Week Two Observations (Thursday, Oct 28)

Last week (Friday, Oct 22nd), a "Beta Food Pellet" with the following ingredients was put into my microaquarium: fish meal, wheat flower, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins and preservatives. Analysis: Crude Protein 36%; Crude fat 4.5%; Crude Fiber 3.5%; Moisture 8% and Ash 15%.

 The official name is "Atison's Betta Food" made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104.

Changes: My microaquarium displayed a great diversity of organisms this week. Although most organisms increased in number, a layer of dead matter was found on the bottom of the tank. Some of my bladderwort and water moss had decayed as well. Once again, almost a quarter of my water had evaporated.



Organisms:

Rotifers: These organisms, which I have described in my last post, dramatically increased in number since last week. I managed, with some difficulty, to capture one on video. As one can see, it has clear organs and a clear body. Additionally, it uses cilia to gather food into it's mouth. I found this one swimming close to the water moss. However, rotifera could be found everywhere: by the soil, by the bladderwort, in the middle of the tank, and on the sides. They seemed to prefer to feed on cyanobacteria (not the cyanobacteria itself, but the bacteria living on the cyanobacteria).

 

 Rainis KG, Russel BJ. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Danburg, Connecticut: Grolier Publishing. 193 p.

Diatoms: These algae could be found everywhere. A huge number of them sat on the bottom. In addition to these algae, I spotted an increase in green algae (which contain chlorophyll) on the bottom of my tank also.

Rainis KG, Russel BJ. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Danburg, Connecticut: Grolier Publishing. p 116.

Ostracods: these are commonly called seed shrimp. I found this one on the bottom.

Egmond W V & Walker D. 1995 [cited 2010 Oct 31].Arthropods. [Internet]. United Kingdom: Microscopy-UK. Available from: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/index.html.

Plants: this is a picture of one of the bladders on Utricularia gibba. Unlike last week, I found it devoid of paramecium. 

Euplotes: I found this little guy swimming around the middle of the tank.

 

Patterson D. 1996. Free Living Freshwater Protozoa. A Colour Guide. Drawings by Stuart Hedley. 73 Corringham Rd, London NW11 7DL: Manson Publishing. 124 p. Figure 260.
Paramecium: Wherever rotifers popped up, paramecium showed up too.

Flatworms: There was a very large flatworm in the soil of my tank. Perhaps it was the young flatworm (from last week) all grown up.

Cyanobacteria: A plethora of these long, clear bacteria appeared in my tank.

Citations:

Rainis KG, Russel BJ. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Danburg, Connecticut: Grolier Publishing. 116-193 p.

Patterson D. 1996. Free Living Freshwater Protozoa. A Colour Guide. Drawings by Stuart Hedley. 73 Corringham Rd, London NW11 7DL: Manson Publishing. 124 p. Figure 260.

Egmond W V & Walker D. 2010 [cited 2010 Oct 31].Arthropods. [Internet]. United Kingdom: Microscopy-UK. Available from: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/index.html.