The Long Good Poo

Oppie was spotted with a poo the length of his tail still attached and that's long for a little fella. He's scampering about this morning and busy playing with detritus. Shrimpy looks to be a good inch long now and quite active.

High Water

Topping up the water sends the creatures whizzing round the tank in appreciation, actually, it's more likely the sudden surge and swirling but they are certainly more lively in deeper water - just like me at the pool, I find it much easier to swim in deep water.

The Clam Shrimps and Daphnia from the first few days seem to have become dinner but the lone Fairy Shrimp is visible in these two shots. 'Shrimpy' swims perilously close to 'Oppie' sometimes, sadly it is only a matter of time before this little fella will be lunch

Left click on the images to enlarge then move your cursor out and in of the picture and a lttle + will appear, left click again for close ups of Oppie and Shrimpy.

Low water

I'm amazed by how much water has evaporated in nine days, the band of detritus up the tank sides reaches one inch above the water line. Maybe the creatures are drinking it and going over the side when I'm not looking?

Ah, the subject of the blog..........the triops* is bottom left in the top picture and at the centre bottom in the lower shot,trundling round and round sifting the detritus for food.

*Triops means three eyes, which these creatures have.

Arty Shots

Never mind the pondlife, I'm enjoying taking photos of the tank and I'm quite pleased with these two. I like the optical illusion in the lower one - it isn't as squiffy as it appears.

Day 3 and signs of life

The water is teaming with miniscule swimmers which are either fairy shrimps or triops. Whichever, the majority will soon be eaten by the alpha Oppie.

This tank of water is such a poser!

As there is so little to be seen for the first few days I thought I'd entertain you with a few arty shots of the half filled tank.

Detritus containing eggs of triops and possibly fairy shrimp, clam shrimp and daphnia sits on the surface of the water as we wait for tiny signs of life.