TROUT CARE Trout In the Classroom Training JUNE 19, 2009

Eyed Eggs

Alevin (sac-fry)

Fry

Fingerling

Eyed Eggs Alevin (sac-fry) Fry Fingerling

The Life Cycle of Trout What you will see… Eyed Eggs As development begins, the trout eyes become visible Alevin (sac-fry) A newly hatched trout Fry Swim-Up Fry: mostly absorbed yolk sac; swim and search for food Fry: less than 1” in length; learned to search for food and begin eating Fingerling A young trout 1” to 3” in length

Timeline: School Year TROUT LIFE CYCLE STAGES DURATION APPROXIMATE TIMELINE SPAWNED 1st or 2nd week of September GREEN EGGS: Tender period From 48 hours to eye up stageNo handling of eggs for approximately 29 days EYED EGGS ~ 29 days from spawning1st or 2nd week of October; Can now handle eggs HATCHING: ALEVINS (SAC-FRY) ~ 44 days from spawning day3rd or 4th week of October; Depending on your water temperatures (the warmer the water the faster they hatch) SWIM UP FRY ~ 28 days from hatch date to swim up 3rd or 4th week of November; Depending on your water temperatures FRY TO FINGERLINGS ~ days after the swim up stage 3rd or 4th week of December FINGERLINGS 4+ weeks3rd or 4th of January…. RELEASE DATE Usually in April or May

How to Care for you Trout: TROUT NEED COLD, CLEAN, OXYGENATED WATER, FOOD, and SHELTER YOUR RESPONSIBILITES  Set-up, activate, & verify proper functioning of equipment - Chiller will maintain cold temperature - Powerhead, airstone, and filter will provide oxygenation - Net breeder, Styrofoam, Gravel will provide shelter  Keep your aquarium clean  Properly feed brook trout

Basic Daily Care: SUCCESS TIPS 1) Develop an Aquarium Side Binder, include: - DAILY water monitoring records, equipment checks, & observations - Daily feeding records - List of steps to take if an emergency occurs (ex. power outage) - Emergency contact list - Designation of Agent Letter - Trout In the Classroom fact sheet 2) Make the custodian your best friend 3) Backups for equipment failure 4) Wash Hands 5) Do not overfeed trout

Getting Started: Trout Care Timeline 30 days before eyed eggs arrive o Assemble your aquarium o Add water o Add Stress Zyme o Get Students ready! o Test Chiller o Decorate your aquarium 1 week before eggs arrive o Turn on the chiller— setting the temperature to register around 65 degrees o Test the water parameters o If necessary, adjust pH to close to neutral (7.0) 2 days before delivery of eggs o Verify water temperature down to 50-52°F (10-11°C) o Position the egg basket in the aquarium

The eggs have arrived! Complete PFBC Egg Confirmation Form Complete PFBC Egg Confirmation Form Return your ULINE box and ice pack to PFBC Return your ULINE box and ice pack to PFBC Keep the eggs away from light, no flash photography Keep the eggs away from light, no flash photography Separate viable eggs from unviable eggs, count both and carefully place viable eyed eggs in aquarium Separate viable eggs from unviable eggs, count both and carefully place viable eyed eggs in aquarium *Reminder: rinse your hands of any contaminants before handling eggs DO NOT USE SOAP, WATER ONLY

DAILY CHECKLIST: Functioning Equipment: Is everything plugged in? Is everything working? (i.e. appropriate temperature? water filtering? airstone bubbling?) Maintaining a Clean Aquarium: - Remove any dead trout or debris, record results - Test water parameters, record results - Observe trout, record results - Clean sides of aquarium regularly *Conduct a water change if needed - Feed trout according to feeding instructions BEGINNING BASIC DAILY CARE Healthy Trout: Functioning equipment & a clean aquarium

Maintaining a Clean Aquarium: Testing Water Parameters

Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle:

Maintaining a clean aquarium: AFTER -REMOVING DEAD TROUT AND ANY DEBRIS; -REMOVING ALGAL BUILDUP ON AQUARIUM WALLS AND EQUIPMENT; -TESTING WATER PARAMETERS; -OBSERVING TROUT BEHAVIOR; -ACKNOWLEDGING THE NITROGEN CYCLE; DO A WATER CHANGE CLEANING & CONDUCTING WATER CHANGES

RECOMMENDATIONS o 1st feeding: Swim-up Fry o Divide total daily amounts: 2-3 feedings/day o Use PFBC food o Use Auto feeder on weekends & holidays o Phasing into a new food size Maintaining a Clean Aquarium: FEEDING YOUR TROUT Q: Is food sinking to the bottom of aquarium? A: Decrease the amount of food you are feeding

Maintaining a Clean Aquarium: FEEDING YOUR TROUT Size 0 food  Day 1-7 after swim-up: feed 1/16 tsp 2-3 times per day  Day 8-14 after swim-up: feed ¼ tsp 2-3 times per day Size 1 food  Week 3: feed ½ tsp 3 times a day  Week 4: feed ½ tsp 3 times a day *For additional feeding guidelines use the chart on Page 34 of your Aquarium Resource Guide to determine your feeding regime*

Troubleshooting your Aquarium **Please View Handout

RELEASE DAY!

Pop Quiz! Q: What 4 life stages of the brook trout will you observe? A: Eyed Egg, Alevin (Sac-fry), Fry (Swim-up, Fry), Fingerling Q: Name at least 3 items on the Basic Daily Care Checklist. A: Equipment functioning (plugged in, working)? Removal of dead trout & debris (record) Test water parameters (record) Observe trout (record) Clean sides of aquarium Feed trout Conduct necessary water changes

Q: What 5 water parameters should you test regularly? A: pH, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, & Temperature Q: What does (could) an ammonia spike indicate? Q: What are the stages of the Nitrogen Cycle? A: Ammonia  Nitrites (Nitrosomonas)  Nitrates(Nitrobacters) A: Could indicate: -Aquarium has not yet gone through the “break-in cycle (aka “nitrogen cycle). -Feeding the trout too much

QUESTIONS?