Trout Eggs! Arrival Day!

This is my second year to raise trout eggs in the classroom with my environmentalist friend, Nancy. We go to training classes given by the Department of Fish and Game, become certified, get a permit, and take refresher workshops to have this wonderful experience with the students.

In the classroom we've sharpened our observation skills, learned about the importance of watersheds, become environmentalist, and discussed trout habitat. We've eagerly awaited the big day of the arrival of the eggs.

Our sponsor from a local Fly Fisherman organization brought about 40 trout eggs to the classroom today. Before he put them into the aquarium, each child got a close look at them.

He was on hand to answer many questions and to point out important features like eyes.

After checking to see that the chiller was working to keep the water at a cold stream temperature of 50 degrees, he carefully settled the tiny pearl sized eggs on top of the gravel. Some of the children brought in the large river rocks that will make good hiding places for the fry that hatch.

As you can see, the idea is to copy the conditions of a stream where the trout or salmon would be spawning, hatching, and developing.

It's interesting that the aquarium where the students are raising fish to learn about healthy habitat requirements is right over a sign that warns that what flows down our street drains ends up in our streams.

It was a good day

With Heart