is the tank,  and under the table you can see the chiller.  This cools the water and helps keep it at the proper temperature.

And the hatching continues . . .

Most of the eggs have hatched.  I have had to continue to take out any eggs and alevin that are no longer alive.  The trout seem to be moving around more and our science classes are eager for another picture so they can compare it to the one taken last week (without a flash, of course! :).  Pictures to follow soon.

Hatching Eggs!

Some of the eggs have started hatching.  We have roughly 20 alevin laying/sitting on the bottom of the hatching bucket.  In the picture you can see the yolk sacs are still attached and will slowly be consumed by the trout over the next couple of weeks.