Fish Eggs to Fry: Week 5 Update

The alevins are growing.  Everything is looking good in both tanks.

Tank updates for Bay City (BC) & Garibaldi (G) as of 11/20/24:

Water temperature: BC-52, G-53

Thermal Units (TUs): BC-1,292, G-1,321

Mortalities (Morts): BC-Eggs 0, Fry 0, G-Eggs 0, Fry 1*

*The fry that expired was the first one to hatch at Garibaldi.  It had been partially visible and looked like it was well buried in the gravel.  As it grew and more of it became visible, we saw that it was deformed.  Instead of a long straight alevin, its head came out one side of the egg and the body emerged as a tight coil at the other side.  It never moved from its position and was unable to survive.

Salmon trivia question:

Question: How do salmon know to go to the ocean in the first place?

Answer: We don’t know for certain.  They must have a genetic cue to head downstream when their bodies are ready to change to a saltwater environment (they are called salmon smolts when their bodies change and they migrate to the ocean).

Visuals:

The K-1 class from Garibaldi Grade School visited the library to see the salmon and learn more about them.  Kyle Wilson, ODFW STEP Biologist, showed them how to pretend they were the eggs buried in the gravel and how to move their arms like a mother salmon’s tail to make a redd in the gravel for her young.

Look at how much the salmon are changing and growing…

Video link:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/DhkbWgFcmnzkYj3X6 

Are you wondering why most are gathered at the corner edges of the tank?  We think it is because of the water flow or current created by the input hose at the other end of the tank.  As they continue to grow and get stronger, we expect to see them swimming more in the current areas.

Handouts:

• Salmon habitat informational slides from ODFW

More to come next week! Click here to go back to the Fish Eggs to Fry weekly update page.