Field Reports

During the last couple of days the majority of our trout have become "free swimmers."
The students haven’t stopped talking about it.
We’ve placed several of the fry in small containers for each cooperative learning group to observe them "up close and personal."
Observations were made with hand lenses, then were either written or drawn into the "Trout Journals."

Here is a photo taken of the artwork of Bedwell Elementary School in Bernardsville by TIC teacher Jim McCarron.  I think I see some entries for the Pequest Hatchery’s annual trout stamp art contest!    

Eyed eggs are now starting to become sac fry. They started hatching about 2 days ago and are progressing rapidly at a steady pace. Water temp is saying steady at around 52.5 F degrees water level has been pretty even from day to day. All pumps are working nicely with the exception of some leaking.
The sac fry should hopefully continue at the growth rate they are at now. As long as we keep up on the tank by checking water level, temp, ph and ammonia levels at daily rate.
Thomas Walters

It’s been less than a week since the arrival of our eggs, and today we have noticed about 10 eggs hatched in each of our two vibert boxes. Students observed yolk sacs attached to the underside of the alevin.

Southern Regional High School would like to thank our TU TIC coordinator Steve Cronin. Our eggs are in the 55 gallon tank. The kids look forward to seeing the brook trout develop over the course of the program.

Those folks who used the vibert boxes last year. The eggs are placed on the top tier one layer thick. If the box is on the bottom what is the best way to remove dead eggs?

I would assume you un-snap the top of the box and draw out the white eggs. It seems that this would require you to reach to the bottom of the tank and retrieve the box. Please let me know what worked for you last year. Thanks, Jason Hoch

On October 17th our eggs arrived courtesy of our TIC (NJ Trout Unlimited) volunteers. With the help our volunteers the students assisted in assembling the Vibert boxes and placing the eggs in them. The children carefully removed the white opaque eggs using eyedroppers and plastic forceps. Quite a few of the eggs were already eyed. The children have already asked plenty of questions concerning the eggs. "Trout Journals" have been started by the students.

Mr. Ludwig’s and Ms. George’s
4th Grade Science Class.