Culture of Infusoria

W.Romen MangangCollege of Fisheries

Central Agricultural University

romenmangang.w@gmail.com

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Infusoria in common• "Infusoria" was the old-fashioned aquarist's

quaint expression for a dense culture of water-borne protozoans of the freshwater plankton, especially rotifers and ciliates such as paramecium but including flagellates and amoebas.

• Infusoria were first observed in 1763 by microscopic examination of water, in which hay had been previously soaked.

• There are about 2,000 to 3,000 different species of infusorian protozoa under the genera Paramecium, Bursaria, Blepharisma, Stylonychia, Spirostomum, Volvox, Stentor, Vorticella, and Epistylis.

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The most common species includes: a) Algae (Volvox)

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b) Amoebas

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c) Euglena

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d) Paramecium

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e) Rotifers

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f) Stentor

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g) Vorticella

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Infusoria technically• Infusoria are single-celled animals

(protozoans) belonging to the family Ciliata and are quite different than the organisms raised in either "green-water" (single-celled algae and Euglena) or rotifer culture (multicellular invertebrates of the Rotifera).

• Mostly originate from vegetable infusions – pulverized vegetation in water

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Paramecium• The most familiar among the

infusorian is paramecium, the "slipper animalcule“

• They are unicellular and among the most advanced protozoans

• Feeds on bacteria that break down organic substances

• They are widely cultured as fish food• Paramecium are commonly known as

freshwater infusoria.

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Systematic position

Phylum – Ciliohora Class – Ciliata Order – Hymenostomatida Family – Parameciidae Genus - Paramecium

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Biology• Paramecium have a very distinctive slipper-

like appearance• Small size, ranging from 25 µm to 300 µm.• Presence of many surface cilia (hairs)

which are used for swimming and collecting food.

• They have a semi-transparent appearance and the interior nuclei and food containing vacuoles are readily seen as small globules under the microscope.

• They have distinct front (rounded) and rear (pointed) ends

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CultureIdeal conditions for a ciliate culture, or

"infusoria’’ are :-a) a starter culture plus organic nutrients.

b) exposure to strong daylight (but not sunlight).

c) warmth (83oF or 28.5oC is ideal)d) aeration

e) somewhat alkaline pH above pH 7.0 (If the water is too soft, a shallow layer of crushed coral in the bottom of the container to keep the pH above 7.0.)f) water free of chlorine

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Common methods employed for culturea) By using banana peel b) Strawc) Lettuce (blanched or dried)d) Milk e) Liquifryf) Pablam or other powdered cerealg) Rabbit pelletsh) Raw potatoi) Rice - boiledj) Grass k) Yeast

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By using banana peels• Add 2 to 3 banana peels are used in about

50 litres of water in an Aquarium or a Jar• Cover with cloth to prevent entry of flies• Water turns milky with foul smell after 2-3

days indicating bacterial growth• after 4-5 days transparent light yellow

colour appears with slime layer formation due to settling of floating spores of infosuria in the air

• Harvested when the slime on the surface of water breaks up & disintegrate

• Cultured continued by regular harvesting

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By using lettuce leaves• Add 1 large clean lettuce leaf per litre of

water.• Pour on enough boiling water to cover then

place this outside and allow to cool.• Boling water can also be excluded• The next day pour this into the tub and add

enough aged tap water• Keep in ideal temperature & light• Green water with some infusoria observed

after 5 to 6 days.• In about 2 weeks it should be booming.

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By using Straw• Dry straw or hay are added• Add boiling water and allow to cool• Transfer in an aquarium• Add adequate amount of water• After 5 to 6 days growth starts• Peak growth after 2 weeks observed

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By using milk• In this case a teaspoon or two pinches

of milk powder is added in 50 L water• Milk can also be used to sustain culture

for regular harvestingBy using Liquifry

• Provides a source of decaying substrate for bacteria which inturn as a food for infusoria.

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Others• Simillary other methods are also

employed such as potato• Apple snail or Infusorial snails

(Ampullaria) are good in culture.• Feed on the lettice leaves, hay or

other water plants. The droppings (feaces) of the snail containing half digested leaves will help rise large number of infusoria

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Water plant along with Apple snail

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Importance• The first kind of food young fry of small fish

species need is Infusoria.• Essential for very small fry which are unable

to feed on larger live foods• To help fry through the first vital days of

their lives and make sure that their stomachs are always full.

• Having a ready supply of infusoria can make the difference between success and failure for an entire hatching of young fry.

• It also gives fry the optimal head-start towards healthy growth and development.

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contd..• Their small size, ranging from 25 µm to

300 µm (a µm = 1/1000 of a mm) makes them an ideal live food for young fry which have just consumed their yolk sac

• For comparison, brine shrimp nauplii are around 400 mm to 500 mm in size and are so big that many fry can't consume them until at least a couple of weeks after hatching.

• Infusoria can be raised on quite a variety of foods.

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Conclusion• The set-up and maintenance of these

cultures is really quite easy• Have excellent results rearing fry.• Besides being small in size, they are

soft bodied and nutritionally rich.• Owing to these qualities, they surve

ideally as starter feed for early stages of finfish and shellfish in aquaculture hatcheries.

Thank You

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