Another Vernal Pool Geek

[Keystone]

Hi all,

I'm a relatively new member to the board, just thought I'd introduce myself...I primarily keep vernal pool inhabitants like fairy shrimp, clam shrimp, seed shrimp - but any freshwater crustacean is fair game to end up in one of my tanks. Just began setting tanks up again after a recent move - only one up & running and two others cycling right now. Tank that is set up has seed shrimp (ostracods) and some copepods.

http://imgur.com/BWf04Dp

Couldn't attach photos, hope the imgur link works - if there's any interest I'll upload more pics/videos in the future.

[Keystone]

Second tank up & running now - keeping amphipods that were advertised as Gammarus....several copepods tagged along for the ride. Looks like a couple bladder/pond snails also snuck in on the duckweed everything was shipped in.

Third tank is almost ready, will be hatching out the fairy shrimp species Branchinecta mediospinosa.

[Keystone]

Upgraded my camera gear, some experimental photos

[Keystone]

Placed my Branchinecta mediospinosa eggs a week ago. Saw the first hatchlings on Tuesday - now I've got about 50 of them. Biggest one might be 1/4 inch long now. Waiting to see how long it it takes to notice an egg sack.

[Keystone]

Saw at least two Branchinecta mediospinosa with egg sacks today. Having a very difficult time photographing them.

[Keystone]

A few more ostracod pictures from tank #1 with the new lens

[Mustafa]

Thanks for the posts and pictures! I love ostracods. They sometimes even appear almost literally out of nowhere in tanks that are kept outside.

[Keystone]

Thanks, Mustafa! Ostracods are my favorite as well....when established properly they can be as "hands off" as supershrimp, although they'll never be as long lived or colorful.

[Keystone]

A few more ostracod pics

[Keystone]

A few Gammarus pics from aquarium #2

[Keystone]

More Gammarus from tank #2