Help! Why wont my slimes wake up?

[Sarah Gracen]

I got some physarum cultures on the interweb. I have them in little plastic tupperwares on damp paper towels with some boiled oats a centimeter away. I keep them in the dark world under my couch. So far none of the ones I've tried to awaken have done so, they just sit there inanimately and eventually get smelly. What am I doing wrong? 

[Tom Smith]

Pretty late, I am just finding this community. But perhaps don't boil your oats and limit your hydration to maintain damp, not soaking? I would also try putting some oats on the Plasmodium core, with some at a distance to reach. It will need fuel to get to the next fuel station. Are you using natural rolled oats or instant?