Can anyone ID this bacteria? (Yeah I know...)

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Mon Feb 24, 2020 4:44 pm

I get that it is near impossible to ID bacteria from a light microscope image alone without staining / other processing, but is it possible to narrow this down at least? It is long white filamentous bacteria that grows on newly introduced wood in a tropical aquarium - presumably feasting on sugars or something leaching from the wood into the water. It only lasts a couple of days then it dies off. It is visible with the naked eye as long white fluff.

Here are some images. I also know there are probably many species here, but I am mainly interested in the long filamentous species.

Bacteria from spider wood, freshwater tank, 60x/1.2, DIC, HF A

Bacteria from spider wood, freshwater tank (40% crop), 100x/1.4, DIC, HF A

Bacteria from spider wood, freshwater tank, 100x/1.4, DIC, HF A

Olympusman · Post by **Olympusman** » Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:04 am

Amazing detail!

Mike

WalterD · Post by **WalterD** » Wed Feb 26, 2020 3:49 am

Very interesting set, thanks for sharing.

Walter

Ichthyophthirius · Post by **Ichthyophthirius** » Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:51 pm

Hi,

Great images! I don't think it's possible to classify these without size measurements and stainings - there's such a diversity of filamentous bacteria https://www.iowaruralwater.org/tools_ti ... aments.pdf

The nature of the granules is interesting - these bacteria often have butyrate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaerotilus_natans or sulphur granules! Have a look by Pol microscopy.

Regards, Ichty

pwnell · Post by **pwnell** » Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:30 pm

Here is a scale and another shot. The granules do not polarize, at least, when I photographed them I could barely notice any colour in the granules under cross polarizers.

100x/1.4, DIC

Link to full size.