October 16-31, 2005 questions you asked Aqualand

Include your location, please. LA

Chris Gupta, October 17, 2005
I want to purchase some halfbeaks. I have mosquito problems in my outdoor shrimp ponds. I am in south Florida and can’t find any halfbeaks.

A: It would take the tiny 1.5-inch halfbeaks years to make a dent in your mosquito problem. What you really want is a product called Mosquito Dunks. They contain Bacillus thuringensis which specifically kill mosquitoes. You can treat 600 square feet of surface for $15. I have no idea if it bothers shrimp. You can probably find it in any garden supply store. Research it before using on your shrimp. LA

Greg Riley, October 17, 2005
I just wanted to compliment you guys on the great web page. I am from Louisiana and use your page as a reference all the time. I wish we had an Aqualand Pets Plus here in Louisiana. Thanks again,

A: Thanks. LA

Eloïse Roy, October 17, 2005
I’m from Québec, Canada, and I know my English is not perfect. I found your site on the web, searching for information about little red claw crabs, and actually, this is the only site with a lot of good information on Sesarma bidens.
But of course, I have a question on which I don’t find the answer and
maybe you can help me? I called the pet shops in my region, and they don’t know a thing about red claw crabs so maybe you can help me ; )
I saw something crazy in my aqua-terrarium.
I already had 2 crabs and just bought a third. The last one was already
missing 3 legs, and is smaller than the other 2, but otherwise looked in good shape. But just an hour after I put the new guy in with his new family, one of the older crabs tore off two more legs. So now, my little crab only has 5 legs -- on one side.
So I decided to put my injured crab in my other aquarium, with my red
fishes, but he’s trying to climb out. (Yes, he still can climb on plants
with only one side of legs.) So now, I’ve put the crab in a jar, with only one inch of water and a plant on the side, so he can climb out of the water. But there is no filtration.
So, my problem is that I don’t know what to do. I know his legs can grow back, but in what condition? If I put it back with the two others, they’ll probably kill him. And with the red fishes, he can’t get out of the water. So that’s why I’m asking for your help. You seem to know these pals better than anyone. I hope you can help me!

A: You found out red claw are mean little snots. You caught yours red-handed. Most references say crustaceans grow back the legs they lose when they shed at a later date. Maybe I’m impatient, but my amputees never seemed to grow their missing legs back. It still never hurts to try to help them recover. Put some twigs into the tank with deep water. Red claws will climb the sticks if they want. Remember, once your crab recovers, it will attack your fish. Bon chance. LA

Shay McQuaid, October 18, 2005
My Pinks had a brood... Can I keep the babies with mom and dad forever? (They are in a 20 gallon One male one female and 100 babies.) Should I separate them? Thanks a million your web site is awesome (what a legacy). Included is a picture use it if you want!
Thanks in advance,

Shay Pic

A: Most male and female convicts make perfect parents -- but not forever. However, at six to 10 weeks, they often decide to start a new family. When that happens, they may turn on the fry or on each other. In the meantime, watching the breeders take care of their youngsters is what the hobby is all about. LA

Samantha Nomann, local, October 18, 2005
Do you know anyone that wants to buy a 3 year old green iguana? We got about everything from Aqualand, couple years ago. It has everything with it, 40-gallon tank, heat lights, etc. It’s a foot long. It’s just we don’t give it as much attention as it needs, work to much. Would you let me know if you find someone that wants one? Thank you,

A: I suppose you mean a foot-long body plus two feet of tail. Your best bet is to take a color picture of your iguana and set up. Then post them (with your price and phone number) on our bulletin board. If you still cannot sell him, we’ll make you an offer for the iguana only. LA

Rebecca, local, October 19, 2005
I have some platy fry that are about 4-5 months old and about an inch long. We have several different platys in our tank and they’re crosses between them. Things are getting a little crowded in the tank so I thought I’d check and see if you would be interested in them. I’m guessing we have something like 10-12 of them. It’s hard to get a good count. They’re scary fast. Thanks,

A: Sorry for the slow reply, Becca. We can take your platy fry. Give us a call @ 283-0300 before you come in. We can guarantee you will not get rich trading in the platy commodities market. LA

Michael Perrin, Somerset, KY, October 20, 2005
Requesting a catalog. If possible, please send to: ***
Thank you

A: Sorry, Michael. We’re one of those olde fashioned retail stores in a century old building in the Highland Park area of Des Moines. On the net we just provide information. LA

Claire Santos, October 20, 2005
Can you tell me please what type of goldfish these are? And can you also let me know what stage of age are they in? Thanks a lot,

Claire

A: American fantail on the left. Red and white ryukin on the right. I can’t guesstimate their size from their pictures. If they are three inches long, they’re about a year old. LA

Pablo Gonzalez, Tucson, AR, October 21, 2005
I am planning to do some research on blue yabbies. How much do they cost? Plus S&H to Tucson, Arizona? Is there any way to change their color? Will their color fade if I use different substrates? Thanks

A: We rarely ship anything because our local post office will not accept liquids (from us at least). So the shipping usually cost more than the item shipped. We seldom stock the yabbies because they usually sell for $16 -- fairly expensive for a slightly larger and slightly bluer crawdad. If you want to change their color, you can alter many crustacean carapaces at molting time. Add a dose of methylene blue or food coloring just prior to the time they shed their exoskeleton. LA

Andrew Garas, October 22, 2005
I was reading your page on plecos. I recently purchased one and didn’t
notice a similar one your site. I was wondering what species it is and if it
is common or rare. I have attached some pictures. Thank you for your help.

A: Looks like a sailfin pleco to me -- probably a gibbiceps. However, I’m no species expert on plecos. Jump over to ’Pleco Fanatics’ to get a second opinion. Nice pix. LA

Tan Ming Kai, October 22, 2005
I would like to know which is the better and healthier choice for bullfrogs. Crickets or mealworms. And why? thanks.

