113 Trout!

We've been learning about population sampling methods this week. Today, students used some of these methods to determine the number of trout in our tank. The results from our three classes were: 112, 113 and 105 trout. Students found the most reliable method to be direct observation, and the least reliable method to be random sampling.

Changes

This morning we found that 4 of the 7 fry in the hatching basket had died (including the big guy). 3 more were found dead in the gravel. Tank pH was high today, so we did an additional water change. Students are wondering why so many more fry have died this year than last year. Many questions have come up about the eggs...did they come from the same hatchery? What variables might be affecting the mortality this year?

Big Guy Back in the Basket

We removed the big guy (and a few others that weren't doing well) back into the breeder basket today. We are hoping that this may help them pull through the next few days. You can see the big guy swimming near the bottom in this video clip

What happened here?

After the first full day swimming free in the tank, students noticed one fish that clearly stood out. (Compare the "big guy" to the other more average bellied fish in the previous day's picture.) What happened here?

Released in the tank

We lost 13 fish yesterday. Since water quality was good, we think maybe the breeder basket was the problem. So, the fish are swimming free in the tank now! 5 more dead fry were found in the gravel today, so we are carefully monitoring water quality this week.

38 degrees!

When I arrived at school on Wednesday, we immediately noticed that the chiller coil was encased in ice, water temperature was 38 degrees F, and the fish were very lethargic. After a quick call to Mr. Dinkle, one of our PvFF volunteers, we turned off the chiller, removed the coil, and waited for tank tmperature to return to 52 degrees. After 9 hours. the tank temperature returned to normal and the fish seem fine. One fish died, but the rest seem to have come through with no problems. They are swimming and feeding as usual.