Introducing: Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom, Take 2


During the 2011/2012 school year, we had a program called Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom at our elementary school. This program is offered through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and it's a great idea for a number of reasons - letting kids learn about these incredible pre-dinosaur animals while, maybe, helping add a few more of these amazing animals to the Chesapeake Bay.

Last year, we ended up with no live horseshoe crabs (HSC) and I think this was because of over-zealousness on my part for ridding the aquarium of an unwanted fungus or at least what I thought was fungus. The 4th graders, though, were very enthusiastic and they learned a lot about the critters even though they never saw a live one in their classroom. Sigh.

This year, though, now that the teacher (me) is a bit more experienced, I think we'll have better luck. So here's Take 2...

Friday, July 27, 2012

July 27 - What's that cloudy stuff on the bottom?

Here's a photo of the bottom of the tank. I was at the side of the tank taking the photo

And this is a larger view of part of the top photo. What do you think the cloudy stuff is?


I think it's the molts. I think they pile up in part of the aquarium because of water currents caused by the air stone and the water filter. Just my guess. I think last year I was so fungal-phobic that I thought the cloudy stuff was fungus and took it out. It's true what they say - second time moms are more calm than first timers.  

Checked the chemicals today and all's well. The salinity is up to 14 ppt and the other levels (pH, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia) look about the same. That's good. 

I'm feeding them 2 of the frozen baby brine shrimp cubes every other day. I think they're happily eating it because I'm not seeing any obvious accumulations. 
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