Any idea what these are? There’s a bunch of them that showed up in my jar. They “flick” along the glass.

This appeared in the past couple days.

https://preview.redd.it/ljb3wqp44pxd1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=22526030537a5da6389ecfc8c110a5e1e5cdd045

Here’s my new planted cherry shrimp jar!

I used Fluval Stratum as the substrate, dragon stone for the hardscape, and planted it with:

• Limnophila Sessiliflora
• Rotala Rotundifolia
• Ludwigia Palustris Green
• Staurogyne Repens
• Eleocharis Pusilla

After adding the substrate and hardscape, I dosed a small amount of Dr. Tim’s Ammonia solution and left the jar to cycle for about five weeks. I use Fluval Stratum in a bunch of tanks and its buffering effect usually stops after a couple of months so the waiting period should help prevent problems with the shrimp too.

I added 5 red cherry shrimp into the jar a couple of days ago, and I’m curious to see how things progress as my other shrimp jar has around 30 shrimp in it now after starting with five.

This setup is unheated and unfiltered, but the plants should be able to handle any toxins in the water. I'm slightly concerned about how the Staurogyne Repens will fare as temperatures drop to around 18°C over winter, but the other plants should be just fine.

About 1.5 months old the crypts are adjusting and there’s little algae.

I find that good lighting improves the look of any terrarium. But since we're workong with jars, they usually don't have a built in light.

So what lighting setups are you buying/building?

Hi! I’m currently a university student studying biology, and after my bio lab today my TA noticed how much I was fawning over the little planaria in their Petri dish. I think they’re adorable, even if (I think) in some aquaculture circles they’re considered pests. He told me that at the end of the week they let people adopt the planaria. I want to adopt some SO BADLY. Does anyone have any idea if planarias can live in a jarrarium? I’d love to just have some that I can watch over and take care of, using some jars we have at home, maybe make them a little ecosphere. Would love any tips, since I haven’t owned any fish or aquatic animals in over a decade haha, and I’m definitely not an experienced aquarium caretaker. :]

Edit update (10/29): Planaria acquired! THANK YOU for all the lovely suggestions, I’m temporarily keeping them in a plain mason jar but I’m gonna pick up some substrate and java moss later, plus a few rocks for ambiance. :] Thank you all again!

I have several exotic isopod bins (that kind of clear -cloudy plastic) that are kept at high humidity (80-90) and between 60-75°F.

I'd like to add a few plants. The soil is organic soil with high wood and leaf content. The soil itself is not very moist.

I have some blue-red grow lights on timers to provide a little extra light since the room is darker but I'd like to find plants which prefer growing under dense forest cover.

What works good for others?

I recently redid my work desk at home and realized I wanted some sort of plants with water combination on my desk and while searching reddit came across this sub. Which led me down a rabbit hole of aquascapes and now I want to make more.

My setup has:

Bowl from Ikea Fluval Stratum Red cherry shrimp (6) Activ-betta water (for the shrimp) Rocks from Ikea Minature Dwarf Hairgrass Anubis Congensis Lobelia Cardinalis Coral Wood Led light with bamboo stand from Amazon.

I was trying to keep it as low maintenance as possible, but the biofilm was growing quite rapidly so I decided to try some shrimp and it seems like they are maintaining it quite well. Thanks for the inspiration from this sub!

my phone hates actually focusing, anyway I did a jar from a local stream and didn't realize this shell actually had something inside it, should I put it back?