TIC Weekly - Week 11
TIC Weekly will feature PFBC’s Trout In the Office (TIO) updates as they raise Rainbow Trout from eyed eggs to fingerlings.
Hello PA TIC participants and partners!
Merry Christmas!
In this week's newsletter join PFBC staff Mindy McClenahan and Aimee Nungesser as they take you on a virtual tour of the Water Quality Lab located at the Benner Springs Fish Culture and Research Station in State College, PA. Through this virtual tour you will learn about some of the water quality parameters PFBC tests for, some of the chemistry involved with water quality testing, and why the PFBC tests for certain parameters. Both Mindy and Aimee also share the pathways that lead them to the positions they currently have today!
Observations
In this week's video, the TIO Trout can be observed actively feeding. Notice how most of the fish are grouped together while they feed throughout the water column. This is because there is a high concentration of food in this location.
A lot of these Trout continue to stay grouped or schooled up even after the conclusion of feeding. This behavior is common among juvenile fishes throughout multiple species. Social behavior can vary depending on the age of many fishes. Many juvenile fish will school up while they are still small in size. This is another effective strategy that could help them survive a predation event! Adult Rainbow Trout can also be observed in groups or "pods" when holding in the deeper areas within a section of stream.
PFBC’s Trout In the Office Eggs arrived on September 25, 2020!
Water Quality Parameters
Temp - 55 F pH - 8.2 Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm Nitrates - 40 ppm DO - 10.9 ppm
Our water quality parameters continue to stay within acceptable ranges. The consistent water change schedule is certainly helping keep our nitrates in check. Now that Christmas is fast approaching we will do a large water change to ensure our fish remain healthy for an extended period of time.
Life Stage Facts
We mentioned earlier that our TIO Trout seem to stay in one group. This could be because they have all learned that this location provides the best opportunity at food. It could also have something to do with a social behavior known as schooling. Trout and other fishes congregate for multiple reasons. Schooling may help a large group of small fish appear as one large organism swimming through the water. This can help them avoid predation as well! Some fish congregate at different times of the year. Yellow Perch begin to instinctively school up in the winter in preparation for spawning! Currently, many anglers in Pennsylvania are gearing up in preparation for the ice fishing season. Knowing where to target schools of Yellow Perch can greatly increase your odds of catching them!
PFBC Resources For This Week's Theme
Videos
Water Quality Lab: Virtual Field Trip
Visit PFBC's Activities and Education Portal to learn more about water quality!
Printable Publications
The following publications are PA League of Angling Youth (PLAY) newsletters pertaining to this week's theme. They include facts, activities, and more.