ElizabethGreene
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Collecting aquatic critters
I'm growing some aquatic plants on my desk and I've observed some tiny "things" swimming in the water. They are large enough to see with the naked
eye, but I can't make out any distinguishing features. For scale, you could fit at least 4 on the tip of a 0.5 (mm ?) fine tip mechanical pencil
lead.
Question: How do I catch some of these for microscopic examination? I tried an eyedropper and they are too fast for me.
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DraconicAcid
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I would guess a few drops of ethanol would slow them down.
Please remember: "Filtrate" is not a verb.
Write up your lab reports the way your instructor wants them, not the way your ex-instructor wants them.
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CharlieA
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Microscopists use a drop or so of 1.5% methylcellusolve to slow them down. I might try a drop of (diluted) glycerin, to see if that works. Of course,
sacrificing them will slow them to a grinding stop (no pun intended), but would eliminate a lot of fascinating observing.
I recently read a book about Leuwenhoek and his "wee little beasties" that he observed centuries (1700's?) ago; very fascinating reading!
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ElizabethGreene
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Thanks.
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nezza
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Methylcellulose or VERY dilute Nickel salt solutions narcotise protozoa.
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
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