Tsiala Bayakala, Lauren Catenho, Jordan Agustin, Symia Shelton

Devmika Wickramasinghe

BIOL 2232-1441

Organism being studied: Turbatrix Aceti

Research Question: How long does the culture of vinegar eels take?

Background Information: The Turbatrix Aceti, also known as vinegar eels, are free-living

nematodes that “…feed on microorganisms commonly found in vinegar and fermented liquids.”

Vinegar eels can grow up to 50 microns in diameter and approximately 1 to 2 millimeters in

length, which is why they are considered microorganisms. The size of these organisms are

convenient o those breeders of smaller fish such as betta fish, rainbow fish, and killifish. The

vinegar eels act as live food for these types of fish.

“Vinegar eels have many other advantages that make them ideal for feeding [baby fish].” Unlike

other organisms at that size, such as banana worms, vinegar eels can survive in fresh water. They

are able to swim in the freshwater instead of sinking to the bottom. Their speedy wiggle

movements entice baby fish to eat more and grow faster. “This live food is very easy to culture

and is perfect for raising babies.”

Hypothesis: If the vinegar eels are such small organisms, then maybe the amount of time to

culture them would be shorter.

Prediction: By observing our vinegar eels daily, we could predict that the culture process may

take up to a week.

Variables

• Experimental group: the culture starter for vinegar eels

• Control group: the mixture used to culture

 • Dependent: the time the eels are being observed

• Independent: the bottles they are in

• Constant variables: the apple cider vinegar, the apple, dechlorinated tap water

Experimental Procedure:

• Materials:

o Starter culture of vinegar eels

o 1 container with a long neck (like a wine bottle)
o 1 backup container (like a 2-liter bottle or 1-gallon jug)
o Apple cider vinegar (enough to fill half of each container)
o 1 apple
o Dechlorinated tap water
o Filter floss or polyester fiber fill (stuffing for pillows and stuffed animals)
o Paper towels
o Rubber bands
o Pipette
o Optional: funnel
• The apple must be cut into thin slices that will fit through the container openings, and
then four to eight slices should be placed in each container.
• Divide the vinegar eel starter culture among the containers.
• Pour 50% vinegar and 50% dechlorinated water into the rest of the containers, so that the
liquid reaches the base of the bottle's neck. You should leave a little space at the top of
the containers for air.
• Fasten a rubber band around the openings of the containers with a sheet of paper towel.
By doing so, the vinegar eels are allowed to breathe while keeping pests out. Keep the
containers at room temperature in a cabinet or shelf that does not receive direct sunlight.
• The primary culture bottle is your wine bottle or the bottle with the longer neck. The
larger container is your backup culture in case anything happens to the wine bottle.
Backup cultures can be left alone for a year or two without any additional feedings.

Literature Cited:

Co-Op A. How to Culture Vinegar Eels for Fish Fry. Aquarium Co-Op.
https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/vinegar-eels.