August 16-31, 2005 questions you asked Aqualand

Add your location. It makes your questions more interesting. Sometimes it also helps answer the question. Thx. LA

A: I believe those are fox-eared snails. Sorry that I can’t give you a species or any additional info other than vague memories of references to them several decades ago in TFH. LA

Tom Ferguson, Manhattan College NY, August 18, 2005
Your web site is great! I just Googled “Columbian ramshorn snails” and yours was the first entry. Lots of info and very funny.
Too bad I don’t live in Iowa, just for you guys alone. Hope you don’t mind me freeloading on your web site.
But, do you ship? If your stock is half as good as the site, I’d be interested
in buying when my tank is emptying out. Thanks,

A: You didn’t Google “Columbian etc” or you would have gotten 122 sites that spell “Colombian” wrong instead of the eight sites that spell it right. But we don’t mind freeloaders even when they stumble in by accident. Sorry, we don’t ship, but feel free to drop in when you’re in the neighborhood. Now get back to your homework. LA

Leslie Wu, August 19, 2005
I love your site. I have a small comet, about 1.5 inches, and his tail isn’t as long. He looks more like a common, however, PETCO named him a comet. Is this normal? I noticed on this page,
http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Live%20Food,%20Goldfish.htm, that the 200 medium comets look almost like commons.

A: I keep seeing the name PETCO popping up. Are these guys still open? Anyway, comets were originally regular goldfish with a long tail like a comet. You now see feeder goldfish continuously referred to as “comets” so many times the term is now meaningless. LA

Laura E. Napolitano, August 22, 2005
Awesome website overall! I had a great time reading it and I learned a lot -- including why my $6/week bloodworms were dying 2 days after I brought them home -- not conducive to happy newts and frogs!
I notice on your African Clawed Frog page, there are images of you handling the little guys. Is it safe to do that regularly, or is it something you do only if absolutely necessary, i.e. to take pictures, put them together for mating, etc?
Reason I ask is me and my family are attached to our 5 Clawed Frogs (and they seem pretty attached to us too!) and we’re always craving just to touch them since they’re so interactive -- but we’re afraid of stressing them/getting them ill.
How will they react to being touched and held? Does it pose a disease risk to *us*? (I’ve had salmonella in the past from a turtle I owned -- and it was one of the worst experiences of my life -- 15 lbs of weight loss in 5 days is never a good thing!)
Well, if you do get this email, thanks for reading it! Keep up the awesome work on the site.

A: Glad you like the site. Sorry about the salmonella, since I can imagine exactly how you lost that weight. I wash my hands more everyday than your average surgeon, because I work with more critters than your average surgeon. I doubt you’d get salmonella from an African frog, but wash your hands anyway. You could get a serious case of frog slime. Handling probably stresses them a bit but an occasional grab seems harmless to me (but I’m not sure about the frog’s viewpoint). I grab a lot of critters to photo them and to show their size in relation to my hand. I do most of my own stunt work so I can get the profiles I want. Last comment: African clawed frogs are very hard to hold onto -- especially when they don’t want to be held, which is always. LA

A: Wash your hands first. Move slowly. Put your hand over your snake’s head so he knows you (and any of your parts) are not food. Slowly move your hand(s) under him and pick him up (supporting him in at least two places). It’s best to feed them in a separate location from their living quarters. You don’t want them thinking anything that enters their cage is food. And you should feed each one separately. If two snakes start on opposite ends of the same mouse, the faster swallower can start swallowing the slower snake. Seen it myself. A red belly usually means a bacterial infection. Clean his cage. And get rid of any hot rocks. LA

Brandon, August 23, 2005
Thank you for your helpful response on automatic feeders. I’ve moved back to college and just started my first cichlid tank, an eclipse hex 7
gallon. I have one yellow lab and blue-convict looking one, can’t recall
the name -- both about 2 inches long. I have three rock and one driftwood
hiding spots for them, and they have already picked out spots to camp. But
they don’t seem to be eating. They will chase the sinking pellets down to
the bottom but they don’t pursue them after they hit bottom. There are also 6 1/4-inch feeder guppies in there and they show no interest in them either. Both appear normal, no signs of wear or gill pumping, but until my floating
pellets get here, is there any thing you would recommend to do? I was
thinking of spinach on a fork and just sitting it in there, but I don’t
know. I just don’t want my new pricey fish to starve, which from what I was told is not a cichlid thing to do. The tank is unheated, at room temp of
around 70-75 with a fluorescent bulb. Thanks a bunch if you can help.

