Networking Around the Country

If we couldn’t find eggs by December 27th, our experiment wouldn’t be able to fly.  The idea of breeding minnows looked like it wasn’t going to work out.  It takes about 8 weeks from the time you set up a tank to the point where the fish are acclimated enough to make breeding possible.  We only had three weeks.  Ms. Rossi and Ms. Irwin spent around five hours this afternoon on the Internet and phones trying to figure out where they could locate eggs and what type of eggs should go on the final materials list.  They spoke with people in Washington, Texas, Florida, etc.  Suggests for the type of fish ranged from trout (too big), Nemo fish, to Tilapia.  A call to faculty in Cornell University’s Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering provided the idea of Tilapia eggs as well as a lead to a possible company that could provide eggs.  Tilapia are breed for food year round and seemed like they might be able to be obtained by the deadline.   The calls to the contact went directly to voicemail.   They also provided us with a contact at the USDA who also didn’t answer his phone.  We also realized that SUNY Morrisville produced Tilapia as part of their Aquiculture Program and were hoping they might be able to provide eggs.