Idaho native fish grown in Hagerman hatcheries are easier than ever to see thanks to a new aquarium in the lobby of the new UI Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station at 3059 F National Fish Hatchery Road.

Weekdays from 8 to 5 visitors can see white sturgeon, rainbow trout, bright yellow golden rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and large crayfish. They swim in a 550-gallon, 10-foot-long aquarium fed by natural spring waters.

“It’s been very popular,” says Mike Casten, hatchery manager who is responsible for the aquarium. “We get lots of people wanting to tour our facilities. They enjoy seeing Idaho’s native fish up close.”

Natives on display are about a year old, which explains their modest sizes—about 2 feet long for sturgeon and 1 pound for trout. Sturgeon can get up to 12 feet long and can live up to 100 years, while trout can easily attain 15 pounds as 3-year-old fish raised in Magic Valley farms. Trout typically live for 4 or 5 years.

Even more colorful are aquariums with some 60 species of ornamental fish, 

a new effort at Hagerman. “We currently have three grants to raise ornamentals. We see this as having a great potential for Idaho,” said Casten. The Magic Valley’s naturally warm waters—80o to 120oF—are ideal for raising ornamentals. For a tour, call Casten at 208.837.4107 or e-mail mcasten@uidaho.edu.

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