October Update:
Thanks to the staff and students for participating in our 2nd annual Galena ES terrapin naming adventure. There were so many fun names to choose from. The names which received the most votes were Flip and Flop. Flip is in the tank on the left and Flop is in the tank on the right. Regarding the scientific investigation, the left tank is kept with a water temperature of 24 degrees celsius and the one on the right at 28 degrees celsius.
At Thursday’s “weigh-in” Flip recorded a lean and mean mass of 9.0 grams and Flop a svelte 10.5 grams. Both still smaller than Pipsqueak was when we got her last year. By the way, the hatch date for Flip and Flop was August 22.
September Update:
We have two baby terrapins! They were born on August 22. They are smaller than Pipsqueak was when we picked her up by about 4 grams. These little critters are about 8 grams. They are starting to eat a little and they are not spending the whole day wedged behind the water filters.
Our 2nd grade class is helping with terrapin feeding in the mornings along with the 4th grade.
We did so well last year with Pipsqueak, that the Maryland Environmental Service has asked us to participate in an experimental study. Dr. Willem Roosenburg is the lead scientist on the project run out of Poplar Island. One terrapin tank will be maintained at 24 degrees Celsius and one at 28 degrees Celsius. We will study how water temperature affects terrapin growth.