NO idea where to post...

[nouserpif]

I would like some info on Flatworms... I am wanting to try keeping them, and explore some of there regeneration/reproduction traits... they are wierd... any info, and where to get them would be nice! :)

[Syst3m]

Flat worms?

dear god are you talking about tape worms?

[nouserpif]

No, I am talking about the free living planarians, dugesia tigris (or something...) they are not parasites, but they are related to the parasite species, they are active preditors...
They are supposed to be one of the base species on this planet, most have not evolved...
If you cut one between the eyes, each one grows into a head, so you can make a 10 headed (all complete with brains/eyes/etc, they can regenerate into full worms after being cut into 10 different peices, and they are about an inch long, and are some of the oddest little creatures... But, no, not tapeworms or the like, just little flat worms... they are really neat.

Hope that clears things up :)
Dan Conner

[Cas]

Dugesia are cool little things... haven't kept any, but played with them in the lab last year. We fed them hard boiled egg yolk while we were observing them... I don't know if you could keep them alive on that as their only diet though. Here's a lab exp on the web that has some info on reproduction and feeding http://www.lander.edu/rsfox/dugesia.html

Your best bet on finding culturing info would probably be to ask one of the labratory supply companies that carry them. (if I remember correctly, water quality is VERY important).

One thing, I don't think you could make a 10 headed one... I think 4 is about the upper limit where the body has trouble supporting the heads. Wouldn't really hurt to try it though I suppose.

There's a lab supply company somewhere in canada that carries them, as well as things like springtails etc... but I can't remember the name for the life of me. You could try calling your closest university and ask the biology department where they get their dugesia from.

Dawn

[nouserpif]

Thanks a lot for the page... I was kind of exxagerating when I said 10 heads... Theorectically, it is possible, but you're right, the body would have a REAL hard time supporting it :)
Thanks
Dan Conner