Flashy Outfit

Salmon change colors to attract a spawning mate. Some pacific salmon use a lot of their energy for returning home! For making eggs and digging a nest, most of them stop eating when they return to freshwater and have no energy left for a returning trip after spawning.
When they return for spawning, they stop feeding. They have a shape change, especially the males. In some species, they form a hump on their back and their mouths change. The males and females both have color changes.

DNR

The DNR in Michigan was founded in the 1800s by the University of Michigan Board of Regents. It was formed when lots of people thought they could have as much natural resources such as iron copper and wood as they wanted.

The DNR is short for Department of Natural Resources. They take care of the fish for awhile then they give them to Hatcheries. Hatcheries are big places that take care of and breed the fish. We took a field trip to a hatchery, and that's were we got our fish.   

Salmon Spawning

Salmon spawn when they have babies. When they have babies, they die. Their babies sometimes die but some of them stay alive if they have enough oxygen from their mom. They start to lose their color, and they dig a nest for their babies in the gravel. The male makes sure that nothing can eat the eggs while the mom lays them. The more the pounds the more the babies.

At the corner of happy and healthy

Healthy fish are happy fish so I'll tell you the behaviors of the fish when they are healthy and unhealthy. In the tank we've noticed  that if the fish are hungry, they swim more to the bottom of the tank. When they are dying they start swimming upside down and in circles, unless it's out of water then they flop around. In the winter in a pond if you don't have a bubbler the fish won't get enough oxygen and they will die. The equipment in the tank may be dangerous to the fish if it breaks. The equipment could electrocute the fish because everyone knows water and electricity do not mix well. Ammonia is another danger to the fish if the owner does not clean the tank, the fish will get ammonia poisoning from the poop and germs in the tank, and then they will die.

Hatcheries in Michigan

Hatcheries are a place where they take care of the salmon, like the fish hatchery that we went to get our fish. There are a bunch of hatcheries in the world like that one, but Michigan has 6 that are run by the state. The people that work at fish hatcheries make sure that they eggs are in good shape so that they can be nice and healthy fish. 
They take care of all sorts of fish like salmon. But that's not the only fish they take care of. They also take care of steal head, rainbow trout, trout, and there's a bunch of others.    

Predators and Prey! Watch Out!

What are some predators and prey for salmon?

Hawks, orcas, seals, sharks,dolphins,  sea lions, and adult salmon all eat salmon. The most common predators are bears and eagles.

Ammonia Poisoning! OH NO!

What is ammonia poisoning?
Ammonia poisoning happens in new aquariums. It is a common fish disease. You want your ammonia level at zero if you can. You need to do a water change if you have too much ammonia in your tank. It's easy to find out if your fish have ammonia stress, especially if you take good care of your fish all the time: 

• They wan't to eat. 
• They are laying at the bottom of the the tank
• They gasp at the surface
• The fish gills and fins will get red and inflamed
• Their eyes, too

What do you do if you think your salmon ammonia poisoning or stress?

You do a water change!

Win With Fins!

Without fins fish would flop around like a fish out of water, but in water!
But fish have fins so they don't look like the Pokemon Magikarp. 

There are 3 kinds of dorsal fins: the single dorsal fin, the single dorsal fin with adipose fin, and the split dorsal fin. There are 4 kinds of caudal fins: tail rounded tail, symmetrical tail, asymmetrical tail and forked tail.