TIC Weekly - Week 4
TIC Weekly will feature PFBC’s Trout In the Office (TIO) updates as they raise Rainbow Trout from eyed eggs to fingerlings.
Hello Trout in the Classroom participants and partners!
In this week's newsletter, we are going to explore exactly how and why the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission monitors Trout populations. The following resources will provide you with information regarding:
• PFBC's Coldwater Unit and their role in conservation, preservation, and enhancement.
• How the PA Fish and Boat Commission monitors Trout populations and the various survey methods that can be used to do so.
• Why it is important to monitor Trout populations, as well as, paying attention to other communities and the habitat they reside.
Learn more about monitoring Trout populations at PFBC’s Activities & Education Portal (Aquatic Habitat, Conservation, and Pollution)
Observations
The TIO Trout have completely absorbed their yolk sacs! This means that we have reached the next stage in our Rainbow Trout life cycle, the swim-up stage. They are now very active when compared to the previous two life cycle stages. They are now using an air-filled swim bladder to assist with up and down movement. It is important to begin feeding the Trout at this point. This will ensure that they learn how to feed for themselves.
These fish will continue to grow very quickly during this stage. Many fish grow quickly early in life. This is one factor that can help them to avoid predation in nature. Fish growth does slow down as they age. Really old Trout can grow in very small increments every year that are almost unnoticeable!
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 - 20 ppm DO - 10.9 ppm
Life Stage Facts
Water quality plays a major role in healthy trout development and populations!
It is important to continue to monitor the water quality through this life cycle stage. Adding more food and increasing waste can cause an ammonia spike in you system. We are currently doing 1 weekly 10% water change for our TIO system due to this fact.
Our TIO Trout are actively swimming around the egg baskets in search of food! In the stream, these fish would have the opportunity to leave the spaces between the gravel within the redd. This would make them more vulnerable to predation! Having good cover in the form of native streamside vegetation and woody debris will help to increase the survival rate of the fish.
PFBC Resources For This Week's Theme
Videos
Let’s go on a virtual field trip!
Virtual Field Trip – Monitoring Trout Populations - This playlist takes you “streamside” and introduces you to PFBC’s Coldwater Unit; equipment found on a Coldwater Unit truck; the planning process and the preparation of sampling gear; safety; electrofishing and processing fish; the importance and variations of the habitat that is found within and along a healthy stream.
Printable Activities/Publications
Activity/Lesson
Estimating Fish Populations - Teachers can utilize this activity, from PFBC’s “WILD About PA Fishes” curriculum, to introduce students to the basic method of a mark nd recapture model.
PLAY Newsletter
The following publication is a PFBC PA League of Angling Youth (PLAY) newsletter pertaining to this week's theme. PLAY newsletters include activities, facts and more.
All About Trout - PLAY issue containing the following articles: All About Trout, PA's Trout & Salmon Family Tree, It's a Trout's Life, Trout Fishing, Care of the Catch.