A: Goldfish. They contain much more calcium. LA

Brian Weiss, October 23, 2005
I have a few questions to ask you, and since you helped me so much before with my oscar, you are immediately on my to-ask-list. Recently, in a pet shop, I discovered a fish known as a silvernose gar, or something like that in namesake. Do you have any information related to this species? The rocket gars look similar to the ones I saw, except the ones I saw had slightly thinner and slightly longer noses. In all actuality, they reminded me of baby chain pickerels.
I also might be getting a complete 75 gallon tank set up. Currently, my twenty gallon holds my bullhead and oscar (both have learned to get along, somewhat) and a decent sized pleco (my crayfish cleanup crew gave up the ghost.) In this 75 gallon setup, are there any interesting predator fish you could recommend? I considered getting a red bellied piranha, but thanks to your site, I have learned they will probably eat my oscar alive, as well as my bullhead. Could these ’silvernose’ gars be a possible addition, or do you have other aggressive fishes in mind? (I have read the Q&A for oscars and read the oscar tank mate Q&A. Unfortunately, I cannot locate such fish locally and will not buy over the net. Yet again, Thank you for all your help.

A1: Your silvernose gar sounds like a needlenose Asian gar. But I can’t swear to it.
A2: Oscar tank mates work out best when you start with a bunch of youngsters about the same size -- especially if they all grow to about the same size. Gars are not good mixers. Little guys are too weak. Big guys are too aggressive. Needlenosers are not tough enough to stand up to oscars. Think in terms of equal-sized cichlids plus convicts. LA

Andreas Grüter, October 23, 2005
Hello, I would like one Savanna Monitor 0,1 from you to buy.
Please excuse my bad English

A: Besser denn meinen schade Deutsche. Sorry, we do not sell over the internet. LA

Matt Ziobo, October 23, 2005
Hi there. I was wondering where I can buy a baby corn snake in the US. thank you.

A: You should be able to find corn snakes at most local pet shops. Ask your local pet store staff to order one for you. LA

Jan Pamanes, Saltillo, Mexico, October 23, 2005
I just ran across your excellent section on hissing roaches. Great fotos too. Were you able to get one of the young being born and crawling up onto the female’s back?
I raised about 5,000 at last count for the University here. Two really big males would eat their carrot strips in my hand. They like the strips better as their mandibles could chew them better.
I had to quit however for skin allergies. In my past work with German and American roaches, I got really sensitive to them. Regards,

A: Gracias. I haven’t seen one of the egg cases hatch yet, but I sure have a real herd of the hissy little devils. We’ve started feeding them out to our larger lizards. LA

Derek Szczepaniak, Illinois, October 25, 2005
I would be interested in purchasing some of those “condos” for cichlids. Could you tell me how could I order these. I live in Illinois.
Thank you

A: Jean dobri, dude. Did I get the spelling anywhere near correct? Oddly enough, those cichlid “condos” are made here in Des Moines. I’ll see if Shaun (who makes them) travels that far east. LA

Jasem Alqattan, October 26, 2005
How can I tell the age of cockatiels? And can you show me with pictures? Thanks.

A: I really can’t tell the age of a cockatiel by looking at it. Since they live 15+ years, it probably makes little difference unless you plan to breed them. LA

Debbie Terry, California, October 26, 2005
I have a green spotted puffer (about 1.5 inches long) and right now I have a pleco with him. I have heard that plecos do not stand salt very well and the puffer prefers brackish water as he matures.
Can you suggest an algae eater type of fish that would be better suited in the puffer’s tank?

A: I’m surprised your puffer hasn’t eaten the eyeballs out of your pleco. I do not know of any saltwater tolerant algae eaters. Perhaps a Tilapia mossambicus? LA

Shay McQuaid, October 26, 2005
So after a discovery of HTH disease in my oscar ... Water clarity is NOT indicative of water QUALITY? That right? Thanks in advance,

A: Hole-in-the-head disease comes from hexamita germs. Poor water quality encourages it but does not cause it. Oscars are heavy eaters and very messy. Without frequent water changes, you will have all sorts of oscar problems not just HTH. LA

Trevor Manger, October 26, 2005
I have a 55 gal planted tank with many fish, crabs, and snails and during one of my filter cartridge changes (for my Penguin 330) I found a bunch of little white eggs no bigger than 1/2 of an inch. Can you tell me what they are and what I should do? Thanx

A: None of the critters you list produce half-inch eggs. So I cannot tell you what they are. Just keep your eye on them and tell us what comes out of the eggs. LA
PS Do you have any four to eight-year-old nephews? They like to decorate tanks from time to time.

Mark A. Chmielinski, October 30, 2005
Can you recommend any snails that will survive in a cichlid tank? I’m considering 2” snails. Will they still be “picked on?” Thanks

A: Cichlids will pick on and eat all snails except the Malaysian trumpet snail. They spend most of their time under cover. LA

Lauren Lynch, San Antonio, TX, October 31, 2005
Hello I happened to come across your care sheet about hermit crabs and am very concerned.
I’m e-mailing you to let you know the problems with it, so that new hermit crab owners that might come across your website will not make these deadly
mistakes.
(I can call and talk in person if you’d like - I’d prefer it!)

Misting charges their little batteries. Even more important, it keeps hermit crabs alive.

I’m hoping that you use dechlorinated water (I’m just guessing that since
you said "hosing" later on down the sheet that you might not). Chlorine and Chloramines painfully damage hermit crabs gills, causing them to suffer for months before they die.
Being misted causes stress on hermit crabs, if you notice when they have all that they require to live, they are lazy, so when you mist them and they
become active that is abnormal (showing stress).

