Is this a tardigrade?

[shawn perez]

After long hours of searching i came across this thing which looks like an empty skin of a tardigrade but im not sure if it is an empty skin or if its a tardigrade or if its something else. Please help me out here. It consists leg like elongations and also has three round things(not sure if its inside or out).

IMG_20200807_181310_986-01-01-01.jpeg (186.62 KiB) Viewed 7469 times

[KD Arvidsson]

Hi Shawn! Unfortunately impossible to see in this picture for me. Do you have more pictures? //KD

[DonSchaeffer]

Doesn't look like one to me unless it's in a very odd position.

[shawn perez]

Hi Shawn! Unfortunately impossible to see in this picture for me. Do you have more pictures? //KD

This was the only picture i could get and now im unable to relocate it again :/

[shawn perez]

Doesn't look like one to me unless it's in a very odd position.

Okay :/

[shawn perez]

I have found something again today which looks like a tardigrade but I'm not sure about it. Need help please.

[janvangastel]

I don't recognize it as a tardigrade. A tardigrade looks more like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWR5UzMJHzM

[KC2EP]

Hi Shawn. The second photo you posted doesn’t look like a Tardigrade to me. How are you collecting and preparing your samples?

[shawn perez]

Hi Shawn. The second photo you posted doesn’t look like a Tardigrade to me. How are you collecting and preparing your samples?

Hello, I gather some amout of moss from a wall or a rock mostly as they're the most seen in my area and then i bring them home and soak them in bottled water in a container for minimum 3 hours and maximum I've tried by now is keeping it overnight so i guess 8 hours? Maybe more.... I'm not able to find a water bear yet I'm trying everyday though... I may have collected and searched for atleast 20-25 samples by now and just was lucky enough to see just one which too didn't move at all(attaching a photo below).
Let me know if I'm wrong somewhere or maybe something that I'm missing out here... please help me out :/

[janvangastel]

I think you have to soak the moss much longer. I let it soak 24 hours or even more.

[deBult]

Sampling the next day AFTER a good shower of rain helps: gives them time to become active again.

For dry moss I soak in rain water for 24 Hrs.

Best, deBult

[DonSchaeffer]

that last image does look like one. Is it moving?

[DonSchaeffer]

that last image does look like one. Is it moving?

[shawn perez]

I think you have to soak the moss much longer. I let it soak 24 hours or even more.

Okay I will try this out too and will let you know if I'm able to find any, Thank you

[shawn perez]

Sampling the next day AFTER a good shower of rain helps: gives them time to become active again.

For dry moss I soak in rain water for 24 Hrs.

Best, deBult

Currently in India, It rains almost everyday since its the season so the moss I find is pretty much fresh. Also can Well water be used?
will try the 24 hour soaking

[shawn perez]

that last image does look like one. Is it moving?

Waited for a day and it still didn't move :/

[DonSchaeffer]

Could be dead.

[shawn perez]

Could be dead.

Yes i guess

[KC2EP]

You gather your samples similar to how I get mine. I leave the moss soaking for at least 24 hours, then give it a gentle squeeze into a watch glass and either look under a stereoscope or do a few drops of water per slide. I personally don't put a cover slip on until I see one, but stay away from the 40x objective this way. Like said already, they seem to be active after a soaking rain, or you can usually find some on moss growing around streams. The last photo was definitely a Tardigrade. Good luck!

[shawn perez]

You gather your samples similar to how I get mine. I leave the moss soaking for at least 24 hours, then give it a gentle squeeze into a watch glass and either look under a stereoscope or do a few drops of water per slide. I personally don't put a cover slip on until I see one, but stay away from the 40x objective this way. Like said already, they seem to be active after a soaking rain, or you can usually find some on moss growing around streams. The last photo was definitely a Tardigrade. Good luck!

Thank you