810-Lancaster Farming. Saturday, Mav 30. t
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Turtles, Other Water Creatures Under Care
Of Twin Valley Aquaculture Students
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
EL VERSON (Chester Co.)
Legend has it that Stumpy the
painted turtle put up a gallant fight
too bad, however, because he
lost his right arm along the way.
Long ago, in a pond not so far
away. Twin Valley High School
students rescued Stumpy, now
going on 14 (old for a turtle), from
the fight with a snapping turtle.
The right-armless but dashing
turtle has taken it well over the
years once the students can
finally scrub the algae off his pro
tective shell to find his true age.
Stumpy, like many one-time
Jeff McCoy, 12th grader, helped to load up a pickup truck
filled with an Ice drum with about 30-50 catfish, being trans
ported to market. Here he checks out the tilapia In the
raceways.
Students in the aquaculture and ag sciences programs at the high school use the
Twin Valley Pond, near the elementary school, to capture species for use In the tanks
at the facility. They have acquired tree frogs, tadpoles, newts, and salamanders,
according to Angela. The pond Is a Class I pond, with no fish living In K because of its
lack of oxygen. From left, Angela Brent, Beth Zerr, and Amy Kline Inspect the pond.
jjKidg-
denizens of the somewhat shallow
waters of the nearby Twin Valley
Pond, as students call it, has a new
life in a tank, along with other tur
tles that arc cared for at the high
school, which towns up in the hill
of the valley.
Stumpy the turtle tries to keep
up with other inhabitants, includ
ing a red-eared slider, snapping,
and map turtles in the tank.
Stumpy the painted turtle has
yellow, naturally colored stripes
along his appendages. But accord
ing to Amy Kline, a 10th grader at
Twin Valley, other painted turtles
can exhibit red or orange
colorings.
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In the 1,500-gallon pool, before It was drained to make way lor renovations, about 80
tilapia made their home, along with 30-50 catfish (sold to Shady Maple Supermarket In
Blue Ball). The tllapla still remaining In the raceway measure about 6-8 Inches long
and were placed there last fall. Students holding up fish from left, Amy Barnett, 11th
grade, catfish; Lee Mlllisock, 12th, tilapia; and Jeff McCoy, 12th grade, white catfish.
How old is Stumpy? Amy said
you can tell by the rings on the
shell. Each “ring” or block denotes
a year in the life of the turtle. On
Tuesday this week, with help from
fellow aquaculture student Angela
Brent, 10th grader, both used a
scrub brush to take off some algae
tank buildup from its outer shell.
They counted the blocks 14 to
be exact on the shell.
Students in the aquaculture and
ag sciences programs at the high
school use the Twin Valley Pond,
near the elementary school, to cap
ture species far use in the tanks at
the facility. They have acquired
tree frogs, tadpoles, newts, and
salamanders, according to Angela.
The pond is a Class I pond, with no
(Turn to Pago Bit)
f
Jacqi Hartung, 11th grader at Twin Valley, maintains a
tank of the fast, aggressive Cichllds at the school.
ties kept In 4be.tank~at
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