A: Brandon, if they were hungry, they’d gulp those little gups. Don’t worry about them starving. They’d eat each other first. They’re sneaking food while you’re not looking. Siphon out any uneaten food. It’s usually not a good idea to mix African cichlids and American cichlids in the same container. You probably should separate them. But in the meantime, consider getting a larger tank in the very near future. LA

Alan, August 24, 2005
I just bought a young savanna monitor about five inches long and wanted to know how often I should feed him. Also how often should I clean out the cage and change the sand? Thanks

A: Feed the little guy at least once a day. Keep him warm. Most monitors defecate in their water bowl, so change his water every day. Clean or change the sand whenever it looks or smells like it needs changed. LA

Ozzy Weiss, August 24, 2005
I don’t know if you remember me, but I emailed you in June about my
tank. Then, I had an oscar, bullhead, freshwater lobster, and a
crayfish. Currently, my tank got roomier since the crayfish gave up
the ghost. But that’s not my problem.
Thing is, the oscar and catfish have really been fighting hard, and I’m
almost 99% sure that my oscar’s pectoral fins are just about shredded
since there’s no webbing between the bony rays. Will this grow back?
I’m also considering putting the catfish back, and getting myself
another fish to put in his place. Any suggestions that would
complement the oscar nicely, as well as the lobster?

A: If you’re still keeping them in a 20-gallon tank, I’d start by getting rid of the bullhead. Does this sound like a broken record, since I said the same thing back in June? Then get rid of the lobster. Then, if you absolutely have to positively add another fish (which I wouldn’t do until your oscar recovers), add a plecostomus. LA

JRaffman, August 26, 2005
I ended up getting a hoplias almost 6 weeks ago, used stuff called Stress Zyme, with the tank having a turnover rate of about 15 times an hour and everything has been fine. No cloudy water, no signs of stress. He’s now living happily with an oscar, a bichir and a hujeta. All around 6-8 inches.
One more thing I would like to ask you is your opinion/experience of filters. Things have changed a bit since I stopped keeping fish 11 years ago. What filters do you use and have most success with? What do you think of under gravel filters? And what kind of turnover rate do you have on your tanks? Do you ever use multiple filters etc? :) Best regards,

A: Your hoplias may become a problem. They can turn vicious as they grow. He will go for your hujeta first.
I use lots of filters, a couple hundred sponge filters (many as old as three decades), a couple hundred under gravel filters (many as old as two decades), ten power filters, a few of the ancient corner filters, and a couple canister filters. I move the power filters around when population density or over feeding warrant. Newer under gravel filters are superior to the older ones, but the old ones still get the job done. Multiple filters (a UG plus a power filter) work best. LA

Alejandro Chemin, Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 26, 2005
I have interest in gold dempsey, I breed blue dempsey in Argentina. my web page is www.geopetfish.8m.com.8m.com

You can obtain to me to some females and males? Thanks

A: Sorry Alejandro, I have none of the gold dempseys at this time. But they were not as good-looking as the original dempseys and quite inferior looking to the newer blue dempseys. LA

Rick Hunt, August 26, 2005
Hi, I recently set up a mangrove brackish tank. I am having a hard time finding fish dealers online that I can purchase some from. I especially like bumblebee gobies. Can you please let me know if you know of
any? Thank you

A: I’m not a real expert on the on-line fish dealers. Your local fish store probably carries these little cuties at a surprisingly low price. They’re usually quite readily available. LA

Brian Plum, Brooklyn, Ohio, August 27, 2005
HI GUYS, I WAS LOOKING TO BUY A CALOTES, BUT CAN’T FIND ONE AROUND ME. WHERE CAN I BUY ONE? THANKS

A: We haven’t seen calotes on the lists for months. Many lizards are seasonal. Keep looking for them. They are not rare beasts. LA

