- #1
What is This Microscopic Creature from My Fish Tank?
- Thread starter chound
- Start date
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around identifying a microscopic organism collected from a fish tank, with participants sharing observations and hypotheses based on photographic evidence taken through a microscope. The scope includes biological identification and microscopy techniques.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant suggests the organism may be a protozoan or microscopic animal, noting the presence of flagella but emphasizing the need for proper staining for accurate identification.
- Another participant proposes the organism could be Apicomplexa plasmodium or Paramecium in conjugation.
- A participant mentions the necessity of staining for better visibility and encourages obtaining more images.
- One contributor states they have stained the specimen using saffronin and methylene blue but notes that the organism remains transparent, asserting the presence of flagella and suggesting it has spores inside.
- A later reply describes observations of the organism, including two flagella, an oval body shape, and a nucleus positioned near a distinctive feature likened to "devil's horns."
- Another participant inquires about the magnification used for the images.
- Two participants propose that the organism is likely Lepadella patella, with one expressing certainty about this identification.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express multiple competing views regarding the identification of the organism, with no consensus reached on its exact classification.
Contextual Notes
Identification remains uncertain due to the lack of definitive staining and varying observations among participants. The discussion highlights the challenges of microscopic identification without comprehensive data.
- #2
iansmith
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
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These are likely to be protozoan or microscopic animals. In the first two picture, the organisms seems to have a flagella but it is hard to says without the proper stainning.
It is hard to do any identification without the proper information and equipment.
It is hard to do any identification without the proper information and equipment.
- #3
cronxeh
Gold Member
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Apicomplexa plasmodium?
Or Paramecium in conjugation
Or Paramecium in conjugation
Last edited:
- #4
sssddd
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Chound you got some nice pics, but yeah you need to stain these things you see under the microscope. Get more pics.
- #5
chound
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I did stain them using saffronin and methylene blue(That's all I've got). But still they are transparent. I am pretty sure they have flagella.sssddd said:
The second one looks like some kind of organism(has flagella) with spores inside it.
- #6
chound
- 163
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Better picture
I think this picture seems to give a better idea of the organism
Here is the things i could obsere:
1)2 flagella which join inside the body.
2)Almost oval body but the front is modified like the horns on the devil.
3)I think it has a nucleus near the left devil's horn
I think this picture seems to give a better idea of the organism
Here is the things i could obsere:
1)2 flagella which join inside the body.
2)Almost oval body but the front is modified like the horns on the devil.
3)I think it has a nucleus near the left devil's horn
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- #7
sssddd
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ok ok sorry now I see the flagella. Could you tell me the magnification.
- #8
gerben
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- #9
chound
- 163
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You are one hundered percent right!gerben said:
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