u/FelisCorvid615

We have some Elysia crispata that were part of a student project - student is now graduating, but wanted to preserve the specimens, and we are unsure of the appropriate fixative. We have 3 choices: Ethanol, Formaldehyde, or Glutaraldehyde? Ethanol is the most standard and seems like a generic choice. However, these are kleptoplasty types of Elysia and I worry that alcohol will leech out the pigments in the chloroplasts and distort the colors. So I would prefer to use Glut (it's what I've used on algae to preserve pigment colors). Each has pros and cons to their use, but wondering what others' thoughts are.

I have tried searching many places for the answers to these questions and I just can't find it. I have asparagus crowns that are now almost 7 years old. We never get very many out of them, despite lots of early spring fertilizer. I think part of the problem is I don't know when to make the first harvest.

• Do I take the first spears that come up?
• Should I leave those and then take subsequent spears?
• How many should I let go before harvesting?

I feel like I get trapped in this Catch 22 of leave the first spears, and then because those didn't get picked, the crown never sends up more. What's the balance?