UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

This is Mr. Happy Face. You know how you can look at clouds and imagine pictures? Well, Mr. Happy Face once appeared in some debris as I was looking through the microscope, so I decided to save him for my "mascot".

A few years ago, I bought this "toy" microscope that hooks up to the computer and can turn the magnified images into pictures or movies. It is a Digital Blue QX3+. [Product info at http://playdigitalblue.com/products/qx3/info/.] I am having a lot of fun peeking at life in my aquarium. This display is in no specific order and it is not a comprehensive collection. Just whatever turned out, that I wanted to share. I'm also still trying to get a handle on my focusing skills. Critters are posted further down.

Plants

java moss 200x

riccia 60x

riccia 200x

riccia 200x

salvinia natans (leaf) 60x - not all in focus because there are those spiky things sticking up

salvinia natans (leaf spikes) 200x

salvinia natans (main root stem) 60x

salvinia natans (main root stem) 200x

salvinia natans (root hairs) 200x

water sprite 200x - looks like a jigsaw puzzle

Critters

Occasionally, I would see a dot or a wormy in my aquarium and wish I could get a better handle on what these thingys looked like. I was never worried about them, I knew they were just part of my tanks' little eco-systems and I never had infestations. In fact, once I got the microscope and wanted to find one, it was nearly impossible. When I did gravel vacuuming, it seemed the fish, rather than being scared of this big monster invading their space, were drawn to the area - especially the corys. Actually, vacuuming becomes quite the task with the fish hoarding around. I imagine I am stirring up all kinds of tasty unseen tidbits for them. I had kicked around the idea of a microscope for quite some time, but then a couple comments on a forum spurred me on (thanks wetmanNY).

You will notice a lot of these images are shades of purple or blue. I use dye to help in contrasting; sometimes I add a little too much. Most very small "critters" are transparent. You will also find my pictures are not the psychedelic masterpieces you see by professionals. Mine are more layman images. My microscope is not that powerful. I can't see individual cilia or digestive tracts of protozoa, but it suits my purposes (and budget) and I am happy with it. It has magification settings of 10x, 60x and 200x. The big "plus" for me was being able to do the viewing on my computer screen.

These are some specimens I have found time and again in different water samples (except for the limpet which I used to see occasionally but have only found once since getting the microscope). Here, finally, are their images:

protozoa: shelled (testate) amoeba - centropyxis aculeata, 200x
At first I thought this was arcella. Although very similar, I subsequently learned arcella would not have the spikes. There are always a lot of these.

Next 4 images: amoeba, most likely amoeba proteus, 200x

Next 5 images: copepod - harpactacoid, 200x (could be macrosetella or canthocamptus or ?)

small specimen

top view (can skitter very fast with all them legs)

large specimen

close-up of tail

nice rainbow-coloured specimen

Next 4 images, nauplius of the above copepod, 200x.
This guy is cool, he bounces about madly when he does move.

nematode, 200x (notice how he's dark in the middle, clear on the ends)

Next 3 images: ciliate - spirostomum, 200x
At least I believe this is what he is, as he stretches and contracts as he whips around. However, a lot of spirostomum images I have seen are longer and skinnier. He would seem to fit in heterotrichea group, though - "cell body large, mostly contractile".

Next 3 images: ciliate - spirostomum, 200x (another kind; could be ambiguus, the largest)
This one I found at a later date than the one above. He is defnitely longer and skinnier, but he has dots. I think the guy above had more dye in him. After this one absorbed more dye, he became blue, too, but then he started oozing something gooey (see last pic) and eventually died.

ciliate - blepharisma, 200x
He stretches and contracts as well but does a lot more rolling around. He is red.

Next images: minute gastropod - freshwater limpet (ancylus).
You can see this limpet with the naked eye; it is a little brown oval, about half the size of a pinhead.
The first 2 images are at 60x.

at 200x

Next 3 images: annelid - chaetogaster, 200x
Notice his large mouth and bristles on his body (more visible on first picture). Also, his last meal is visible; it was still moving around inside him. In the third picture, he is dead; you can see his meal tried to escape a la 'Alien'.

At the Movies

amoeba 210 KB This was done on time-lapse, 1 frame each 5 seconds. In real time, this occurred in 2 minutes and 25 seconds; it plays in only 5 seconds.

spirostomum 748 KB It's about 45 seconds long. Stick around for his grand exit.

copepod nauplius 595 KB It's about 30 seconds long. When he decides to move, boy, can this dude zip! At the beginning, you can see how one of his "arms" is holding onto that dark piece of gunk.