Whitebait Frenzy

There are  actually 6 whitebait in the tank and they are LOVING the blood worms. Mrs Dalley said they were frantically eating the worms after the weekend.

Update on our Whitebait

There are 5 whitebait still alive. Many of them found it difficult to survive the transition into our tank and died. However, the 5 hardy ones are swimming, playing and enjoying life in Navigators 12 fish tank.

Our Inanga Have Arrived

Thursday 20th October

Our 20 Inanga have arrived for us to look after for the next 5-6 weeks.

We had to check the water conditions in our tank to ensure the whitebait did not get a shock when they were transferred from the buckets from the river into our tank.

Sadly not all may survive so we need to check each day and remove any that may have died.

 We also will need to take out any that may look sick so they don’t infect the rest in the tank.

They will be fed fish flakes and blood worms alternatively at the same time each day.

There is bacteria in our tank which helps clean up wast products or any dead plant waste.

The bacteria needs to be checked so it can continue to do this important job.

The bacteria produces food for the inanga.

Oxygen is needed in the water of the tank for the fish to survive  hence the pump and air filter in our tank.

Kirsty transferred the inanga using a small net.

They seemed to have settled into their new home quite successfully.

Thursday 13th November

Environmental Investigators

White Baiting – Inanga

Kirsty came to see us. She is an environmental scientist. She spoke to us about our Inanga and we found out some very interesting facts.

Inanga is one of 5 different types of white bait. This one is mainly found in Christchurch rivers. It is the smallest of the whitebait species and they are not very good swimmers or climbers. They live from 1-3 years. When they turn 1 they become an adult

Whitebait is eaten by humans and also other animals.

Live in the sea and salt water.

Spring high tide happens once a month. Ignunga use these tides to lay their eggs.

LIFE CYCLE

Eggs are tiny and are laid on the river bank in the grasses on the roots. Keeps them safe from eels and other fish that like to eat fish eggs. The eggs are laid by the adult ingnanga there on that spring high tide. At 3-4 weeks the larvae hatch from eggs and are swept out to sea on the tides.

Larvae at sea feed on small crustaceans and grow into juveniles called whitebait. They use their sense of smell to find fresh water and swim up stream to a river.

They grow into adults in autumn. They return to salt water wedge where they meet and lay their eggs. Each adult can lay 3000 eggs. Eggs stick to grasses. Males fertilise those eggs called spawning.

So Eggs –Larvae –Whitebait – Inanga.

WHERE INANGA LIVE

As eggs they are in the salt water wedge ( love zone )

They need gentle sloping banks, grasses and shade

As larvae they live in the sea

As adults they return to the fresh water part of the river.

To lay eggs they need right mix of salt and freshwater, right tide levels, right time of year,

Inanga numbers are declining

Because if you want them around in the future they need to be looked after now.

They are the bottom of the food chain. So very important

Why They are Declining

Fish ( trout ) slugs and mice are eating them.

Their spawning habitat is changing.

Stock is damaging the river banks

Man-made changes have been happening to the banks

Lawns are getting mowed right down to the river banks affecting spawning

Excessive sediment is occurring on banks and in the rivers

Man has put in tide gates which don’t allow fish through.

 The whitebait lining up to swim up the river.

The predators chasing the whitebait

Long Distance Champions

These people gained first, second or third place in the long distance races at Hansen Park today. Although it was a bit drizzly they triumphed in their age groups running in conditions that weren't the best for running.
Congratulations to all these children and to all the others who ran in the races. Great persevering.

9 year old boys - Lewis 1st, Josh 2nd
9 year old girls - Hannah 1st, Maya 3rd
10 year old boys - Brendon 1st,  Jack 2nd, Ben 3rd
10 year old girls - Grace 3rd
11 year  old - Emily 1st, Jenna 3rd

Our Famous Irish Dancer- Maya

Maya took part in the The Irish Dancing Association of New Zealand National Competition held at the Aurora Centre (Burnside High School) during the term break. She came second in New Zealand in the Under 10 age group (there were 18 competitors).  By coming in the top 5 she has also qualified to dance as a soloist at the World Irish Dancing Championships to be held Dublin next April.  Both Maya and her sister, Ella are part of the team travelling to this competition as well as competing as soloists. An absolutely amazing achievement. Congratulations.

Sun Hats

Make sure your sunhat is at school on the first day back this term.