Microscopic (40x-400x) pictures.

[Western_reefer]

Here are a few Microscopic (40x-400x) pictures that I took today.
Tell me what you think!

Copepods at 40x

Copepod at 100x

Copepod at 400x
(its 3 red Eyes)

Stomach

VIDEOS of the Copepod
At 40x
View My Video

At 100x
View My Video

Stomach at 400x
View My Video


Here is a picture of my Copepod farm, there are thousands of em!!

 

[Western_reefer]

Algae from the glass at 400x.

Yellow Sponge at 40x

Yellow Sponge at 400x

Basket Starfish arm at 40x

Basket Starfish arm at 100x

 

[uhuru]

very cool Moses. I especially like the sponge and basket star ones.

When you say copepod farm, do you mean you have a separate tank where you culture them? You should share details of the setup I'd like to see it.

 

[Western_reefer]

very cool Moses. I especially like the sponge and basket star ones.

When you say copepod farm, do you mean you have a separate tank where you culture them? You should share details of the setup I'd like to see it.

Thanks!!

Yup, I have a separate tank for them and I culture them. Sure, I'll take a few pictures of it later and post details about it.


Also, if you can think of anything else to look at under a microscope, please let me know and I'll do my best to take a few pictures of it.

 

[flying_dutchman]

which microscope do you use?

 

[Western_reefer]

Here are a few more pictures.

Copepod with a cluster of eggs.
All Copepods were not harmed and were put back into the farm.

At 40x

At 100x

At 400x
You can see the tiny tiny baby Copepods in the eggs. There is an arrow pointing at one.

 

[Western_reefer]

which microscope do you use?

I can't seem to find it online anywhere... Sorry.

 

[GreshamH]

I can't seem to find it online anywhere... Sorry.

The link is not needed, just give us the make/model

What genus/species of copepod are you working with? Looks like a harpacticoid, probably Tigrioupus californicus?

 

[Western_reefer]

Anemones Tentacles.

At 40x

At 100x

At 400x
I believe the golden/brown balls are Zooxanthellae

Here is a video at 100x.
You can see the Zooxanthellae moving around if you look closely.
View My Video

 

[Western_reefer]

The link is not needed, just give us the make/model

What genus/species of copepod are you working with? Looks like a harpacticoid, probably Tigrioupus californicus?

Found it! The one I have sells for $240.
http://www.nilesbio.com/prod460.html


Is Tigrioupus californicus native to California?

 

[GreshamH]

Nope. South America to Alaska. Not all species names like that mean they are from that area. Take Acropora florida, it's not even found in Floridas waters, let alone the Atlantic

 

[Western_reefer]

Nope. South America to Alaska. Not all species names like that mean they are from that area. Take Acropora florida, it's not even found in Floridas waters, let alone the Atlantic

Oh, ok. Then mine isn't Tigrioupus californicus. My copepods are native to California. Do you know any that are native to California?

 

[Western_reefer]

Oh, ok. Then mine isn't Tigrioupus californicus. My copepods are native to California. Do you know any that are native to California?

Also, are there any Copepods that are native to California which can live in a Salinity lvl of 1.040?

 

[GreshamH]

Yes and I just listed one (Tigger-Pod - Tigriopus californicus) In the wild you can find them at like 75ppt down to as low as 15ppt. They live int he upper splash zone, the last region in the tidepools and the last to get splashed into. I've seen them in pools with so much ammonia you could smell it, and they were thriving. hardy little critters. heck some of the tidepools get +90f at times and in a second can jump right down to the low 50's.

 

[Western_reefer]

Yes and I just listed one (Tigger-Pod - Tigriopus californicus) In the wild you can find them at like 75ppt down to as low as 15ppt. They live int he upper splash zone, the last region in the tidepools and the last to get splashed into. I've seen them in pools with so much ammonia you could smell it, and they were thriving. hardy little critters. heck some of the tidepools get +90f at times and in a second can jump right down to the low 50's.

Then I have Tigriopus californicus. WOW! That's pretty crazy!!



BTW, my Tigriopus californicus are all wild caught. I caught them a few days ago when I was at the ocean/beach. lol I collected 1 gallon because that's the only container I had at the time. There were TONS of pools filled with these little buggers. lol

Whats the best food to feed Tigriopus californicus?

 

[GreshamH]

Moses it's best to check the law prior to doing such a thing as they are not allowed to be collected ( we have the only commercial permit ever issued for such a thing and it only allows us to collect broodstock of which it's been years since we've needed to do that). A very easy thing to remember isif there are no quotas in the CA F&W reg book you can not take them. There also was a zooplankton collection ban placed several years ago due to the lack of zooplankton blooms in out states coastal waters. Tide pools are also pretty much off limits for collection of anything, again, check the regs prior to doing such things. The field agent would have no issue slapping you with a fine

They feed upon many things, phytoplankton gets the growing the best (browns/golden browns/diatoms). They eat a lot of stuff, bacteria, phyto, decomposing macro-algae, seabird poop, etc, etc.

 

[Western_reefer]

Moses it's best to check the law prior to doing such a thing as they are not allowed to be collected ( we have the only commercial permit ever issued for such a thing and it only allows us to collect broodstock of which it's been years since we've needed to do that). A very easy thing to remember isif there are no quotas in the CA F&W reg book you can not take them. There also was a zooplankton collection ban placed several years ago due to the lack of zooplankton blooms in out states coastal waters. Tide pools are also pretty much off limits for collection of anything, again, check the regs prior to doing such things. The field agent would have no issue slapping you with a fine

They feed upon many things, phytoplankton gets the growing the best (browns/golden browns/diatoms). They eat a lot of stuff, bacteria, phyto, decomposing macro-algae, seabird poop, etc, etc.

Yikes, had no idea collecting zooplankton was illegal. Didn't even think of it because they are so small. I'll take a look in the CA F&W reg book.

Oh, ok. Thanks!!

 

[GreshamH]

FWIW even crushed up flake food is fine with them. try that and a phytoplankton source heavy in brown/diatom alga's

 

[Western_reefer]

FWIW even crushed up flake food is fine with them. try that and a phytoplankton source heavy in brown/diatom alga's

Ok. Will do.

Hey, do you know if collection Sea water for personal use only is legal? I collect at most 14 gallons a month. I did call fish and game and they said collecting sea water is fine as long as its for personal use only and not a lot. lol

 

[GreshamH]

at the volume you're A OK for collecting but at larger volumes there is a permit system required and IIRC it's no small feat.

FWIW field agents and the office tend to have a disconnect. Prior to asking I would do as much background searching on the subject as you can. Countless times I have corrected field agents on issues as well as office staff. It's not an easy job they have as the amount of species they need to know is no short of an encyclopedia so I'm by far not ragging on them/bashing them I respect what they are doing and at times have thought about going into that field myself... then I wake up and think to myself, why on earth would I want to enter Cali government when Arny is talking about dropping state workers to the federal min wage until the budget is worked out.