There are products out there that we at the Hermit Crab Association use to keep the humidity and temperature correct:
● Humidifier and Air Exchanger
● Natural Sea Sponges
● Reptile Moss
● Waterfalls
● Always a must - A humidity and Temperature Gauge
(Humidity 75-80% - Temperature 75-80%)
(Strawberry hermit crabs require a higher temperature and humidity 80-85% for both, making other species of hermit crabs uncomfortable)
(I only posted the links so you could see what I was talking about, not to
endorse those companies)

Little guys and big guys usually get along. Occasionally a big guy will yank one of the little guys out of his shell. Not good for the little guy. Hermit crabs without shells are very vulnerable. They usually die.

They will not do this if you have three shells of the correct size for each
hermit crab to choose from. Having those extra shells can prevent those
terrible things.

Without a shell, hermit crabs have no body protection.

If hermit crabs are exiting their shells it is a great sign that something
is wrong within their home. It is very stressful for a hermit crab to be out of it’s shell and is very important that hermit crab owners provide isolation tanks and the correct conditions for these animals.

Hermit crabs live in trees. They’re great climbers. And with their pincers, they’re also great pinchers. They don’t want to fall. They hang on (to you also).

Hermit crabs can injure the tips of their legs climbing on the wire in those
homes.

If one of these big hermit crabs gets a grip on you, you will never forget
it. You can get used to steady pinches. But these guys squeeze intermittently. They hold on for 15 minutes or more. Pry them off with a flat-bladed screw driver.

Do no pry off hermit crabs with a screw driver. If a hermit crab pinches you it is because it is terrified as it is, what you have to do to make them let go (no matter how bad it hurts) is to sit still. Just lay your hand and the hermit crab on a flat surface and when they feel safe they will let go. That’s all!
Hermit crabs gotta have water. A wet floor works better than a water dish if you keep a lot of crabs. It also makes their cage easier to clean. A good weekly hosing works. Add climbing surfaces so they don’t stand in the water. They are not water crabs.

It is better to provide two large dishes (deep enough for the hermit crab to submerge himself if he wishes, but still providing ways for the hermit crab to easily escape) at all times.

When you say 'hosing' are you talking about a water hose?
Do you only provide rocks as a substrate for your hermit crabs?

Colored shells help, but these hermit crabs still look drab over this
neutral colored cage floor -- use a colored substrate to perk up your cage.

They best option for a substrate would be aquarium sand and forest bedding (what they live in in the wild).

Keep their gills wet or they die.

If owners provide the correct living conditions with the correct products
they will not die (misting should not be a must!)
Even during molts in main tanks hermit crabs can survive with other hermit
crabs around.

Feed yours lightly. Feeding them outside their cage keeps their cage smelling better. In addition to regular hermit crab foods, give them a bit of fruit for a treat (not an entire watermelon).

Food should be left in the tank overnight (hermit crabs are nocturnal),
so that they can eat feeling safe.

And sometimes you can find the guys with painted shells.

Hermit crabs are known to pick pieces off of their shells and eat them for
calcium, the paint on their shells can cause illness and death.
Here is the Hermit Crab Association’s website:
www.hermitcrabassociation.com -- on the right hand side under the drop
down boxes there are care sheets and lots of information, on safe/unsafe
foods and wood.

Here is our image gallery:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/gallery/

You can see owner’s setups here:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=12

This Hermit Crab magazine provides a lot of information and articles on
keeping hermit crabs alive and healthy (they can live for up to 60 years):
www.crabstreetjournal.com -- on the left hand side under information
'articles' and 'care sheets' this is their basic check list before buying a hermit crab:
http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/caresheets/images/caresheets
_2page_march.jpg

Please use all of this information to provide true and safe information for
new hermit crab owners that might come across your website.
(This is not an attack on your company)
Thank you so much if you took the time to read this, I know it can be
overwhelming, I was there one time too, thank you. Lauren

Michelle Stephens, Urbana, IL, October 31, 2005
I’m very sad to see your recommendations for hermit crab care. They are very sensitive to their environment and many of your recommendations are a recipe for an early death.
The most potentially deadly advice is keeping hermit crabs in a tank of very shallow water. Hermit crabs are primarily land animals who seek out places to gather water but who MUST have access to dry land.
Please visit us at www.hermitcrabassociation.com to find out
the latest in crab care from a large group of crab owners who
have been working hard to create the optimal crab environment
based on their biological needs.

Amanda Marandola, New Jersey, November 1, 2005
Hello. I am part of the Hermit Crab Association and I have read some false info about crab care. There are many things that can hurt crabs more than help crabs. My hermit crabs do not like when I mist them, they run away and hide under a Lego hut, their favorite driftwood (I couldn’t believe they preferred driftwood over cholla wood), or a fake plant. Painted shells are also very harmful to crabs in many ways. Prying crabs off with a screw driver isn’t a very nice thing to do at all. I would put my hand on the floor so the crab thinks he’s on the ground and the crab will wander off onto the floor. This has worked for me before. Keeping a wet floor is NOT good at all. They NEED water (Salt from Instant Ocean and fresh dechlor but the dechlor CAN NOT HAVE A SLIME COAT) one in a reptile pool DEEP ENOUGH for them to go COMPLETELY under to bathe THEMSELVES, but with a way to get out easily. Two a smaller bowl, but I only have 2 big ’pools’ of both salt and fresh. Hermit crabs also LOVE driftwood. Since I put driftwood in my tank, my crabs have been ignoring cholla wood. Feeding crabs outside the tank is a sorry but HORRIBLE idea. They should have their food when they want to. I have a huge food bowl and they know where to go in their huge tank to eat and eat when they feel like it. Good looking shells are not everything. As a matter of fact, they are bad, when I mean they I mean painted shells. Maximum size is softball size. Two per gallon is false. It depends on size. Two per gallon is not very good. 70%-80% is the humidity need for all hermit crabs besides strawberries, which need 80%-85%. 2-3 inches of any substrate isn’t good if it’s not deeper than the largest crab. Gravel is NOT good. Moist play sand (Sand box Sand) or compressed coconut fiber are the two best choices for substrate. Bathing crabs causes stress, they should be able to bathe themselves when they want within their crabitat. Commercial crab food contains ethoxyquin or another bad preservative or ingredient that kills crabs. Fresh food diets are best. ALWAYS dechlorinate water. Calcium sand does not complete crab needs for substrate, but it works good sprinkled on the food.
Thanks for listening, or better yet, reading. Here’s some helpful sites:

Great Hermit Crab Chat board with great information:
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/index.php
Safe food list: http://www.epicureanhermit.com/index.php?option=com_content
&task=view&id=14&Itemid=9
My crab site: http://hermitcrabdotcom.blogspot.com/
Please reply.

