The sea-fish body should be partially plunged in the salt solution (or sea-water) and stored in the refrigerator (in the temperature 4 - 6°C). After certain time the colonies of luminous bacteria will grow on the surface of fish body. These colonies can be isolated to obtain pure cultures.
Some luminescent bacteria can live in symbiosis with marine organisms. For example some species of deep-sea fishes and cuttle-fishes have luminous organs in which luminous bacteria live.
Luminous bacteria can grow in more unusual places too:
· Decaying sea-fishes are a natural rich medium for luminous bacteria.They can grow on the stored fishes.
· At least one instance of a light producing strain from a wound has been reported.
· Passengers on board cruise liners are sometimes startled by an eerie phosphorescent glow emitted by seawater flush lavatories. The explanation lies in luminous bacteria, which can find good terms to grow in such places.