June 11-20, 2010 questions you asked Aqualand

We don't ship critters or live fish.
When writing us, include your location.
LA_Aqualand@msn.com

Kelly Fourez, June 11, 2010
I live near Des Moines. I was wondering if you had any dwarf puffers in stock?

A: We have them in stock 90% of the time. Call 283-0300 to make sure before you rush in for them. LA

Linda Krebs, June 11, 2011
My snow oscar has a bump on his bottom jaw. Is it an illness? We rescued a pair that was abandoned in a foreclosed home. Not sure how to care for them but have learned much from your website. Have not known what to do with the gravel vac, but will try it. Thanks,

A: It's not likely to be an illness. Could be a tumor, a parasite, or a scar. It's most likely a scar left over from an injury or a scuffle with the other oscar. LA

Linda Krebs, June 11, 2011
Thanks! They do the liplock dance a lot, and we just gave away the Jack Dempsey...

A: They could be preparing to spawn, but you never know. Just like people. LA

Linda Krebs, June 11, 2011
Yes, we quickly put in a flat rock after learning on your website. I have never experienced fish like this before,. They love to sleep cuddling together and play in the air bubble discs all day long!

A: Now you know why oscars are so popular. LA

Linda Krebs, June 11, 2011
They are incredibly tough fish. The poor fellas were in green water in this abandoned house, and then the clean-out crew tossed them into a hefty bag with the gravel & hood & stuff and threw them onto the back of the trailer along with the aquarium and all the other clean-out from the house. They rode for an hour to our house, were headed to the dump, but the guy owed me some money ansd stopped by. He gave us the aquarium and the bag because they were going to throw them out anyway. My boyfriend opened the bag and took the fish out. They twitched slightly, so he blew air into their little mouths (yes, really) the fish totally started flopping then and we tossed them into our fountain. We got their tank readied in the meantime. After spending an evening lying in shock on the bottom of the aquarium, the next morning they were up and around!!! They spent a few days sulking and looking angry. My friends scoffed saying "yeah, yeah, sure. Fish do NOT sulk and they do not cuddle and sleep!" After discovering your website I triumphantly forwarded it to everyone as proof we had not lost our minds....The fish are all playful and perky these days. Yhey really react when we come to see them by swimming about excitedly eyeballing us.

A: Nearly every oscar "sulks" his or her first day in a new tank. They snap out of their funk the next day and are well on their way to becoming Mr. Personality. LA

Scott Hart, Traverse City, MI, June 11, 2010
Good afternoon! Today our resident fire-bellied toads laid eggs in our aquarium. There are (what we know now) two females and one male in the aquarium, along with the new eggs. We weren't sure if we should keep the eggs in the tank or put them in a smaller water-filled tank. Right now they are "attached" to a plant, and there are two sets of eggs. We do have a heat lamp we turn on daily for a few hours and we have about 5 inches of water in the aquarium, plus have some "dry land" area.
Any advice as to what we should do now to care for the eggs safely would be greatly appreciated! Thanks,

A: Congratulations. Pass out the cigars. The safest way to care for the eggs is to move the parents to another container. The eggs hatch pretty fast. Your best bet for tadpole foods are live newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. LA

Scott Hart, Traverse City, MI, June 16, 2010
Good evening! I was just wondering how long it takes for Fire-Bellied Toad eggs to hatch? Thanks,

A: Their eggs hatch in three to six days. Hatch rates are affected by temperature and they won't all hatch the same day. LA

Scott Hart, Traverse City, MI, June 11, 2010
Wow! Thanks for your quick response! How long after the eggs hatch can we put the adults back in? Thanks again!