Aqualand Q&As
Q&As Jan 05
Q&As Feb 05
Q&As Mar 05
Q&As Apr 05
Q&As May 05
Q&As May II 05
Q&As Jun 05
Q&As Jun II 05
Q&As Jul 05
Q&As Jul II 05
Q&As Aug 05
Q&As Aug II 05

Q&As Sep I 05

Q&As Sep II 05

Q&As Oct 05

Q&As Oct II 05
Q&As Nov 05

Q&As Nov II 05
Q&As Dec I 05

Q&As Dec II 05

Q&As Jan I 06

Q&As Jan II 06

Q&As Feb I 06

Q&As Feb II 06

	Q&As -- Your Questions Oct 16-31, 2005 Aqualand's Answers

Amphibians Axolotls Caecilian Worm Chaco Toad Mud Puppies Newts General Newts Eastern Newts Golden Newts Mandarin Salamanders Suriname Toad Tadpoles Terrarium I Terrarium II USA Toads Water Dogs Misc. Toads Frogs Bull Clawed Dumpy Dwarf Fire-Belly Floating Green Tree Leopard Pac Man Pipa pipa Pyxie Red-Eyed Tree Tomato Misc Frogs Misc Frogs II Misc Frogs III Misc Frogs IV Misc Frogs V Animals Bunnies Bunnies II Chinchillas Degus Ferrets Ferrets by BOB Gerbils Ground Squirrels Guinea Pig Hamsters I Hamsters II Hamsters III Hamsters IV Hamsters V Hedgehogs Kittens Kids & Kittens Mice Mice Pets II Parasites Rats I Rats II Rats III Rats, Hairless S-T Opossums Siberian Chipmunks Sugar Gliders Sugar Gliders II Water Bottles Bugs Crabby 500 Crab 04 Results Centipedes Cray/Lobsters Crayfish II Crayfish III Cray, Yucatan Fiddler Crabs Shrimp, Algae Shrimp, Aqua Shrimp, Red Shrimp, Flower Shrimp, Ghost Shrimp, Rudolph Hermit Crabs Hermit Crabs II Madagas Roach Mantids Mini-Clams Mini-Crabs Patriot Crabs Giant Millipedes Red Claw Crabs Reiman Butterfly Snail, Apple Snail, Colombian Snail, Land Snail, Malaysian Snail, Mystery Snail, Trapdoor Scorpions Tarantulas Tarantulas II Tarantula Night 2006 TarantulaWeen VII TarantulaWeen 9 Misc. Bugs Misc Bugs II Birds Breeding Tips Button Quail Canaries Cockatiels Dove, Diamond Dove, Ringneck Finches Love Birds Parakeets Pelleted Foods Quaker Parrots Parrot Pictures Parrot Pix II Parrot Pix III Dave's Parrots Lizards Alligators Anoles Bearded Dragon Beardies II Calotes Chamel, Jackson Chamel, Panther Chamel, Veiled Crested Geckos Gecko, Golden Gecko, House Gecko, Leopard Gecko, Tokay Horned "Toads" Iguana New Iguana Dragons Iguana Q&A I Iguana Q&A II Iguana Training Iguana Update Cool Iguana Pics Knight Anoles Monitors, Nile Monitors, Savana Monitors, Water Salmonella Skinks Skinks Blue-Tongue Tegus Uromastyx maliensis Water Dragon Misc Lizards Misc Lizards 2 Misc Lizards 3 Misc Lizards 4 Misc Lizards 5 Misc Lizards 6 Misc Lizards 7 Misc Lizards 8 Misc Lizards 9 Snakes Anacondas Boa, Rosy Boa, Red-Tail Corn Snake Garter Snake Green Snake Kids/Corn Snakes Kids/Red-Tail Boas Kids at Pet Expo 1 Kids at Pet Expo 2 Kids at Pet Expo 3 Kids at Pet Expo 4 Kids at Pet Expo 5 King & Milk Python, Ball Python, Burmese Snakes Alive Snakesgiving Snakesgiving II Misc Snake Pix Misc Snakes II Misc Snakes III Turtles/Tortoises Box, Asian Box, USA Races Snapping Sulcata Water Western Painted Live Foods Blackworms Blood Worms Br Shrimp I Br Shrimp II Crayfish 1 Crayfish 2 Crayfish 3 Crickets Daphnia Earthworms Feeder Goldfish Fruit Flies Ghost Shrimp Glass Worms Grindal Worms Infusoria Mealworms Microworms Rosy Reds Super Worms Wax Worms White Clouds Decorating Bubbles Driftwood Gravel Plastic Plants Rocks Slow Growing Plants Miscellaneous Bob's Acclimation How to Start How to Add New Fish How to Keep Healthy Which Fish Get Along? 10 Questions to Ask What is Ich? Under Gravel Filters Sponge Filters Cloudy Water Cool Water Tanks Gravel Vacuums Preventing Disease Feeding to the Max Frozen Foods Green Water Nasty Chemicals Overfeeding Power Filters Rift Lake Salts Quarantine Tank Mini-Tank 2nd Av Bait Pet World Visit Dandelions Aquatic Plants Amazon Swords More Swords Sword Plants III Anubias Aponogetons A. boivinianus A. fenestralis A. ulvaceous Aquarium/Bog Banana Plant Bolbitis Bunch Bunch Plants II Cryptocorynes Crystalwort Dwarf Lily Grassy Grassy II Hornwort Hygrophila Lace Java Lance Fern Java Moss Moss Balls Onion Vermiculite Watersprite	Include your location, please. LA Chris Gupta, October 17, 2005 I want to purchase some halfbeaks. I have mosquito problems in my outdoor shrimp ponds. I am in south Florida and can’t find any halfbeaks. A: It would take the tiny 1.5-inch halfbeaks years to make a dent in your mosquito problem. What you really want is a product called *Mosquito Dunks. They contain Bacillus thuringensis* which specifically kill mosquitoes. You can treat 600 square feet of surface for $15. I have no idea if it bothers shrimp. You can probably find it in any garden supply store. Research it before using on your shrimp. LA Greg Riley, October 17, 2005 I just wanted to compliment you guys on the great web page. I am from Louisiana and use your page as a reference all the time. I wish we had an Aqualand Pets Plus here in Louisiana. Thanks again, A: Thanks. LA Eloïse Roy, October 17, 2005 I’m from Québec, Canada, and I know my English is not perfect. I found your site on the web, searching for information about little red claw crabs, and actually, this is the only site with a lot of good information on Sesarma bidens. But of course, I have a question on which I don’t find the answer and maybe you can help me? I called the pet shops in my region, and they don’t know a thing about red claw crabs so maybe you can help me ; ) I saw something crazy in my aqua-terrarium. I already had 2 crabs and just bought a third. The last one was already missing 3 legs, and is smaller than the other 2, but otherwise looked in good shape. But just an hour after I put the new guy in with his new family, one of the older crabs tore off two more legs. So now, my little crab only has 5 legs -- on one side. So I decided to put my injured crab in my other aquarium, with my red fishes, but