Brian Kooyman, Marengo, Iowa, August 27, 2005
My sons & I have started breeding freshwater angelfish. We are about 25 miles west of Iowa City & Cedar Rapids. I have been selling them to local pet stores but am producing more than I think they will need. I currently have around 2000 to 2500 silver angelfish and around 200 black angelfish in various stages of development. I am working on pairing up other varieties. I would like to sell these to pet stores who are interested.
I raise them in tap water (dechlorinated) so they are very hardy fish. When I deliver them locally I transport them with aeration so as not to stress them.
We take great pride in our hobby/small business and just want to continue if we can find customers who want our production. If you would like to look at our small facility and have a representative in the area sometime, feel free to email or call us. We currently run the business out of our basement. I could also bring a free sample for you to examine. Just fishing for answers and would appreciate any feedback. Thank you

A: We currently purchase angels from people in Fort Madison, Fort Dodge, and Des Moines. We rarely ship them in (except for the red ones). Right now we are combating the angelfish virus so our stocks of angels are low. I’m saving your e-mail and phone numbers because I like to take Tuesday Field Trips on my day off. I might drop by some Tuesday for tea and crumpets. I’ll call first. LA

Ray Harpin, Creston, August 28, 2005
Can you tell me how much for a short tailed possum? Also directions coming from Creston on I-235? Thanks. Also, any contacts for a fennec fox?

A: The federal inspectors won’t let us sell short-tail opossums anymore. They insist on federal inspection and several extra rules and expenses that don’t apply to normal pet shops. So your best bet is to go to one of the exotic animal auctions. I think Macon, Missouri hosts one every quarter. You will see the federal inspectors at those auctions this year. Come up on I-35 (not 235) and turn right on the Douglas exit. Go East young man till you cross the renowned Des Moines River. Douglas magically becomes Euclid. Keep going to the top of the hill. You’ll see the stop lights and our cool arch over Sixth Avenue. We’re right on that corner. Tuesday is my day off. LA

Pablo Escobar, August 28, 2005
You tried to put how many chocolate gouramis in the tank at the same
time? Way to spike your TDS and your Nitrogen compounds? Smart start.
Was the Ph 4.5 or less? Did you get the electrical conductivity down to
damn near zero? Did you get your TDS, GH and KH to less than one? Did
they only eat live food? Was the tank AT LEAST 88 Fahrenheit?
What? No?
And they died?
Wow. Seems like you did quite a half assed experiment, huh?

A: Send me a paragraph about yourself, Pablito, and I’ll add your comments to my chocolate gourami page and add you to our Board of Correctors. LA

Clay Carter, Indiana, August 29, 2005
I just thought I would add… and/or ask… in your buttikoferi page, you said that you need a very large tank to keep them with others. I have a pair of them that are 14 inches each. They were in a 75 gallon tank, but then I moved them into a 55 with a 15 inch clown knife, a 12 inch Oscar, an 11 inch Lima shovelnose cat. And 2, 3-inch Oscars and 2, 3-inch pacús. I know this tank is crowded, but I have noticed that when I crowded these fish, they all got healthier. My pacús’ tails got blacker, my Oscars all got deeper colors and the stripes on my buttikoferis turned more gold and have stopped fighting all together. I’m not sure why, but my fish are healthier and eat better. I thought I would put this up to see if this is normal.

A: I wouldn’t call it normal or abnormal. However, I wouldn’t recommend crowding them that way. We sell some buttikoferis several times (customers bring them back because they beat on their other fishes). Keep your eye on them. LA

CAptain Summa, August 29, 2005
Um...is my question for this month already used up? If not can you tell me some info on freshwater barracudas.

A: They are expensive, savage predators, and rather plain looking characins. You already used up your August question. This was your September question. LA

Dennis James, Marion, Iowa, August 29, 2005
I LOVE your website. I want an excuse to drive to Des Moines and visit your store. Do you sell frozen pinkie mice? I have a hatchling Okeetee corn snake and I DON’T want to buy them from a giant chain pet store. If you have them, how much do they cost? Thank you

A: Before you drive all the way to Des Moines for a frozen pinkie (which will melt during the two-hour trip back home), check out the Pet Playhouse over in Cedar Rapids. Impressive joint and much newer than Aqualand. Then come over to visit us. Bring dry ice if you plan to bring frozen pinkies back. They cost a buck. LA

Michelle Malbert, August 29, 2005
My son has a leopard gecko. Last night we discovered he wasn’t in his tank. We have no idea how he got out. Do they jump? The tank cover has a small opening maybe 2 x 6-inches at the back of the cover which is open. Could he have climbed out of there? I know they can’t climb the glass. We also don’t know where to look for him! I would think he would be trying to hide somewhere dark, since he is in his den most of the time. What should we do? We hope you can help us. Thank you so much.
By the way, We really like your web site. My son Steven has found it to be very helpful with our other pets.

