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Rainbow Trout
 Onchoryncus mykiss
Status
Introduced to the north-eastern
portion of the Avalon Peninsula from California
in 1887. They currently occupy the Avalon Peninsula,
with populations occurring as far west as Clarenville.
Habitat
Prefer more open and fast water compared to Brook Trout, and can
tolerate temperatures between 0 to 25oC. Adults in lakes
prefer 18oC. Their preferred lake depth depends on oxygen
levels and temperature.
Food
Plankton, crustaceans, insects, snails, leeches, fish and fish
eggs.
Appearance
Highly
variable in colour: steel blue, yellow-green or brown above, silver to
pale yellow-green below; pink to red stripe on sides (except in sea run
form).
Breeding Biology
Unlike other
trout found in Newfoundland, rainbows spawn in the spring. Preferred
spawning sites are fine gravel beds in riffles above pools. Females dig
redds, or pits, while attended by several males, but one male is usually
dominant. Egg development depends on local conditions, but eggs will
usually hatch in seven to eight weeks, and require an additional three
to seven to absorb the yolk sacs before becoming free swimming.
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