he’s trying to climb out. (Yes, he still can climb on plants with only one side of legs.) So now, I’ve put the crab in a jar, with only one inch of water and a plant on the side, so he can climb out of the water. But there is no filtration. So, my problem is that I don’t know what to do. I know his legs can grow back, but in what condition? If I put it back with the two others, they’ll probably kill him. And with the red fishes, he can’t get out of the water. So that’s why I’m asking for your help. You seem to know these pals better than anyone. I hope you can help me! A: You found out red claw are mean little snots. You caught yours red-handed. Most references say crustaceans grow back the legs they lose when they shed at a later date. Maybe I’m impatient, but my amputees never seemed to grow their missing legs back. It still never hurts to try to help them recover. Put some twigs into the tank with deep water. Red claws will climb the sticks if they want. Remember, once your crab recovers, it will attack your fish. Bon chance. LA Shay McQuaid, October 18, 2005 My Pinks had a brood... Can I keep the babies with mom and dad forever? (They are in a 20 gallon One male one female and 100 babies.) Should I separate them? Thanks a million your web site is awesome (what a legacy). Included is a picture use it if you want! Thanks in advance, Shay Pic A: Most male and female convicts make perfect parents -- but not forever. However, at six to 10 weeks, they often decide to start a new family. When that happens, they may turn on the fry or on each other. In the meantime, watching the breeders take care of their youngsters is what the hobby is all about. LA Samantha Nomann, local, October 18, 2005 Do you know anyone that wants to buy a 3 year old green iguana? We got about everything from Aqualand, couple years ago. It has everything with it, 40-gallon tank, heat lights, etc. It’s a foot long. It’s just we don’t give it as much attention as it needs, work to much. Would you let me know if you find someone that wants one? Thank you, A: I suppose you mean a foot-long body plus two feet of tail. Your best bet is to take a color picture of your iguana and set up. Then post them (with your price and phone number) on our bulletin board. If you still cannot sell him, we’ll make you an offer for the iguana only. LA Rebecca, local, October 19, 2005 I have some platy fry that are about 4-5 months old and about an inch long. We have several different platys in our tank and they’re crosses between them. Things are getting a little crowded in the tank so I thought I’d check and see if you would be interested in them. I’m guessing we have something like 10-12 of them. It’s hard to get a good count. They’re scary fast. Thanks, A: Sorry for the slow reply, Becca. We can take your platy fry. Give us a call @ 283-0300 before you come in. We can guarantee you will not get rich trading in the platy commodities market. LA Michael Perrin, Somerset, KY, October 20, 2005 Requesting a catalog. If possible, please send to: * Thank you A: Sorry, Michael. We’re one of those olde fashioned retail stores in a century old building in the Highland Park area of Des Moines. On the net we just provide information. LA Claire Santos, October 20, 2005** Can you tell me please what type of goldfish these are? And can you also let me know what stage of age are they in? Thanks a lot, Claire A: American fantail on the left. Red and white ryukin on the right. I can’t guesstimate their size from their pictures. If they are three inches long, they’re about a year old. LA Pablo Gonzalez, Tucson, AR, October 21, 2005 I am planning to do some research on blue yabbies. How much do they cost? Plus S&H to Tucson, Arizona? Is there any way to change their color? Will their color fade if I use different substrates? Thanks A: We rarely ship anything because our local post office will not accept liquids (from us at least). So the shipping usually cost more than the item shipped. We seldom stock the yabbies because they usually sell for $16 -- fairly expensive for a slightly larger and slightly bluer crawdad. If you want to change their color, you can alter many crustacean carapaces at molting time. Add a dose of methylene blue or food coloring just prior to the time they shed their exoskeleton. LA Andrew Garas, October 22, 2005 I was reading your page on plecos. I recently purchased one and didn’t notice a similar one your site. I was wondering what species it is and if it is common or rare. I have attached some pictures. Thank you for your help. AG A: Looks like a sailfin pleco to me -- probably a gibbiceps. However, I’m no species expert on plecos. Jump over to ’Pleco Fanatics’ to get a second opinion. Nice pix. LA Tan Ming Kai, October 22, 2005 I would like to know which is the better and healthier choice for bullfrogs. Crickets or mealworms. And why? thanks. A: Goldfish. They contain much more calcium. LA Brian Weiss, October 23, 2005 I have a few questions to ask you, and since you helped me so much before with my oscar, you are immediately on my to-ask-list. Recently, in a pet shop, I discovered a fish known as a silvernose gar, or something like that in namesake. Do you have any information related to this species? The rocket gars look similar to the ones I saw, except the ones I saw had slightly thinner and slightly longer noses. In all actuality, they reminded me of baby chain pickerels. I also might be getting a complete 75 gallon tank set up. Currently, my twenty gallon holds my bullhead and oscar (both have learned to get along, somewhat) and a decent sized pleco (my crayfish cleanup crew gave up the ghost.) In this 75 gallon setup, are