A: How high is your cage cover? Could he have wedged his way up on his tail? In any event, he probably is searching for a small hiding place, as you say. You might try placing small boxes along the edges of the room he escaped into. Also, look for him at night when he’s on the prowl for food. Good luck in your hunt. LA

Michelle Malbert, September 1, 2005
We found diesel tonight!!! (my son’s leopard gecko). He was right in my son’s room, on the floor, only about 6 feet from his tank. He must have come out in the dark, and the cat was kind of afraid to go in there. I told the kids to go check out the room, and there he was!! He is o.k. None the worse for wear. Maybe a little hungry. I’ll go get him some extra crickets tomorrow. Thanks for your advice.

Andrew, New Zealand, August 31, 2005
Four weeks ago I bought 10 ringneck doves and locked them in an aviary approximately 8ft by 5ft by 8ft high. I fed them on a daily basis.
After 3 weeks I let them loose as I’ve seen these birds flying out of captivity before. The first day I let them go, they scattered for the trees. The same evening they all came back to feed and some went back inside the aviary on their own. The second day all 10 were still here and feeding. They continue to fly out in the wild very happily, and when they become hungry they come back to the aviary for a feed. I don’t feed them in the aviary but from our hands and on a feeding platform I’ve made outside the aviary. Some then go inside and some to the trees but all 10 are still here 1 week on from letting them loose. We do live in the country and we do have a cat but at this stage she doesn’t bother the birds.
Seeing these birds flying longer distances than just in such small cages is a fantastic sight. They clap wings as they take off and perform some unusual flying acrobatics which you’ll never see in a cage or inside your house.
I recommend to anyone who owns these birds to give it a go. Let them really fly. They will come back once they know where their food supply is. After such a long period of being caged they will most certainly know where home is and they will let you know when they are hungry.
PS They seem to have mating sessions very regularly, many times a day. Is this for pure enjoyment or to reproduce? I thought humans were the only creatures to do this.

LA
For instance, we caught this guy on Aqualand's front sidewalk this morning, August 29,2005.

A: Ringneck doves have always seemed to me to be incapable of survival in the wild. We have peregrine falcons (and a few owls) in the city and all manner of hawks and owls outside the city. Snakes, feral cats, raccoons, skunks, and even opossums would find them easy prey around here. Our mosquitoes apparently carry West Nile flu. Plus our winters drop to 10 below zero on a regular basis.
PS Monkeys are pretty good at it, also. LA

Kate Pix

LA
Long-tailed grass lizard (skinny)

Kate Foster, Southern California, August 31, 2005
We found this weird lizard in the downstairs bath tub of my house.
It is about 4 inches long, has a really long tail, is very slender, it's skin appears to be smooth, and darts very fast. It’s tail can curl around it and over it. It’s eyes are black, very little and set in it’s face. It’s nose is pointy. I think it is a baby, do you think it is?
I’ve attached 4 pictures. Please let me know if you have a problem with them. Is this specie native to Southern California or is it definitely an imported lizard? Would it survive if I let it into the wild?
I assume if I were to keep it, the proper home would be an aquarium with a hot rock, gravel, crickets to eat, and a daily misting with water on the sides of the tank?
Western fence lizards eventually become “tame” and “friendly.” Do you know if this species has the same potential?
Talking on the phone we thought it might be a long tailed grass lizard, is this what it still appears to be?
I LOVE the Degus! Is there any way to “ship” them to Southern California?
Thank you, thank you sooo much for your time and help! I truly appreciate it! Thanks again!

A1: Excellent pictures. But I can’t give you an exact species. It’s very similar to a long-tailed grass lizard but has a shorter tail. The long-tails we usually see are green and yellow striped. Treat it like any skink. Most will drink out of a low water bowl and eat insects (and a bit of soft fruit). Most lizard keepers prefer a basking light to heat rocks. He is most active in the day time but will be shy or scared at first. He will “friendly up” for you fairly fast.
A2: I don’t want to try smuggling degus into California. Besides that, we rarely ship anything. And we sold our last pair of degus Saturday. LA

	Aqualand Q&As August 16-31, 2005 You ask. We answer. Sometimes we're right.

