Ewww Dinos! can someone help me ID

[Twitchy]

I had a bit of an issue about a month back with my doser dumping half of a bottle of nitrate dosing solution into the system. lets just say I had a few algae outbreaks. while I got things back under control. everything has settled back down, my nitrates are back down to about 3PPM except we now have Dinos! Hopefully someone can help me ID, while also enjoying some of my best microscope photos yet. (all taken on a cheap eBay Omax scope)

 

[josephxsxn]

To much of a green horn at alage and dinos to make a guess but really great photos you have here!

 

[Twitchy]

Looking at the PDF guide found in another thread, I'm thinking Ostreopsis?? they got the pointy bit, and on the slide some liked to spin about that axis.

 

[josephxsxn]

I would guess the same. It seems very similar to mine which was Ostreopsis.

 

[brandon429]

@taricha hey just wanted you to see these pics
cleanest dinos pics ever seen lol
my micro 3301 prof would have already passed OP for teasing out and creating such contrast and back lighting. This scope is awesome

 

[taricha]

That's really good scope pics, jealous. It is ostreopsis. maybe if @Twitchy can find the shed theca (armor) - we could actually ID to the species level (almost never possible).
Wouldn't be much reward for it - but it'd be fun.

 

[Sticker shock]

Agree with everyone else on ID. Manual removal, increased temp, and less light intensity took care of them for me. Good luck

 

[Twitchy]

That's really good scope pics, jealous. It is ostreopsis. maybe if @Twitchy can find the shed theca (armor) - we could actually ID to the species level (almost never possible).
Wouldn't be much reward for it - but it'd be fun.

Oh interesting~ I didn't know there were various patterns to their shed theca, or that shed theca is what their shell thing is called. Hmmm maybe I will try some various stains, and see if I can get those lines to pop.

 

[Twitchy]

@taricha So I think I got some shots of the shed theca, a dab of methylene blue made things pop a little, but the lines don't look exactly like the reference shots.

 

[Twitchy]

Oh noo I can't update my post... I just realized the theca is not shed when it is still on the dino... I'm a derp sometimes. lol

 

[taricha]

yep! They shed it every time they divide (or die).

 

[Twitchy]

Ah ha!! I think I got a few theca action shots. I love how well dark field looks, so many little bacteria and critters you never see under light field. I may invest in a real dark field condenser one of these days, but not a bad view for $3 in black plastic disks.

Was trying to highlight the lines in the theca in the next 2 shots.

 

[brandon429]

can we have for perspective the macro shot from a section of the tank/to tie in visual morphology w those pic details above

curious how it displayed in the tank under typical lights etc