I've been preparing wet slides for my kids to look at from pond water. I have a mason jar of pond water. What can I do to keep the microbes in the jar alive going forward so that we can look at it any time we want without having to go back to get more pond water.
I remember we did something like this in 7th grade biology, it seems like we put in sugar, or oatmeal, or something. I can't quite remember that though, it's been over 30 years. Thanks!
Thanks for the comments. The pond water I get keeps for a couple of days easily. I can always get more at the pond.
If I want amoebas, I go near dark and get them at the bottom of the pond. If I just want paramecia and other critters, I grab some scum and fill the rest of the jar up with water.
The paramecia water I give moderate sunlight. The amoeba sample I keep in the dark. And I just pitch it after a few days. No Legionella for my family, please and thank you.