A: If they were mine, I would not mix the two sizes at any time. Big amphibians tend to swallow little amphibians. LA

Tanner Nal, Lineville, IA, June 11, 2010
First off I would like to say that after several years of using your website, I was finally lucky enough to get to visit your store. You have an AMAZING fish section, so much so that I went home with two female convicts. Ok now on to my question. I was wanting to set up a basic ten gallon dwarf gourami tank, and I was wondering if I could get away without an aerator, as well as any recommendations that you might suggest. Thanks much,

A: And you were lucky enough to find convicts? Actually, the females are scarcer than the males because the males tend to bump off the smaller females. No fish absolutely needs an aerator. Most aerators do double duty by running the filter system. Filters are real labor savers for you and life savers for your fish. They kick the nitrogen cycle into high gear. If you have a hanging power filter, that also serves as an aerator by constantly turning over your surface water. Add some floating and planted watersprite gor your gouramis. They love it. LA
PS We got some more convicts in this morning.

LA
One of the ten 4-inch males that came in this morning.

LA
The three 2-inch females had the snot beaten out of them.

LA
Then the next day we got another bucket of a dozen -- mostly males.

Marsahall Trede, Houston. TX, June 12, 2010
I have had my dumpy tree frog for almost 9 years. I also keep a soft
shell turtle, three Jackson chameleons, and a japalura (Chinese tree
dragon).
I have found with all of my animals, two of which are
notorious for suffering high levels of stress from handling, that with
time, most animals can become quite comfortable with their handlers.
One must be consistent and very gentle. I used food and light
stimulus and build the association with human presence and food. It is
only a tweek to regular feeding. My two chameleons will willingly
climb onto my hand anytime it is set before them. The soft shell
surfaces when I am near her tank and protests very little when I
handle her. I feel like it should be common sense, but... Also toxins?
I will grant that the human body does emit dangerous chemicals through
the skin that can be harmful even to people in high concentrations.
What people don't understand is that such "poisons" are in very small
doses and are harmful only with long term exposure. As one who works
in chemical engineering focused on limiting the effects of compounds
on the environment, it is very safe to say that the dumpy tree frogs
pictured are in far more danger from the water they would be naturally
exposed to, even the air in your house. Again, I am assuming that you
have common sense and are not wearing harsh skin care products or
similar chemicals. I have to ask, is no one worried about the plastics
frogs of almost every owner are exposed to? People should keep in
mind that most writers of care sheets are advocating perfect
conditions with the assumption that corners will likely be cut. Just
like writing playground rules, you know they will be broken, but a
high standard will hopefully keep most children safe, not to mention
the issue of liability. People should take careful note of such
sheets but listening to your animals is much more important. Keep up
the good work, after all, emotional attachment and exposure are the
primary weapons for effective conservation.

A: I always have to print opinions that pretty much agree with me. LA

Tyler Muller, June 13, 2010
Hi, I noticed on your vampire tetra page that there is some incorrect information. First, the scientific name you used is Hydrolycus scomberoides. The only Hydrolycus scomberoides that I see are the one pictured under growth rate. The rest are Rhaphiodon vulpinus. Rhaphiodons are longer and sleeker than Scomberoides, and they don't swim at the same angle that Scomberoides swim at. Rhaphiodons have been discovered as large as 18", but not larger. Scomberoides only grow to a foot usually. The largest Scomberoides are at the Shedd Aquarium. I believe that they are between 12-16". The tank busters that you are thinking of are Hydrolycus armatus. Armatus grow very large. They are the game fish you see pictures of in South America. Armatus are also very expensive compared to Rhaphiodon vulpinus and Hydrolycus scomberoides.
If you wanted, I would appreciate if you could post my in-depth article on vampire tetras on your website.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5422982/the_vampire_tetra_
sabertooth_barracuda.html?cat=53

A: Thanks for the info. I'll figure out a way to add your article early this week. LA

Dime Scott, SoCalBettas, June 13, 2010
Hi, I was reading about your Betta Leaf forum. You know you can make your own Betta Spa Extract from the leafs. By boiling them in a pot of water till it turns brown, then cooling it down over night with the leaves inside and boiling it again. This way you can use it whenever you need it and not have to wait a couple days for the leaves to take effect. You can throw it in a fridge for months and it will still be good. I use it a lot on my breeding tanks and containers.

