Panagrellus redivivus
| Panagrellus redivivus | |
|---|---|
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| Observation of Panagrellus redivivus on a Zeiss microscope stage | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Secernentea |
| Order: | Rhabditida |
| Family: | Panagrolaimidae |
| Genus: | Panagrellus |
| Species: | P. redivivus |
| Binomial name | |
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Panagrellus redivivus (Linnaeus, 1767) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Chaos redivivum Linnaeus, 1767 |
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Chaos redivivum Linnaeus, 1767
The free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus (sour paste nematode, or beer mat nematode from its occurrence in constantly moist felt beer mats), is known to many aquarium enthusiasts and fish keepers as the micro-worm. It is a tiny roundworm used as the first food for larger kinds of newly-hatched fish, such as larval common carp. The microworm is widely used in aquaculture as food for a variety of fish and crustacean species.
One of thirteen currently recognized speces of Panagrellus, P. redivivus is about 50 μm in diameter and just over 1 mm in length, barely visible to the naked eye. Subsisting on yeast, it is easily cultured at home on a substrate of flour paste or porridge innoculated with dry yeast. Females reach maturity in about three days and deliver live young rather than eggs, as most nematodes prduce.
The microworm has been used in genetic analysis studies, but not nearly as universally as its relative, Caenorhabditis elegans.
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Wikipedia