Last Observation

For the last observation, I saw more lacane rotifers on plant B. Also in plant B was a cyclops and many actinosphaerium: confirmed on pg. 169 (Patterson 1996.) There were many nematodes swimming, with their whip-like motion, within the soil layer and plant A: confirmed on pg. 226 (Pennak 1996.) They move by the friction off the vegetation around them. Most of its coloration comes from what it ingests. In order to grow, Nematodes shed their outermost cuticle from time to time much like snakes: confirmed on pg. 227 (Pennak 1996.)

Fourth Observation

On this fourth observation, I've seen more of the same organisms, but yet, I've still found new ones as well. I did notice that my food pellet had gotten stuck on the side of the aquarium because the water had evaporated over the weekend. Right off the bat, I saw a huge organism within the soil. It was a cyclops and made for a really good picture. Picture confirmed in Fig. 29.104 on pg. 798 (Edmonson 1959.)



I saw many more lacrymaria and noticed a Litonotus swimming in the middle of the aquarium and shot a video of his/her acrobatics. Video confirmed in Fig. 10.2.e on pg. 268 (Edmonson 1959.)

Third Observation

This week, I noticed more activity since applying the food pellet. ("Atison's Betta Food" is made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. Ingredients: 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 organisms were more numerous and diverse and some had grown. There was an Ostracod (seed shrimp) lying dead in the top of the organic layer. I also took some pictures of paramecium and other organisms in the utricularia (as seen at the right). This was confirmed in Fig. 10.11 on page 226 (Edmonson 1959.) Their were even more paramecium along the food pellet. Man, were they happy!!!!




I also got a picture of an actinosphaerium (left) growing withing the matrix. Confirmed on pg. 169 (Patterson 1996.)




Another picture (right) shows the paramecium growing next to the food pellet.

There is also a vorticella located in there.






Yet here is and even better picture of a vorticella: confirmed on pg. 292 (Edmonson 1959.)









This is a picture of a philodina rotifer: confirmed on pg. 421 (Edmonson 1959.)