there any interesting predator fish you could recommend? I considered getting a red bellied piranha, but thanks to your site, I have learned they will probably eat my oscar alive, as well as my bullhead. Could these ’silvernose’ gars be a possible addition, or do you have other aggressive fishes in mind? (I have read the Q&A for oscars and read the oscar tank mate Q&A. Unfortunately, I cannot locate such fish locally and will not buy over the net. Yet again, Thank you for all your help. A1: Your silvernose gar sounds like a needlenose Asian gar. But I can’t swear to it. A2: Oscar tank mates work out best when you start with a bunch of youngsters about the same size -- especially if they all grow to about the same size. Gars are not good mixers. Little guys are too weak. Big guys are too aggressive. Needlenosers are not tough enough to stand up to oscars. Think in terms of equal-sized cichlids plus convicts. LA Andreas Grüter, October 23, 2005 Hello, I would like one Savanna Monitor 0,1 from you to buy. Please excuse my bad English A: Besser denn meinen schade Deutsche. Sorry, we do not sell over the internet. LA Matt Ziobo, October 23, 2005 Hi there. I was wondering where I can buy a baby corn snake in the US. thank you. A: You should be able to find corn snakes at most local pet shops. Ask your local pet store staff to order one for you. LA Jan Pamanes, Saltillo, Mexico, October 23, 2005 I just ran across your excellent section on hissing roaches. Great fotos too. Were you able to get one of the young being born and crawling up onto the female’s back? I raised about 5,000 at last count for the University here. Two really big males would eat their carrot strips in my hand. They like the strips better as their mandibles could chew them better. I had to quit however for skin allergies. In my past work with German and American roaches, I got really sensitive to them. Regards, A: Gracias. I haven’t seen one of the egg cases hatch yet, but I sure have a real herd of the hissy little devils. We’ve started feeding them out to our larger lizards. LA Derek Szczepaniak, Illinois, October 25, 2005 I would be interested in purchasing some of those “condos” for cichlids. Could you tell me how could I order these. I live in Illinois. Thank you A: Jean dobri, dude. Did I get the spelling anywhere near correct? Oddly enough, those cichlid “condos” are made here in Des Moines. I’ll see if Shaun (who makes them) travels that far east. LA Jasem Alqattan, October 26, 2005 How can I tell the age of cockatiels? And can you show me with pictures? Thanks. A: I really can’t tell the age of a cockatiel by looking at it. Since they live 15+ years, it probably makes little difference unless you plan to breed them. LA Debbie Terry, California, October 26, 2005 I have a green spotted puffer (about 1.5 inches long) and right now I have a pleco with him. I have heard that plecos do not stand salt very well and the puffer prefers brackish water as he matures. Can you suggest an algae eater type of fish that would be better suited in the puffer’s tank? A: I’m surprised your puffer hasn’t eaten the eyeballs out of your pleco. I do not know of any saltwater tolerant algae eaters. Perhaps a Tilapia mossambicus? LA Shay McQuaid, October 26, 2005 So after a discovery of HTH disease in my oscar ... Water clarity is NOT indicative of water QUALITY? That right? Thanks in advance, A: Hole-in-the-head disease comes from hexamita germs. Poor water quality encourages it but does not cause it. Oscars are heavy eaters and very messy. Without frequent water changes, you will have all sorts of oscar problems not just HTH. LA Trevor Manger, October 26, 2005 I have a 55 gal planted tank with many fish, crabs, and snails and during one of my filter cartridge changes (for my Penguin 330) I found a bunch of little white eggs no bigger than 1/2 of an inch. Can you tell me what they are and what I should do? Thanx A: None of the critters you list produce half-inch eggs. So I cannot tell you what they are. Just keep your eye on them and tell us what comes out of the eggs. LA PS Do you have any four to eight-year-old nephews? They like to decorate tanks from time to time. Mark A. Chmielinski, October 30, 2005 Can you recommend any snails that will survive in a cichlid tank? I’m considering 2” snails. Will they still be “picked on?” Thanks A: Cichlids will pick on and eat all snails except the Malaysian trumpet snail. They spend most of their time under cover. LA Lauren Lynch, San Antonio, TX, October 31, 2005 Hello I happened to come across your care sheet about hermit crabs and am very concerned. I’m e-mailing you to let you know the problems with it, so that new hermit crab owners that might come across your website will not make these deadly mistakes. (I can call and talk in person if you’d like - I’d prefer it!) Misting charges their little batteries. Even more important, it keeps hermit crabs alive. I’m hoping that you use dechlorinated water (I’m just guessing that since you said "hosing" later on down the sheet that you might not). Chlorine and Chloramines painfully damage hermit crabs gills, causing them to suffer for months before they die. Being misted causes stress on hermit crabs, if you notice when they have all that they require to live, they are lazy, so when you mist them and they become active that is abnormal (showing stress). There are products out there that we at the Hermit Crab Association use to keep the humidity and temperature correct: ● Humidifier and Air Exchanger ● Natural Sea Sponges ● Reptile Moss ● Waterfalls ● Always a must - A humidity and Temperature Gauge (Humidity 75-80% - Temperature 75-80%) (Strawberry hermit