Observation of water animals

[shahriar222]

Hi All
I would like to slow down the water animals (e.g. paramecium) to better observe them (otherwise they quickly swim off the focus). Is there any way to do so without killing them?

Thank you
Shahriar

[75RR]

.
This is the stuff you want:
.

[shahriar222]

Great. Much appreciated.
Best
Shahriar

[Dubious]

Here's another commercial product intended for slowing protists:

https://www.boreal.com/store/product/88 ... wing-agent

Note that Methyl Cellulose is used in some laxatives available at a pharmacy.

Then, you have Anthony's chili pepper alternative. Apparently, in low concentrations the juice will anesthetize paramecia (all protists?), but in higher concentration has an opposite effect. There is a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPLHzurdB4c&t=29s

[josmann]

"protozoa quieting solution"

Yeah I hate when the protists in my specimen jar are being too noisy!

[Dubious]

Some of those neighborhood gangs in which they hang out are indeed busy. Makes one appreciate the quiet diatom.

[Javier]

Of course it doesn't help for other protists, but I have noticed that Paramecia go through moments of hyperactivity to moments where they stay very still. On those moments I saw some of them feeding and forming food vacuoles. Quite remarkable!