Living Specimens FAQs
How do I get my agar out of the bottle?
How do I dispose of my microbes after my experiment?
How can I keep my cultures for a few days?
What are some tips for finding protists in the container?
How should I keep my Planaria?
How long does it take for Planaria regenerate?
What do Daphnia eat?
How many dermestid beetles does it take for skeleton preparations?
How do I get my agar out of the bottle?
Loosen the cap on the bottle and microwave on full power for 90 seconds. Remove bottle (use a hot mitt) and swirl to loosen agar from the sides. Reheat in microwave for 20 seconds several times, removing the bottle and swirling between each reheating period. Pay close attention to prevent overheating and boiling over. Most types of agar will be completely melted after two or three reheatings.
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How do I dispose of my microbes after my experiment?
It is best to autoclave microbes before disposal. If an autoclave is not available, cultures can be placed in a container of bleach. This will kill the culture and dissolve the agar, it can then be flushed down the drain.
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How do I keep my cultures for a few days?
Loosen the lid of the jar and keep it at or below room temperature and out of direct sunlight.
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What are some tips for finding protists in the container?
Amoeba - Let the jar settle for an hour. Amoeba tend to be whitish, so remove the lid and place the jar over a dark surface. A small portion of water can be drained from the top, since Amoeba tend to gather near the bottom. Also look for them near the rice grain.
Stentor - Stentor are dark green, so place the sample against a light colored surface for easier viewing.
Pelomyxa - Use same technique as for Amoeba.
Vorticella - Vorticella will cling to the bottom of the jar or a hand suspended from the surface of the water. Allow the jar to settle for a while after receiving.
Paramecium - These are fairly large and easy to see throughout the culture. They move rather quickly so you may want to use WARD’S slowing agent Detain to view them.
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How should I keep my Planaria?
Planaria can be kept in a refrigerator for 2 - 3 weeks with out being fed. They may require a weekly water change. If you would like to keep them longer, set them up in a tank with aged tap water. Provide them with an air stone to oxygenate the water and aquatic plants or rocks for hiding places. Feed them a small piece of liver or egg yokes once a week. Be sure to remove any unused food and change 1/3 of the water after feeding.
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How long does it take for Planaria regenerate?
When conducting a regeneration experiment, the planaria should regenerate in 2 - 3 weeks.
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What do Daphnia eat?
Daphnia will eat Baker's yeast (sprinkle a small amount on the water), Euglena (87-0100), or Daphnia growth food (88-5950). They should be fed twice a week.
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How many dermestid beetles does it take for skeleton preparations?
As a rule, a culture of dermestids can finish a mouse or frog skeleton in about two weeks. It may take thousands of them to clean a sheep skull in a month. While the beetles will reproduce, the length of time for skeletal preparation depends on how large the skeleton is and how many beetles are in the initial culture.
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