Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/The Propagation of Melicerta ringens

by William Shipperbottom

The Propagation of Melicerta ringens in an Aquarium.

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No one I feel sure can look at Melicerta ringens under the microscope without being moved by feelings of the greatest admiration, and at the same time of regret that such beautiful creatures are to be found only in few places. I confess such ware my own feelings after having examined some fine specimens kindly sent to me by Mr. Thomas Bolton, of Birmingham, in February last; and I thought if Melicerta ringens could he successfully maintained in an aquarium that it would afford an excellent opportunity for the study of the life history of those beautiful creatures. I therefore determined to make the attempt, and am pleased to say my success has been greater than I anticipated. I did not succeed with my first trial, but in the following month Mr. Bolton sent me some remarkably fine specimens. With these I set to work again, and in proof of my success, there is now in a beaker before me two pieces of Myriophyllum, one four inches long, to which are attached 200 specimens, and on another piece, three inches long, there are 150 specimens of Melicerta ringens, indeed, I am sure there are altogether over 1,000 specimens in my aquarium,

Perhaps a description of my arrangements would be acceptable to many who may desire to have this interesting object always at hand. I feel certain these arrangements will prove as successful in the hands of others as they have in mine, and a knowledge of them will, perhaps, induce many to enter into the study of Melicerta ringens, as suggested by Mr. F. A. Bedwell in his admirable notes on this subject in the last number of the "Midland Naturalist." I now proceed to describe the plan I have followed, and to point out the conditions which my experiences indicates are especially favourable to the propagation of this interesting Rotifer.

The room in which my aquaria are kept is lighted by one window which looks due east; against the south side of the room there is a side-board, the nearest end of which is three feet from the window. On the sideboard are two aquaria, one holding 1½ gallons and the other four gallons. The smallest is placed four feet from the window, and the largest, which has been most successful, is placed seven feet from the window. The temperature has ranged from 41° to 65° F.

The bottom of the large tank is covered with a yellow layer of the finest river sand well washed. A little rockery consisting of quartz, limestone, and fluorspar crystals, is arranged at the end. The plants consist of one Vullisneria spiralis, three water violets, (Haltonia palustris,) and three water milfoils (Myriophyllum spicatum.) The last named plants are arranged as much as possible along and under the surface of the water.

The Melicerta is particularly fond of Myriophyllum and duck weed (Lemna minor.) There are also in the tank two smooth newts, (Lissotriton punctatus,) and of Mollusca there are six Planorbis corneus, three Sphærium cornceum, (to be sate put in no Limnea,) and plenty of Daphnia and Cyclops. The water is very clear and sweet.

On the 4th September Mr. Bolton sent me a tube containing two specimens of the beautiful grouped Rotifer. Lacinularia socialis, which I put at once into my aquarium, and new there are five more groups.

My aquarium is now a source of the greatest pleasure to myself and friends. I will not name all the wonderful forms to be met with; but the following list of some of my treasures will, perhaps, be interesting: Melicerta ringens, Floscularia cornuta, Linnias ceratophylli, Pterodina patina, Rotifer vulgaris, Stentor Mülleri, Epistylis, Vorticella, Cothurnia imberbis, Actinosphærium Eichornii, and Actinophrys sol. If these observations should be the means of Inducing others to enter heartily into the study of Melicerta ringens and other rotifers my object in writing will be accomplished.

William Shipperbottom. Bolton.

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