A: Correctamundo. I'll add your info to my betta leaf page. LA

Matt Utrecht, New Sharon, IA, June 13, 2010
I’m pretty sure my cichlids are developing Malawi bloat, one by one, and dying after floating around for about two days. I haven’t changed anything recently, but for some reason they’ve been dying about one per week for the past 4 or 5 weeks. At first I thought it was because I sold one of the females, causing the dominant male to chase the other fish, but the sick ones aren’t beat up at all. I wasn’t terribly attached to the fish that had been dying, but now the ones I like are getting sick too. I keep hoping they’ll get over it, but they’re not. Is there a medication I can add aside from the water changes?

A: I'm not sure. Lots of people think Malawi bloat results from a diet low in roughage -- vegetation and algae -- and too high in protein. But I don't know that they actually have Malawi bloat. So I would recommend a wide-spectrum anti-biotic like one of the furan drugs or Clout. No guarantees no matter what treatment you choose. And treat them for 10 days plus frequent water changes. LA

Melody McGinn, Tampa, FL, June 14, 2010
I know you guys don’t ship critters, but I was wondering if you knew anywhere that sold eastern newts. I LOVE your caresheets. I am in Tampa Florida.

A: I can't tell you where you can find eastern newts in your locale, but they do come from Florida. When Florida sprays for mosquitos, the eastern newt supply "dries up." They just came back to our supplier's list two weeks ago. They now cost about twice as much as the red bellies. Youcan probably find them in your LFS today. LA
PS With all the fish farmers in your area, I'm surprised you have trouble finding eastern newts.

Melody McGinn, Tampa, FL, June 14, 2010
I have only checked aquarium and pet stores. I haven't checked any fish farmers.

A: Whoops. I didn't mean to imply that you should check your local fish farmers. They don't sell to the public. They sell mostly to distributors who sell to pet stores. It just seems that your local stores would have better access to some of the huge distributors in Florida. Keep checking. Eastern newts were off the market for a couple years. They're now available (at least in Des moines). LA

Melody McGinn, Tampa, FL, June 14, 2010
HAHAH I just called the fish farmers and found that out myself!
Man, there is only 1 store of all the stores that Ive called that has fire belly newts!!!!
Anyways, thanks, and I don't know who makes your care sheets, but they really are my favorite of any other places care sheets! They have been very helpful and entertaining.

A: I make most of the care sheets. When someone else writes one, their name appears at the top. Sorry that you are virtually newtless. LA

Melody McGinn, Tampa, FL, June 16, 2010
I love that you list possible cage mates on the care sheets. There seems to be a lot of people who are adamantly against this concept. Your site, and some of the UK terrarium sites seem to be the only ones that approve or list this.
So, I have a question.
I have a 40 gallon tall, planted terrarium. I have 2 green anole (male/female), one female green tree frog, and a five-lined eastern skink. All of them seem to get along fine. The skink usually just burrows and hides, but occasionally will come out during the day. The anoles are very active days and sleep together at night. The frog just stays on an orchid leaf until night then comes out to hunt.
I have a 2 gallon water feature with a waterfall and filter in the ground. The bottom has smooth pebbles, and aquarium rocks are on the side to make it look like a stone pond. I have 3 nerite snails living in there.
I bought 2 fire-belly newts (because I couldn't find any other kind) and they seemed to have both disappeared.. The water is clean and spring water, there is not TOO much motion in it, the bottom of the tank is 70 degrees on its cool end where the water is.. I left both very small mealworms and newt pellets out for them, but I have a feeling they are gone.
Do you think they are extensively hiding (it has been over a week and they don't eat the food), died because they weren't going in the water, or is it possible that the skink ate them?
Would you say a five-lined eastern skink would eat a newt? Do you think that he would eat an eastern newt too???
Please let me know what you think. I tend to trust your opinion from reading those care sheets, and it would be much appreciated.

