They are looking BIG now... Why are they still in a net?

Today, a good question came up.  Why do we still keep them in the net?  They are getting bigger and looking good!

It is recommended that we keep them in the basket until a time between Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break.  While they are looking good, we want the students to see them and to make sure that they are eating.  We can monitor better this way.  In nature, they'd be hiding out still, so in order to make sure that they all will get food, we keep them together in a small area.  When we do let them out into the tank, we'll put a little screen over the filter to make sure that they don't get sucked up into it because they are so small. 

We love seeing them every day, so the net works well for now.  Stay tuned, they'll be out and about soon!

Checking Every Day...
Each day we do detailed checks of the chemical readings, the temperature and the overall well-being of both tanks.  Today we caught an issue that could have become a major problem, but we were able to fix it before it got too serious.  We noticed that the tropical tank was 70 degrees, 8 or 9 degrees colder than it normally has been.  We know that the ideal temperature for the tropical fish is 75-80 degrees.  Something wasn't working with the heater, and as we watched it, we noticed that it kept turning off.  Luckily, we were able to replace the heater with a new one. 

It is really important that we check every detail each day, so that we can find any problems and try to fix them right away!

The trout are swimming up near the top, feeding well and really looking strong!  

Feeding Time!!!

The Alevins are growing and becoming "Fry." Take a look at the difference since day 1 and look at the yolk sac get smaller and smaller:

Once the yolk sacs are mostly gone, it is time to start feeding the trout!  We have four sizes of food - 0, 1, 2 and 3.  We start with size 0 and it looks like this:

Now we feed the trout about a pinch a day and they swim up to the top to get it.  It is fun to see them move more.  We have to keep an eye on the ammonia now that we are putting food in, because any food that they don't eat could add to an increase in ammonia.  

Why are they just laying there?...

We've been noticing that the alevins have hatched and look great, but they lay around in the bottom of the net a lot.

That is because in nature, as soon as they hatch, they burrow down into the sand, soil and rocks in the bottom of the river.  This is so that they can stay hidden because it is very dangerous to be so small in nature.  Other fish, birds and even turtles and frogs act as predators to the tiny trout.  So by instinct they are laying low and hiding out for the first 2-3 weeks that they are alive.  As soon as their yolk sac is absorbed, they'll be swimming about and much more active.  Look at the pictures below and see if you can notice how some yolk sacs are already getting smaller than others.  By late next week, you won't see any at all!

Bring Your Questions and Your Observations!

Bring Your Questions and Your Observations!

Each morning we monitor our trout, looking at the Alevins and testing the water.  But how do we share our results?  How does the average passerby get the chance to learn, observe and wonder?..

We have an Aquatic Fact, Observation and Question board!  Each morning, we report the pH and Ammonia levels of each tank as well as the temperature and we have space for anyone passing by to write observations or questions.  Questions can based upon specific information (i.e. How big will the trout grow to be?) or larger, more broad questions (i.e. I wonder if the tropical fish can communicate?).  In each grade level, making observations, and even claims is an integral part of the Next Generation Science Standards, so we want to give the students (and grown ups) a chance to get involved.  So take a look next time you are in the lobby!

The Trout are Hatching and Looking Strong!!!

Each day, we are testing the water in the trout tank and the tropical tank.  We start by checking on the hatched eggs (there are a lot now!) and removing any eggs that have become white and opaque.  Today we had four bad eggs, but a bunch of alevin (baby trout)!  We don't have to feed them yet, because they still have their yolk sac, which is where they get their food.  Eventually, when their yolk sacs go away, we'll start to feed them our special trout food.  

Have you seen our BIG pleco in the tropical tank?  A pleco is a special fish that eats algae in the tank.  You can usually find it on the sides or the bottom of the tank.  CLICK HERE for more information about plecos.  Our pleco is huge!  It was donated by the Granzo family and is over ten inches long!  The giant pleco eats algae, but he's so big that we give him special algae tabs, but also give him zucchini.  We slice it and hang it on the inside of the tank with clips.  CLICK HERE for more information about what plecos like to eat and check out the pictures below.

 We have recently added a special white board to our fish tank area.  Keep an eye as we continue to make improvements.  Students record the date, temperature, pH and Ammonia in each tank and put them out for display for everyone to see.  We are also adding a section for "observations" by students and community members and a section for "questions" or "wonders."  Come by next time you are in the building and see what you notice or what you are curious about!

Welcome to the world Alevins!

That's right.  We said Alevins.  That's what newly hatched trout are called.  We have some trout hatching already!  Notice that they still have part of the eggs on their stomachs.  That is how they get their food and nutrition.  So far, we have had students testing the pH and Ammonia.  So far, the chemical levels look great in both tanks!  

In nature, once the trout hatch, they would burrow down into the gravel and river bed to hide from predators.  Even grown up trout would try to eat them!  They'd hide until they were big enough to eat.  But lucky for us, we keep them in a net, so we get to watch them grow and develop!  Stay tuned...