A:  Every thing sounds fine except for the top soil.  Water plus top soil equals mud.  The critters you want won't spend much time on the cage floor, but if they do, they'll track mud all over your glass.  LA

A:  Sounds like a swim bladder problem.  No real cure for it that I know of.  She might have ingested extra air when gulping food at the surface.  In which case she may be able to pass it on thru.  If it's from a pathogen or defective organ, you can't do much about it.  LA

A:  Raise their temperature to 85 F and take out all the other fish except tetras.  LA

LA

A:  As you may suspect, waterdogs are a popular bass bait in certain regions of the country.  Their use as a house pet rates pretty low on the waterdog consumption index.  They are seasonal (mostly spring critters) and morph into tiger salamanders fairly rapidly in our warm aquaria.  We don't carry them very often because we usually have to order them in lots of 50 -- not a humongous order for a bait shop, but way more than enough to satisfy the Des Moines appetite for waterdogs.  Your local bait shop may be a better source, but it sounds like you've checked there already.  LA

A:  Her betta certainly helps their average lifespan records.  I'll add it to the betta housing page.  Thanks.  LA

A:  Khorb koon but my knowledge of Thai is extremely limited.  "Pad Thai, pla ka, and bot" pretty much covers it.  LA

A:  Sure, I'll be glad to talk about freshwater inverts.  Give me a call at 515 yyy-yyyy.  LA

A:  We carry it.  It's the same gravel they use in those claw-operated stuff toy grabber machines.  Call 283-0300 to make sure it's in stock before you drive all the way to Des Moines.  LA
PS  What do you mean "other stores" in town.  You don't have any pet stores in Johnston. 

LA
Female guppies carry more than one litter.  You can see the younger eggs still developing.

A:  Female guppies are always pregnant because they have babies every 28 days.  They usually have sufficient eggs developing inside for three or four litters.  You'll get more fry to survive if you put each female in her own 10 gallon tank.  I'm not sure why you want a "hybrid" guppy.  Hybrids are a cross between two different blood lines.  They will not breed true.  You'll have your best chance of finding what you're looking for at B & B Pet Stop, Inc., Cottage Hill @ University Mobile, Alabama.  Tell Bill or Sally that I sent you.  LA

A:  Plecos do love angelfish eggs (and 55 gallon tanks).  He will contiue to grow.  Thanks for your input.  LA

A:  You have a red parrot.  Parrots are a cross between a gold severum and a red devil.  He has inherited all the well known aggressive traits of his red devil parent.  LA

A: Obviously your Texas cichlids did not read my website.  If they did, they totally ignored it -- at their own peril..  Cichlids are bull-headed that way.  LA

A:  Big fish eat smaller fish (except zebra danios) whether they're sleepng or not.  Sounds like the early birds are getting your neons.  LA
PS  The Angelfish Webinar looks better than the bettas.

A:  Yep.  Ropefish will eat otocinclus and any other fish that will fit in their mouths.  Discus are difficult fish to keep.  They will do better when you keep them at 85 F, but they don't mix well with most other fish -- especially in small tanks.  LA

A:  Yes, plecos get along fine with standard goldfish (often called comets).  They tend to skin the fancier slow-moving varieties.  LA

A:  I need some sort of clue as to what type of plants you are trying to grow.  Many bog plants are sold as water plants.  Mos are tough and last quite a while but eventually they die.  Few water plants die due to lack of nutrients.  Lack of light is more likely.  Plecos like to eat the leaves of most wide-leaved plants.  LA

A:  Gambusia will not breed with guppies.  If you mix the two, the gambusia will shred your male guppies.  LA