| Living Materials
Information
Vinegar eels
(Turbatrix
aceti)
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| Vinegar eel |
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The microscopic creatures you will look at in the
Microworlds unit have in common with other living creatures the same basic needs:
oxygen and the appropriate food, temperature, and light. Suppliers usually try to ship
the cultures to you as quickly as possible. However, unforeseen delays during
shipment can traumatize the cultures. Therefore, it is very important to see to
them immediately upon arrival. With the proper care, you should be able to maintain the
cultures for several weeks.
For your vinegar eel culture, do these things immediately upon arrival:
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Open your shipment and remove the lids from all containers to allow in fresh oxygen. |
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Place the containers in a location that allows them to adjust to
room temperature. Avoid direct sunlight and never refrigerate. |
Vinegar eels are very easy to keep and will readily multiply. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, and do quite well at room temperature, out of direct sun.
They are shipped to you with an ample food supply that should last several weeks. If you want to set up an additional culture of vinegar eels,
just do the following:
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Fill a small jar ¾ full of apple cider vinegar. |
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Add a small piece of apple to the vinegar. |
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With a medicine dropper, transfer some of the vinegar eels to the new culture. |
Debris will settle to the bottom of the jar, but do not try to remove it. Add more apple and more cider vinegar as
needed. Keep the lid placed lightly over the jar to permit air circulation.
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