A: You didn't mention the size of your skink, but I would surmise that your skink ate your fire-belly newts. Skinks are good eaters. If he ate your fire-bellies, he will eat eastern newts also. LA

Melody McGinn, Tampa, FL, June 16, 2010
Probably 4 inches long with tail (when I found him, it had been broken off by a kitty). Do you think that he would try to eat anyone else in there? Would you separate him? Also, would you or would you not trust a rough grene snake with newts?

A: Smart anoles and tree frogs stay in the upper reaches, Dumb ones get eaten. You may want to separate your skink. Green snakes eat mostly bugs. I don't think they'd eat your anoles. This is only theoretical and could prove different in real life. LA

Elaine Talley, Orab, OH, June 14, 2010
Hi! I just love your website. I had called asking about the yellow belly catfish in my pond. You had said they may be oxygen deprived. Or maybe over populated. Thank you again for all your help!

ET/Mt. Orab Ohio, that is Southwest Ohio near the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky border.

A: Hi backatcha. You talked to one of our staff. I would have asked you what catfish you have. Yellow-belly bullheads are quite numerous in our neck of the woods. LA

Elaine Talley, Orab, OH, June 16, 2010
Hi Larry! Thanks for explaining this to me. Yes, your employee was teasing me about being a vegetarian! But that's ok I'm a good sport!:-)

He was also very helpful to my situation. Yes the photo you sent are the fishies I have. The pond I have is very old, at least 50 or more years old. The catfish didn't have babies this spring, none that I could see. They are getting big, about 12 inches for the biggest. And VERY plentiful in there. I don't like to kill anything! So I was asking for ideas to relocate some of them, so they can swim free and wild and happy. Grumpy Hubby won't let me put a water pump out there so I can aerate the water. :(

I have decided to start feeding them again, but only on weekends. We have come to hard financial times and may lose our house so my funds are limited to them is why I chose to feed them only on weekends.

I look to your website often when I find little critters in the woods and around the house. I just love 'em! :-) Thanks again! :-)

LA
Swarm of black bullhead fry on the move.

A: Inch-long bullhead fry travel in schools. Thay are jet black. Larger bullheads likely eat them which helps avoid overpopulation. Aerating ponds quadruples the pond's fish-rearing capacity. If you aereate, you'll just get more fish. A few larger channel catfish will reduce your bullhead population (and your food bill). LA

Arthur Loewenberger, Toronto, ON, June 15, 2010
Hi, I am trying to get $100 worth of different Aponogeton Bulbs. Do you have any and if so, can you ship them to Toronto?

A: I doubt that we have $100 worth of aponogeton bulbs in the whole store right now. Anyway, we don't ship. If you decide to drive down and pick some up, call first. LA

Mathew Noble, West Des Moines, June 15, 2010

Larry, Thank you, Paul, and Aqualand for allowing me to find a good home for my spiders. They are both gone now, so if you haven't already you can take down the flyer. Thank you again,

A: You're welcome. Paul took your flyer down when he sold the tarantulas. LA

Brad Walker, June 16, 2010
My wife and I between our tanks have the 3 knife fish that are quite easy to find (Clown, African, Ghost) I saw on your page that there are at least 2 other variations, the Ossa Knife and the Elephant Nosed Black Ghost Knife. I haven't been able to find any info on either of them, or on whether or not there are other knife fish out there (we love them for their beauty, and keep them for the fun they tend to be when they get to be more social, wonderful fish!). Also, we wanted to know if you've seen a few fish on the market lately, because we are having a terrible time finding them; primarily the Arapaima (that is, if they grow based on their living quarters) and the Stonefish.