crabs require a higher temperature and humidity 80-85% for both, making other species of hermit crabs uncomfortable) (I only posted the links so you could see what I was talking about, not to endorse those companies) Little guys and big guys usually get along. Occasionally a big guy will yank one of the little guys out of his shell. Not good for the little guy. Hermit crabs without shells are very vulnerable. They usually die. They will not do this if you have three shells of the correct size for each hermit crab to choose from. Having those extra shells can prevent those terrible things. Without a shell, hermit crabs have no body protection. If hermit crabs are exiting their shells it is a great sign that something is wrong within their home. It is very stressful for a hermit crab to be out of it’s shell and is very important that hermit crab owners provide isolation tanks and the correct conditions for these animals. Hermit crabs live in trees. They’re great climbers. And with their pincers, they’re also great pinchers. They don’t want to fall. They hang on (to you also). Hermit crabs can injure the tips of their legs climbing on the wire in those homes. If one of these big hermit crabs gets a grip on you, you will never forget it. You can get used to steady pinches. But these guys squeeze intermittently. They hold on for 15 minutes or more. Pry them off with a flat-bladed screw driver. Do no pry off hermit crabs with a screw driver. If a hermit crab pinches you it is because it is terrified as it is, what you have to do to make them let go (no matter how bad it hurts) is to sit still. Just lay your hand and the hermit crab on a flat surface and when they feel safe they will let go. That’s all! Hermit crabs gotta have water. A wet floor works better than a water dish if you keep a lot of crabs. It also makes their cage easier to clean. A good weekly hosing works. Add climbing surfaces so they don’t stand in the water. They are not water crabs. It is better to provide two large dishes (deep enough for the hermit crab to submerge himself if he wishes, but still providing ways for the hermit crab to easily escape) at all times. When you say 'hosing' are you talking about a water hose? Do you only provide rocks as a substrate for your hermit crabs? Colored shells help, but these hermit crabs still look drab over this neutral colored cage floor -- use a colored substrate to perk up your cage. They best option for a substrate would be aquarium sand and forest bedding (what they live in in the wild). Keep their gills wet or they die. If owners provide the correct living conditions with the correct products they will not die (misting should not be a must!) Even during molts in main tanks hermit crabs can survive with other hermit crabs around. Feed yours lightly. Feeding them outside their cage keeps their cage smelling better. In addition to regular hermit crab foods, give them a bit of fruit for a treat (not an entire watermelon). Food should be left in the tank overnight (hermit crabs are nocturnal), so that they can eat feeling safe. And sometimes you can find the guys with painted shells. Hermit crabs are known to pick pieces off of their shells and eat them for calcium, the paint on their shells can cause illness and death. Here is the Hermit Crab Association’s website: www.hermitcrabassociation.com -- on the right hand side under the drop down boxes there are care sheets and lots of information, on safe/unsafe foods and wood. Here is our image gallery: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/gallery/ You can see owner’s setups here: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=12 This Hermit Crab magazine provides a lot of information and articles on keeping hermit crabs alive and healthy (they can live for up to 60 years): www.crabstreetjournal.com -- on the left hand side under information 'articles' and 'care sheets' this is their basic check list before buying a hermit crab: http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/caresheets/images/caresheets _2page_march.jpg Please use all of this information to provide true and safe information for new hermit crab owners that might come across your website. (This is not an attack on your company) Thank you so much if you took the time to read this, I know it can be overwhelming, I was there one time too, thank you. Lauren Michelle Stephens, Urbana, IL, October 31, 2005 I’m very sad to see your recommendations for hermit crab care. They are very sensitive to their environment and many of your recommendations are a recipe for an early death. The most potentially deadly advice is keeping hermit crabs in a tank of very shallow water. Hermit crabs are primarily land animals who seek out places to gather water but who MUST have access to dry land. Please visit us at www.hermitcrabassociation.com to find out the latest in crab care from a large group of crab owners who have been working hard to create the optimal crab environment based on their biological needs. Amanda Marandola, New Jersey, November 1, 2005 Hello. I am part of the Hermit Crab Association and I have read some false info about crab care. There are many things that can hurt crabs more than help crabs. My hermit crabs do not like when I mist them, they run away and hide under a Lego hut, their favorite driftwood (I couldn’t believe they preferred driftwood over cholla wood), or a fake plant. Painted shells are also very harmful to crabs in many ways. Prying crabs off with a screw driver isn’t a very nice thing to do at all. I would put my hand on the floor so the crab thinks he’s on the ground and the crab will wander off onto the floor. This has