2 replies to this topic

[Suzanne]

I was curious if vorticella attached to the shells of snails and crayfish can cause any health problems for the host? Or is it harmless and just hitchhiking around so it has more food opportunities in the water column?

[Jconte]

Just hitchhikers looking for their next meal. They feed on bacteria.

[Suzanne]

I figured that might the case, but in researching I could not really find any good info. The crayfish and snails in my pond have lots of hitchhiking vorticella (as do the plants, rocks, sticks...).

It's quite interesting that right now I have a boom of vorticella, cyclops and daphnia, but hardly any hydra or rotifers. Cold weather is changing things up I guess. And as usual tons of snails. I can't believe how hardy all these little guys are with outside temps dropping well below freezing! But the pond is spring fed so the area they are in stays above freezing.