Also, we have recently added a ropefish, who by some act of God manages to find his way INSIDE our decorations. Is there a good way to prevent that without him getting hurt? He's really a wonderful and beautiful fish, but boy is it hard to get him out of those ornaments.
One more question; we have 2 dragon gobies living together. Many people have told us they've done it before, but it seems they're overly wary of each other when in close quarters sometimes but at other times they lie on top of each other and just don't seem to mind, is that normal? Thanks,

A: Other knifefish that appear from time to time, include the aba, royal clown, transparent, and the brown ghost knifefish. You can treat most of them like the black ghost. The royal clown eats fish. I haven't seen the elephant-nose knifefish this millennium. Most knives are not good mixers. Dragon gobies do mix well with each other and with other fish. LA

Wes Leubner, Upstate NY, June 17, 2010
Just thought this might be something interesting to add to the BGK page (read it about 100 times) since I don't think anyone else has mentioned this yet. I've had a BGK for about 7 months now, bought him at about 5-6 inches in length and he's probably around 7 or so now and happily living in my 35 gallon flat back for now with a bunch of other randoms that he gets along with. Anyway, I have noticed that this little guy (who one would assume is strictly carnivorous) has an unusual propensity to eat vegetation. I first noticed this when i saw him snacking on algae wafers that I drop in there for the pleco/catfish, but more recently I've seen him eating the cucumber slices that I toss in the tank every so often for the other fish. Even stranger, this morning I saw him biting at the center of a cumber slice in what looked like an effort to knock the seeds out, and when they pop out he goes straight for them! I saw him eat 2 or 3 seeds like this before his tank mates started swarming around getting in the way of things. Weird right? I'm guessing this isn't bad for him purely on the evidence that he's been doing it for several months and seems to be perfectly fine. The normal (and predictable) part of his diet includes blood worms, krill, beef heart, shrimp pellets, live ghost shrimp and the occasional neon tetra. He'll eat it all, but I would hardly call him aggressive in any way. Has anyone else noticed a behavior like this out of their fish?

A: Very interesting. I'm adding your report to my black ghost knife page. Thanks. LA

Tyler Muller, June 18, 2010
I have a quick question about fish availability. I have been looking around for glass headstanders (Charax gibbosus) and cannot seem to find any stores that get them in. I know these are common (and bait fish) in South America, and I am wondering if you ever see them on wholesaler lists or how often you see them? I am wondering if it's just local stores that don't get them or if they are just not a commonly exported fish?

LA
Glass headstander, Charax gibbosus, about 1.5". Not as mean as it looks.

LA
Three-inch charax that killed an equal size freshwater barracuda.

A: We just don't see these unusual headstanders very often. I've only had a few over the years. They're evidently not imported very often. LA

Joan Deng, Australia, June 19, 2010

HI, I have written to you before regarding using your information for my eBay listing for microworms and vinegar eels in Australia. Thanks for your permission. Um... I recently have grown some aquarium plants java moss, java fern, and water sprite and they're growing like mad and I'm thinking about selling some on eBay. I want to make an informative listing rather than just simply stating the name of the product. Maybe a little instructions on how to care for them. I have found your website helpful and useful when I first started and continue to be useful since almost every time I read it I have found something more to learn. What I'm wondering is do I have your permission to use the information like I have used for microworms and vinegar eels? It won't be a long-term thing. I'm just selling off some excess plants. Let me know. Cheers,

A: Sure. Just credit aqualandpetplus.com for the info. LA

Dean Traiger, MD, Cape Coral, FL, June 19, 2010
I took this picture in the Serengeti, in Tanzania.
Can you help me name this lil fella?
Thanks!

A: It took me two days to even see this guy. Best I can do is somewhere in the Leptopelis family. You will need a second opinion. LA

Spencer Culbertson, July 19, 2010
I noticed that on your page for leopard geckos that you show two pictures of a male and a female, and you say which is which. You don’t say how you got that result. What exactly are you supposed to look for when sexing these geckos?

LA
Male above. Female below.

A: Good question. I'll add it and my answer to my leopard gecko page. Right below the vent on the male you can see two bumps. These bumps are his hemi-penis. No such bumps on the female. LA

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LA_Aqualand@msn.com