worked for me before. Keeping a wet floor is NOT good at all. They NEED water (Salt from Instant Ocean and fresh dechlor but the dechlor CAN NOT HAVE A SLIME COAT) one in a reptile pool DEEP ENOUGH for them to go COMPLETELY under to bathe THEMSELVES, but with a way to get out easily. Two a smaller bowl, but I only have 2 big ’pools’ of both salt and fresh. Hermit crabs also LOVE driftwood. Since I put driftwood in my tank, my crabs have been ignoring cholla wood. Feeding crabs outside the tank is a sorry but HORRIBLE idea. They should have their food when they want to. I have a huge food bowl and they know where to go in their huge tank to eat and eat when they feel like it. Good looking shells are not everything. As a matter of fact, they are bad, when I mean they I mean painted shells. Maximum size is softball size. Two per gallon is false. It depends on size. Two per gallon is not very good. 70%-80% is the humidity need for all hermit crabs besides strawberries, which need 80%-85%. 2-3 inches of any substrate isn’t good if it’s not deeper than the largest crab. Gravel is NOT good. Moist play sand (Sand box Sand) or compressed coconut fiber are the two best choices for substrate. Bathing crabs causes stress, they should be able to bathe themselves when they want within their crabitat. Commercial crab food contains ethoxyquin or another bad preservative or ingredient that kills crabs. Fresh food diets are best. ALWAYS dechlorinate water. Calcium sand does not complete crab needs for substrate, but it works good sprinkled on the food. Thanks for listening, or better yet, reading. Here’s some helpful sites: Great Hermit Crab Chat board with great information: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/index.php Safe food list: http://www.epicureanhermit.com/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=14&Itemid=9 My crab site: http://hermitcrabdotcom.blogspot.com/ Please reply. Aqualand Q&As Q&As Jan 05 Q&As Feb 05 Q&As Mar 05 Q&As Apr 05 Q&As May 05 Q&As May II 05 Q&As Jun 05 Q&As Jun II 05 Q&As Jul 05 Q&As Jul II 05 Q&As Aug 05 Q&As Aug II 05 Q&As Sep I 05 Q&As Sep II 05 Q&As Oct 05 Q&As Oct II 05 Q&As Nov 05 Q&As Nov II 05 Q&As Dec I 05 Q&As Dec II 05 Q&As Jan I 06 Q&As Jan II 06 Q&As Feb I 06 Q&As Feb II 06 © 2005 LA Productions 3600 Sixth Avenue Corner of Sixth & Euclid Avenues Des Moines, IA 50313 515 283-0300 Home Fish Other Stuff	Anabantids Betta Leaf Betta Breed 1 Betta Breed II Betta Info Betta Housing Betta Pla Kat Choc Gourami Climbing Perch Gourami Pix Kiss. Gourami Osphronemus Pearl Gourami More Pearls Paradise Fish Snakehead Spawn Gourami T. trichopterus Catfish Banjo Bullheads Bull Sharks Channel Corydoras Cory Pics Electric Glass Hoplos Otocinclus Pangassius Pictus Plecostomus Pleco Bristle Pleco Costly I Pleco Costly II Pleco Costly III Pleco Costly IV Pleco Costly VI Raphael Red-Tail Shovelnose Sun Synodontis Synodontis petricola Upside-down Misc. Catfish Misc. Catfish II Misc. Catfish III Cichlids African I African II African III African IV Amer. Small Amer. Med Amer. Large Angelfish I Angelfish II Angelfish III Angelfish IV More Angels Buttikoferi Cichlid Decor Cichlid Food Convicts Convicts 2 Convicts 3 Convicts 4 Dempseys More Dempseys Discus Dither Fish Flower Horn Green Terror Jaguar More Jaguars Jaguar Spawning Jewel Fish Kribensis Oscars 1 Oscars 2 Oscars 3 Oscars 4 Oscars 5 More Oscar More Oscar II More Oscars III Peacock Bass Red Devils More Red Devil Red Parrots Pikes Pink Tilapia Rams Red Bay Snooks Roger Stephen's Cichlids Severums More Severums Severums III Tanganyikans Texas Cichlid Texas Spawning Uarus Misc Cichlids I Misc Cichlids II Misc Cichlids III Misc Cichlids IV Misc Cichlids V Misc Cichlids VI Livebearer Guppies Half-Beak Mollies Moons/Platys Swordtails Minnows/Tetra Barbs Barbs, Black Barbs, Gold Barbs, Rosy Barbs, Tiger Barbs, Tinfoil Danios Distochodus Fathead Minnows Headstanders Killies, Econ. Killies, Golden Killies, Peat Killies, Plant Misc Mini-Fish Pacús Piranha, Black Piranha, Red Rainbowfish (Austral & Irian) Silver Dollar Tetras, Larger Tetras, Smaller Tetras, Spawn Tetra, Vampire White Clouds Pond Fish Carp Channel Cat Gold. Comets Gold. Fantails More Fantails Gold. Oriental Gold Oriental II Gold. Spawn Koi Koi II Plecostomus Shubunkins Oddballs Af. Butterfly Af. Lungfish Af. Mudskippr American Eel Archer Fish Arowana Bichirs Borneo Suckers Brackish I Brackish II Brackish III Brackish IV Brackish V Michael Troung's Pix Butterfly/Wasp Chameleon Fish Chromides Chin Alg Eater Crazy Fish Crocodile Fish Datnioides Dojo Electric Cat Electric Eels Elephant Nose Exodon paradoxus Flounder Gars Glassfish Goby Bumble Goby Butterfly Goby Dragon Goby Misc. Half-Beak Knife African Knife Clown Knife Ghost Loach Botias Loach Clown Loach Kuhli Loach Weather Moray Eel Peacock Gudgeons Polypterids Puffers Ropefish Scats Siam Algae Eater Spiny Eels Snakehead Stingray Stonefish Wasp Fish Wolffish Wrest Half-Beak Misc. Mini-Fishes Misc. Odd Misc. Odd II Misc. Odd III Misc. Odd IV Sharks Bala Black Bull Chinese Hi-Fin Banded Iridescent Red-Tail Siam Algae Eater Pond Info Blank Park Zoo Bob Humphrey's Ponds Cattails Maffett Reservoir DMACC's Pond D.M. Botanical Center D.M. Water Works Dr. Ervanian's Garden Duckweed Dwarf Lily Ewing Park "Pond" Jan & Chris's Water Garden John McDonald's Pond Hall's Four Acres Klines' Water Garden Landscaper Effects Mini-Pond Pics Pioneer Corn's Pond Pond Fish Predators Pond on 38th Street Pond Pics Pond Plants More Pond Plants Pond Plants III Reiman Ponds River Scenes Riverview Island Selin's Water Gardens Selin's Japanese Garden Tom's Used Cars Pond Urbandale Duck Pond Water Hyacinth Water Lettuce Wild Ponds