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Under Gravel 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 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 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 Q&As Jun 05 Q&As Jun II Q&As Jul 05 Q&As Jul II Q&As Aug 05	Add your location. It makes your questions more interesting. Sometimes it also helps answer the question. Thx. LA Dominik, Toronto, Canada, August 17, 2005 I found some strange looking snails (hitchhikers) after I added new plants in my tank. I included photos of these snails and I was wondering if you could tell me what species they are and some info about them. I was searching the net but I wasn’t able to find anything about these particular ones. They have strange antennae, which are triangular and rather flat than round, like most snails, and are covered with black and white dots all over their body and parts of their shell. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. P.S. I love your web page. It has plenty of valuable information for beginners and more advanced hobbyists alike. A: I believe those are fox-eared snails. Sorry that I can’t give you a species or any additional info other than vague memories of references to them several decades ago in TFH. LA PS You might try “Robyn’s Snail Species Page.” She doesn’t list them, but I bet she’d try to track them down. Tom Ferguson, Manhattan College NY, August 18, 2005 Your web site is great! I just Googled “Columbian ramshorn snails” and yours was the first entry. Lots of info and very funny. Too bad I don’t live in Iowa, just for you guys alone. Hope you don’t mind me freeloading on your web site. But, do you ship? If your stock is half as good as the site, I’d be interested in buying when my tank is emptying out. Thanks, A: You didn’t Google “Columbian etc” or you would have gotten 122 sites that spell “Colombian” wrong instead of the eight sites that spell it right. But we don’t mind freeloaders even when they stumble in by accident. Sorry, we don’t ship, but feel free to drop in when you’re in the neighborhood. Now get back to your homework. LA Leslie Wu, August 19, 2005 I love your site. I have a small comet, about 1.5 inches, and his tail isn’t as long. He looks more like a common, however, PETCO named him a comet. Is this normal? I noticed on this page, http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Live%20Food,%20Goldfish.htm, that the 200 medium comets look almost like commons. A: I keep seeing the name PETCO popping up. Are these guys still open? Anyway, comets were originally regular goldfish with a long tail like a comet. You now see feeder goldfish continuously referred to as “comets” so many times the term is now meaningless. LA Laura E. Napolitano, August 22, 2005 Awesome website overall! I had a great time reading it and I learned a lot -- including why my $6/week bloodworms were dying 2 days after I brought them home -- not conducive to happy newts and frogs! I notice on your African Clawed Frog page, there are images of you handling the little guys. Is it safe to do that regularly, or is it something you do only if absolutely necessary, i.e. to take pictures, put them together for mating, etc? Reason I ask is me and my family are attached to our 5 Clawed Frogs (and they seem pretty attached to us too!) and we’re always craving just to touch them since they’re so interactive -- but we’re afraid of stressing them/getting them ill. How will they react to being touched and held? Does it pose a disease risk to us? (I’ve had salmonella in the past from a turtle I owned -- and it was one of the worst experiences of my life -- 15 lbs of weight loss in 5 days is never a good thing!) Well, if you do get this email, thanks for reading it! Keep up the awesome work on the site. A: Glad you like the site. Sorry about the salmonella, since I can imagine exactly how you lost that weight. I wash my hands more everyday than your average surgeon, because I work with more critters than your average surgeon. I doubt you’d get salmonella from an African frog, but wash your hands anyway. You could get a serious case of frog slime. Handling probably stresses them a bit but an occasional grab seems harmless to me (but I’m not sure about the frog’s viewpoint). I grab a lot of critters to photo them and to show their size in relation to my hand. I do most of my own stunt work so I can get the profiles I want. Last comment: African clawed frogs are very hard to hold onto -- especially when they don’t want to be held, which is always. LA email address only, August 23, 2005 I have two red tail boas, baby ones. And I wanted to know how would I go about picking them up out the tank. I get a little nervous trying to get them out, because they are so alert. How do you adjust? When I go about getting them out, do I just grab them and stop being nervous? Please tell me a method and one more thing. Underneath his body, my baby red tail sometimes