General+Minnow+Info+Division

=General Minnow Information Division = //04/24/10 7:33PM Data Collection Methods// Ways in which we can effectively record and collect quantitative data about our specimen. After researching the methods of attaining such data from our experiment, I came about a few ideas and options which we can utilize. Given that our organisms are alive during the time that we measure such things, they would be measured in a much different manner than if they were deceased at the time. Dead fish can easily be weighed and measured, as we do not need to worry about the well being of the fish and specific handling. In this case we can simply measure its size in millimeters using a ruler, and with this, also calculate the weight by measuring its girth (distance around its body) and length in order to calculate weight. In the case of measuring our live specimen, we can place a container of water with a specified amount on a scale, record the initial amount of water, remove a minnow from the tank and place it within this container and record the final amount of water. This will give us an idea of its weight. We can measure length simply with a measuring tape.

What we need to make sure during these data collections is that they are treated with good care. It is important that:
 * "All equipment that comes into contact with live fish must be wet down first to minimize cuticle damage during the handling procedure." We do not want to tamper the natural mucous coats which are on the outsides of their bodies.
 * "Fish must not be held out of the water for more than 30 seconds"
 * "One group member completes measurements while another records data which will reduce the time it is out of its tank
 * Fish are monitored after returning to their tanks in order to observe any significant changes which may have been caused by the data collection process such as excess stress (which we can identify visually) ."

Information about data collection & fish handling: []

-Shanice C.

Basic information about the Pimephales promelas species

Classification of Fathead Minnows:

Animalia Chordata Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Pimephales Pimephales Promelas Rafinesque, 1820