Subject matter of experiments and observations of water animals in school aquarium (pond slater, Asellus aquaticus, Isopoda).
Abstract
Pond slater (Asellus aquaticus) is common throughout the temperate zone including Europe, Asia and North America. It is found in rivers, streams and standing waters, particularly where there are plenty of stones under which it hides.
It is a detritivore. Pond slater is relatively tolerant of a range of pollutants and has been used as an specific indicator of water quality.
Asellus aquaticus can breed throughout the year, if the temperature is high enough: they do not breed under cold temperatures. Maturity can be reached in few months under warm summer temperatures, but maturation may take as much as two years in permanently cold water bodies (e.g., high-latitude or mountain waters).
Females carry eggs in brood pouch (i.e. marsupium) underneath their body. Aquarists worldwide are showing increasing interest towards pond slater as a low-maintenance freshwater aquarium pet and tank cleaner.
It is often sold as live food for other fish. In this contribution are presented some observations and experiments with pond slaters in school aquaria.