Re: Critters in Utric trays

John Taylor [The Banshee] (rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.OZ.AU)
Tue, 23 Feb 93 10:33:39 +0000

>It looks like, much to my astonishment, my _U.inflata_ is still alive
>and even vigorous! I usually have zero luck with suspended aquatics.

Initially, we didn't have any success with aquatic Utrics - we were
using the Slack "peat-tea" method. The best success we've had is to
grow them in the water trays of the terrestrial Utrics! So far, one
particular plant has been the only one to flower, but it's been
continuously flowering for months now!

>Lastly, I was poking around in the water-filled trays my _Utricularia_
>rest in, when I was astonished to find a few tiny critters I haven't seen
>before. I found some Planaria worms crawling around, looking silly with
>their crossed eyes, and a bunch of hydra which acted just like tiny
>green Sea anemonaes. Cute little varmints.

Are Planaria worms the little flat worms (about 1/2" x 1/8" approx??)
We've also had some strange critters which (under a microscope) look
like they have two half shells and branched feeding/swimming "limbs"
which scoop stuff into the shell - it's difficult to describe, but they
are similar in many ways to barnacles. Occasionally, we buy some live
Daphnia (which turns out to be mostly Cyclops, but who cares?!) from the
local fish shop (the live kind, not with chips...) to add to the ponds
and trays.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| John Taylor [The Banshee] | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
| rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au | Department of Applied Physics |
| MOKING IS A HEALTH HAZARD. | Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA |
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