A:  We get new rats in all the time and we run out all the time.  There's no way we can keep livestock on hand 100% of the time.  You'll get up to date info if you call us @ 515 283-9300.  LA

LA

A:  Your grasshopper probably jumped on your mantis before she "hardened" after she shed.  She'll probably recover at her next shed -- but no guarantees.  LA

A1:  Larger lizards thoroughly masticate mealworms and superworms before swallowing them.  I wouldn't feed superworms to small lizards because they (the superworms) bite.  (Try holding a half-dozen or so in your hand.)  Large crickets also bite. 
A2:  Some lizard keepers steer clear of walnut shells because they think they'll get swallowed and became impacted or cut their guts up.  I don't believe this is a problem or R-Zilla would not sell them.  If your lizard is dumb enough to eat his substrate, anything can plug up his guts.  Feed your mealworms in a dish to keep them from burrowing into the substrate where your lizard might accidentally grab a big bite of substrate along with his food.  If in doubt, keep him over carpet, newspaper, or butcher's paper..  As for your lizard's desire to burrow, any of the chips would work.  But I don't think it would hurt them emotionally, if they could not burrow.  LA 

LA

A:  No we don't breed them -- except in my front yard where I counted 23 chipmunk burrow entrances two weeks ago.  They are fertile little beasts in my locale.  And, they are very wild.  LA

A:  Sorry, I can't help you.  To ship to you, most suppliers would require a pretty good size order to justify the shipping charges.  LA

A:  Metronidazole kills some bacteria, amoebas, and some parasites.  It's usually used to treat hole-in-the-head disease.  Water temp at 25 Celsius is perfect.  Water changes at 50% should be okay for large cichlids.  Your 80% change was probably stressful.
Try 30% daily water changes.  Add one teaspoon of aquarium salt per gallon of water.  Repeat the Metronidazole if he continues to scratch against the bottom.  Find a live food that he likes (minnows, crayfish, worms, shrimps) and feed small quantities.  LA

A:  Nice pic.  It shows where the eggs come from and where they go.  I'm adding it to my mystery snail page.  Thanks.  LA

A:  When first brought to the U.S., angelfish were considered a difficult to keep and hard to breed cichlid.  Today's angels have been reared in various U.S. waters for so long, that they've adapted to the local water conditions.  Those that did not adapt died.  For a new tank,  add water, age it, filter it, add one teaspoonful aquarium salt per gallon, and warm it to 75.  Float your angel in a cuffed bag about 10 minutes.  Then add a water conditioner and release your angel.  LA

A:  Your ctenopoma looks like it got in an argument with a cichlid and injured his mouth.
Your Texas cichlid has a bent gill cover (operculum).  Excess aeration on the eggs is often the cause.
Neither of these disfigurments will hurt them for breeding purposes.  Neither is likely to improve.  LA

A:  As long as they can eat, they'll be fine.  If your other fish eat all the food first, you probably need to separate them.  LA

LA

A:  I googled "black widow spiders for sale" and got over two million hits.  They might be on the pricy side for display purposes.  LA

A:  Call 515 283-0300 for prices.  They can also give you a guesstimate on what the shipping costs would be.  LA

LA

LA

A:  Remove your bucktooth tetras, Exodon paradoxus.   They are beating the crap out of your other fish.  They are nasty fish that will take over an African cichlid tank and force all the cichlids into the corners.  They will also pester piranhas three times their size.  LA

A:  There are probably several diseases in your tank.  What I am saying is the bucktooth tetras are causing the diseases.  If you had the flu, and Hannibal the cannibal took two ot three bites out of you every day, your chances of survival go way down -- no matter how much medication you take.  Take out the bucktooth tetras or they will kill your fish.  LA

LA

A:  Male anoles are larger, flare their pink dewlaps more often, and bite the females on the back of the neck.  More importantly, if you look below their anus, males have two side-by-side larger scales.  LA

LA

A:  Cherry red shrimps are small (as the name implies).  Their offspring are bite size for zebra danios.  Your danios probably can't eat the adult shrimp, but they will harass them.  The adults are bite size for bettas.  LA

A:  Our fish room is a bit torn up right now, but I think we have an empty 55.  I'll tell Kendall they're coming this afternoon.  LA

LA
The new (and more expensive) long-finned white cloud (male).

A:  Congratulations.  I've never spawned white clouds myself, but I never tried the "leave their tank in the sink" method.  Supposedly the parents don't eat their young (possibly the only fish in the world that does not do this).  It sounds like you need a gravel vacuum cleaner (Gravel Vacuums) to reduce the effort you put into cleaning your "rocks."  LA

LA

A:  I don't like topsoil anywhere near water because it makes mud (especially if it gets help from a large strong frog).  But that's personal preference.  Your leopard frog could be a threat to your grey tree frog, unless the grey tree frog stays at the top.  Your anole should be fine, ditto the paradise fish.  LA

A:  Most cichlids (except convicts) take their first three spawns to figure out how to do it right.  They usually figure it out themselves over time.  Of course, some times two females will pair off.  In which case they will always get 100% white eggs.  LA

LA

A:  Thanks for your report.  I'll add it to my ball python page.  Back in the olde days, we found that "cheap" ball pythons were not a very good deal.  They were wild-caught balls and were often reluctant to feed -- not to mention picking the ticks off and the probable parasite infestations.  I had one shipment where every ball died.  We only sell Iowa-bred ball pythons these days.  Still, if a rat chews on a snake (which I can't blame the rat for), the ball (or most snakes) will be reluctant to approach another rat.  We recommend feeding non-living prey to all snakes.  If a double cheese burger bit you on the face, it would be a long time before you snacked on a double cheese burger again.  LA

A:  I agree with your agreement.  LA

A:  I don't know.  Some of those geckos (especially the goldens) defecate a very runny bowel movement all over their glass walls.  The dumpy frog would probably not appreciate the mess on his skin.  I think I'd still keep your frog in his own cage.  LA

A:  Two possibilities:  (1)  He's actually a black lace (a cross between a silver and a black angel).  Or (2)  You have him over a black substrate (which darkens most fish).  LA
PS  If you re-position your camera at a slight angle, you won't get that flashback when you take pictures.

A:  Good deal.  Black lace angels usually cost a bit more than silvers.  LA

A:  Hey, Sid.  Some of us were wondering where the heck you've been lately.  Anyway, scorpions are illegal in Des Moines so we can't stock them.  But we can special order them for our out of town customers to pick up.  Give us a call at 515 283-0300.  We get them on Fridays.  LA

TG

A:  Thanks, Ahmed, your prices and photos are excellent.  But your minimum quantity of 1,000 far exceeds our ability to sell moss balls.  LA

LA

A:  I can tell you from personal experience that rats can worm their way out of cages with 1-inch spaces between the bars.  Evidently they can "shrink" their shoulders to get thru small places.  However, they do make excellent pets.  LA

Allison K., Laredo, TX, October 31, 2010
Hello, I'm building a good list of links on http://www.laredo.texas-hotels-us.com  I was wondering if we can have a link exchange with your website.

A:  I'm going to say no because I don't see how we're related at all.  LA