TIC Weekly - Week 7
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!
In this week's newsletter, Rachel Kester, of PA Council of Trout Unlimited, and Kelly Williams, of the Clearfield County Conservation District, take you on a virtual field trip exploring a common issue that effects Pennsylvania’s waterways: Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD). They will cover exactly what AMD is, how AMD effects both the aquatic life and the people that live within the watershed, and how certain improvement practices can help to clean up AMD impaired waterways.
Observations
Some of our Rainbow Trout are really starting to get big! Soon we will be bumping up to the size #1 food. The larger fish tend to stay near the bottom of the tank while the other fish actively swim through the water column. It does appear that the larger fish do not expend as much energy. This might be one factor that explains their size!
PFBC’s Trout In the Office Eggs arrived on September 25, 2020!
Water Quality Parameters
Temp - 55 F pH - 8.2 Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm Nitrates - 40-80 ppm DO - 10.9 ppm
This week, our ammonia levels are a starting to reach levels that we want to try and avoid. The high ammonia is likely due to the heavy feeding that we did prior to leaving for a long weekend. A water change should help to bring these levels down into a more preferred range!
Life Stage Facts
Our Trout have continue to grow at an impressive rate. Fast growth rates are beneficial for many fish species. Growing fast will help fish avoid predation! Fish experience something known as indeterminate growth. Indeterminate growth simply means that our Rainbow Trout can continue to grow throughout their entire lives! The growth rate does decrease through time as our fish age. Factors that contribute directly to the growth rate of fish include: food availability, habitat, water quality, and abundance.
PFBC Resources For This Week's Theme
Videos
Abandoned Mine Drainage Virtual Field Trip
Visit PFBC's Activities and Education Portal to learn more about AMD and other factors that contribute to pollution.
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.