Bresser BIOLUX NV Mode D'emploi page 22

as when a swamp is drained the eggs may
produce male prawns. These males fertilise
the female's eggs, resulting in a specific
type of eggs. These are called winter eggs
and have a thick shell as protection. They're
pretty rugged and can survive the swamp or
lake drying out causing the death of the entire
prawn population for up to a decade in a form
of hibernation. The eggs hatch once again as
soon as the correct ambient conditions have
been obtained. The eggs supplied (Fig 2,
25d) are of this type.
9.3.2. Hatching of the salt water prawn
To hatch the prawn it is essential to first have
a saline solution suited to the prawn's needs.
Fill half a litre of rain- or fresh-water in a
container. Let it stand for about thirty hours.
As water evaporates over time it's a good idea
to have a second container of such water
left standing for thirty-six hours. Once stood
for this length of time pour half of the sea
salt supplied into one of the containers (Fig
2, 25c) and stir until it has dissolved. Then
pour some of it into the prawn breeding plant
(Fig 2, 23). Add a few eggs and close the lid.
Put it somewhere with plenty of light but not
in the direct sun. The temperature should be
approximately 25° C. The prawns will hatch in
two or three days at this temperature. Should
any water evaporate during this time replace it
from the second container.
22
9.3.3. The saltwater prawn under
the microscope
What comes out of the egg is known as
a nauplius larva. Use the pipette (Fig 2,
22a) to put some of them on a slide for
examination. They will move in the solution
using their hair like limbs. Remove a few daily
from the container for examination under
the microscope. If you do so and save the
pictures made with the MicrOcular you will
then have a seamless record of the prawn's
lifecycle. You can remove the upper lid of
the prawn bleeding plant and put the whole
thing under the microscope. The larvae will
mature in six to ten weeks depending on
ambient temperature. You will soon have bred
an entire generation of saltwater prawns that
constantly reproduce.
9.3.4. Feeding your saltwater prawns
To keep them alive saltwater prawns must be
fed occasionally. This must be done carefully as
overfeeding causes the water to stagnate and
poison the prawns. Feeding is best done with
dry powdered yeast (Fig 2, 25a). Give them
a little every other day. If the water darkens
this signifies it is stagnating. If so remove the
prawns and put them in a fresh saline solution.
10. MicrOcular setup
nOTe:
The MicrOcular only works
without the Barlow lens sup-
plied. Magnification setting is
changed by using the MicrO-
cular and must be reset by
re-focussing.
Remove the Barlow lens (Fig 6, 3) and
eyepiece currently in use from the eyepiece
holder (Fig 6, 5) and replace them with the
MicrOcular (PC-Ocular) (Fig 7, 4) and reducer
lens (Fig 7, F) as in illustration 7 in the holders
(Fig 7, 5)
nOTe:
Please do not yet connect
MicrOcular and PC. Please
go through the items below in
sequence.
11. Installation and use of the software
11.1. Software and installation
information
A software CD is included with your
microscope. The software and drivers on
this CD must be installed on your computer
in order to use your MicrOcular. Once you
connect the MicOcular to your computer after