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Tardigrades in zoos?

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by birdsandbats, 28 Jan 2019.

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  1. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Are there any zoos that exhibit tardigrades (AKA water bears)? If so, what species? How are they exhibited?
     
    birdsandbats, 28 Jan 2019
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  2. drill

    drill Well-Known Member

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    what are they?
     
    drill, 28 Jan 2019
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  3. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    birdsandbats, 29 Jan 2019
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  4. Hipporex

    Hipporex Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    [​IMG]
     
    Hipporex, 29 Jan 2019
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  5. ZooBinh

    ZooBinh Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I don't think there are any as they are microscopic and well, maybe only in labs.
     
    ZooBinh, 29 Jan 2019
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  6. FunkyGibbon

    FunkyGibbon Well-Known Member

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    Maybe Micropia in Amsterdam would have some. @lintworm should know.
     
    Last edited: 29 Jan 2019
    FunkyGibbon, 29 Jan 2019
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  7. DavidBrown

    DavidBrown Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    DavidBrown, 29 Jan 2019
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  8. AWP

    AWP Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Water bears were still on display at Micropia last year.
     
    AWP, 29 Jan 2019
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  9. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    How are they displayed at Micropia? How are they cared for?
     
    birdsandbats, 29 Jan 2019
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  10. ThylacineAlive

    ThylacineAlive Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I'd imagine they have a microscope set-up to view them. The National Zoo used to have a similar setup for some microscopic species (I don't remember which) back when the invertebrate house was still open.

    ~Thylo
     
    ThylacineAlive, 29 Jan 2019
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  11. AWP

    AWP Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    @ThylacineAlive is correct, the water bears are kept in a microscope set-up at Micropia. I don't know how they are cared for.
     
    AWP, 29 Jan 2019
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  12. Kakapo

    Kakapo Well-Known Member

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    Not during my visit, that precisely was last year. And I've checked every exhibit, precisely hoping to find them.
     
    Kakapo, 29 Jan 2019
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  13. AWP

    AWP Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    In March or April 2018 they were kept in one of the first displays at the upper floor. They are still mentioned on the website: Beerdiertje
     
    AWP, 29 Jan 2019
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  14. Kakapo

    Kakapo Well-Known Member

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    I went in September. So I guess they disappeared (maybe just temporary) in any point from april to september 2018.
     
    Kakapo, 29 Jan 2019
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  15. Merintia

    Merintia Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I think I have a picture of the display, I´ll look for it and upload it to the gallery. No idea about how they are cared, I don´t remember to see any explanation about it either but is very possible I simply missed it.
     
    Merintia, 29 Jan 2019
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