Introducing Tina and the Crickets
At Sawmill, we are fortunate to have dedicated Grade 6 students from Mrs. Ziolkowski's class come down every day to take care of our vivarium. Stop past our library just before recess in the afternoon to see a real "FOOD FIGHT". You will observe Tina, Andrew, Neil, Matt, and Chris working hard feeding crickets and worms to the animals. They must also trim the hydroponic plants (Tina's favourite job). Each day they carefully record the amount of food given and any problems that they observe. Since Tina and the Crickets have become our Sawmill vivarium experts, we have asked them to share their knowledge with you...
The Planning Stages
We started planning our vivarium in May of 1997. Mr. Nicoletta's whole class made sketches of what we thought the vivarium should look like. There were thirty of us and not one sketch looked the same. We finally chose what it should look like in June. Unfortunately, we couldn't get started working on the vivarium until September.
Getting Started
There were four people chosen to help with taking care of the vivarium. The first thing we did was put in the rocks, gravel and soil. We made two waterfalls in the two far corners. We then poured in the water. Everything worked out perfectly. In the middle of October we bought our first fish. It was a swordtail. Then came catfish, tetras and marigold platies. We also put in six fire-bellied newts, six firebellied toads, dozens of snails, one albino frog and six anoles. Our vivarium was soon full. We, the student helpers, had earned the nickname "Tina and the Crickets".
Help from the Community
Mr. Kralik is one of the people who we gratefully thank. He donated many animals for us to observe, study and admire. These animals include the newts, toads and the many fish that swim in the water. The latest additions, our anoles that jump from leaf to leaf, were donated by Mr. Kralik, too. He has come past many times with special (cricket) treats for the hungry toads and anoles.
We also thank the Brampton Aquarium club for their donation of $100 toward the filtration system and other equipment.
Our thanks go to the Wylie family, who donated our one and only albino claw frog, a newt and some fish. Our vivarium is a very successful team effort!
This first feature article was written by Tina and Andrew
It was printed in the March edition of Brampton Aquarium
Club Magazine called "Hi Fin"
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