DIEProphezeiung Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 I noticed something white on some of my new plants today. whenever I disturb it, it seems to retract to the plant and then come back out. I got some video with a microscope. Any ideas? Is this something I should be worried about. It is in a invert only tank with shrimp and snails. Dwarf hair grass growth - YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Here is a picture of it on some java moss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 WOAH! That is so COOL. I have no idea what it is, but it acts like larvae or something? polyps of some kind? @Daniel has to see this. Have you added any new plants recently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Yes. The dwarf hair grass and some reineckii was added about 4 days ago. I just noticed this on some of the plants today though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 7 hours ago, Brandy said: WOAH! That is so COOL. I have no idea what it is, but it acts like larvae or something? polyps of some kind? @Daniel has to see this. Have you added any new plants recently? Wow, that is so cool. I am researching it now, but I don't have many good ideas yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shkote Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Possibly some type of Bryozoan colony? I started researching a little after finding a colony of Plumatella repens in my guppy tank. There are so many different types. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jdogtrainer Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Definitely following this. Fascinating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 After carefully looking, I found the same thing in one of my shrimp aquariums. I am not 100% sure yet but what these seem to be are sessile rotifers. Rotifers are tiny invertebrate animals that are even now poorly understood. This is a colony of possibly juveniles rotifers all on stalks. When I touch them they all contract and then come out again. Much more research is needed. Here is video I shot a few minutes ago of the ones I found in the ghost shrimp breeding aquarium: Thank you @DIEProphezeiung and @Brandy for calling my attention to these fascinating little animals! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 Thanks @Daniel I found vorticella after looking up rotifers and I think this is more similar to what I have seen. http://en.wikipedia.org//static/favicon/wikipedia.ico Vorticella - Wikipedia EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 1 minute ago, DIEProphezeiung said: Thanks @Daniel I found vorticella after looking up rotifers and I think this is more similar to what I have seen. http://en.wikipedia.org//static/favicon/wikipedia.ico Vorticella - Wikipedia EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG I like that solution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 I was just about to edit my post. looks like rotifers and vorticella are very similar. They are essentially filter feeders getting nutrients from the water column so harmless for the shrimp. I think I've even the shrimp snacking on them. They have now spread to a piece of wood and it almost looks like a carpet. I will try and get a picture of them on the wood when the lights come on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 5 minutes ago, DIEProphezeiung said: I think I've even the shrimp snacking on them. Yes, I thought I saw my ghost shrimp snacking on them this morning also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 (edited) Awsome video here for those interestedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiPw1byKuzk The first thing they show is what I think I have in my tank. Edited November 30, 2020 by DIEProphezeiung 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I think that is what I have too. Thanks for tracking that down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 No problemo. I googled for 2 days with no luck until your rotifer clue that led me to vorticella. Teamwork makes dreamwork! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 I found some on the glass today. My microscope isn't very strong but you can see the stalks on that one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mridul Singh Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Ooh, this is interesting! I saw this once on my cryptocorynes, in a small 5 gallon shrimp tank. I thought it was some type of crustacean, but after you guys' wonderful input, It does seem like rotifers! Thank you for asking the question, and thank you everyone who answered! I am definitely following this page to see what other experts know about this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I 10 minutes ago, Mridul Singh said: I thought it was some type of crustacean, but after you guys' wonderful input, It does seem like rotifers! I have switched from it being sessile rotifers to Vorticella. If I have chance today, I will put it under the microscope and see what it looks like. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I put them under the microscope and they are definitively Vorticella. No doubt at all. Teamwork with @DIEProphezeiung and @Brandy. I learn something new on the forum everyday! 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIEProphezeiung Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 Very cool. I've been looking at better microscopes all day today. Might just have to pick one up now. Thanks for the video! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mridul Singh Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Thanks for the updates! I've got a microscope from a few years ago, might have to pull it out again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I too recently became aware of Vorticella in my aquarium, but have not witnessed a colony the size of the one you discovered. I guess people have been keeping aquariums for their microscopic inhabitants for quite some time. This book from 1883 has a whole chapter on the microscopical aquarium. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org//apple-touch-icon.png The fresh-water aquarium - Biodiversity Heritage Library WWW.BIODIVERSITYLIBRARY.ORG The Biodiversity Heritage Library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 @Aubrey you clearly have access to older cool literature. I love it when you have to links like this! I just downloaded this book. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 @Daniel I have lost many hours since discovering The Biodiversity Heritage Library. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alesha Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Just now, Daniel I put them under the microscope and they are definitively Vorticella. No doubt at all. Teamwork with @DIEProphezeiung and @Brandy. I learn something new on the forum everyday! Oh my word! So cool! And that little spring action... so incredible! Thanks for sharing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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