turn red instead of its normal white. What does that mean? My cousin’s rainbow boa does that too sometimes, but we don’t know why. Please help me. Thank you A: Wash your hands first. Move slowly. Put your hand over your snake’s head so he knows you (and any of your parts) are not food. Slowly move your hand(s) under him and pick him up (supporting him in at least two places). It’s best to feed them in a separate location from their living quarters. You don’t want them thinking anything that enters their cage is food. And you should feed each one separately. If two snakes start on opposite ends of the same mouse, the faster swallower can start swallowing the slower snake. Seen it myself. A red belly usually means a bacterial infection. Clean his cage. And get rid of any hot rocks. LA Nico hates these things. Robert C. Peterson, August 23, 2005 I have a 55 gallon aquarium with 2 Asian swamp eels. They’re very timid, but they have no tank mates. The problem is I really don’t know what can be with them, in your opinion would you say a certain breed of arowana may work? I would definitely be getting mature adults as I’ve already chosen a couple of good silver arowana specimens at a local store. I’m getting a pretty sweet deal on them too if I get 5, just 20 bucks a pop to the regular $30. I don’t wanna jump into it and kill them so I figure I’d try and find some advice. Your site has been very comprehensive and well built: lots of good info too. If you have any insight I would greatly appreciate your input. If you’d like pictures let me know. A1: Pretty good, Robert. Asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus) are considered a real ecological threat by the fish and game people. They pretty much out eat and out breed all comers. And they grow to three feet. And you can’t poison them because they breathe air. Good thing you didn’t include your address or they’d confiscate you. A2: If you can get five mature arowanas for 20 bucks each, get some for me. However, only one mature arowana can be jammed into a 55 and he won’t like it. LA Brandon, August 23, 2005 Thank you for your helpful response on automatic feeders. I’ve moved back to college and just started my first cichlid tank, an eclipse hex 7 gallon. I have one yellow lab and blue-convict looking one, can’t recall the name -- both about 2 inches long. I have three rock and one driftwood hiding spots for them, and they have already picked out spots to camp. But they don’t seem to be eating. They will chase the sinking pellets down to the bottom but they don’t pursue them after they hit bottom. There are also 6 1/4-inch feeder guppies in there and they show no interest in them either. Both appear normal, no signs of wear or gill pumping, but until my floating pellets get here, is there any thing you would recommend to do? I was thinking of spinach on a fork and just sitting it in there, but I don’t know. I just don’t want my new pricey fish to starve, which from what I was told is not a cichlid thing to do. The tank is unheated, at room temp of around 70-75 with a fluorescent bulb. Thanks a bunch if you can help. A: Brandon, if they were hungry, they’d gulp those little gups. Don’t worry about them starving. They’d eat each other first. They’re sneaking food while you’re not looking. Siphon out any uneaten food. It’s usually not a good idea to mix African cichlids and American cichlids in the same container. You probably should separate them. But in the meantime, consider getting a larger tank in the very near future. LA Alan, August 24, 2005 I just bought a young savanna monitor about five inches long and wanted to know how often I should feed him. Also how often should I clean out the cage and change the sand? Thanks A: Feed the little guy at least once a day. Keep him warm. Most monitors defecate in their water bowl, so change his water every day. Clean or change the sand whenever it looks or smells like it needs changed. LA Ozzy Weiss, August 24, 2005 I don’t know if you remember me, but I emailed you in June about my tank. Then, I had an oscar, bullhead, freshwater lobster, and a crayfish. Currently, my tank got roomier since the crayfish gave up the ghost. But that’s not my problem. Thing is, the oscar and catfish have really been fighting hard, and I’m almost 99% sure that my oscar’s pectoral fins are just about shredded since there’s no webbing between the bony rays. Will this grow back? I’m also considering putting the catfish back, and getting myself another fish to put in his place. Any suggestions that would complement the oscar nicely, as well as the lobster? A: If you’re still keeping them in a 20-gallon tank, I’d start by getting rid of the bullhead. Does this sound like a broken record, since I said the same thing back in June? Then get rid of the lobster. Then, if you absolutely have to positively add another fish (which I wouldn’t do until your oscar recovers), add a plecostomus. LA JRaffman, August 26, 2005 I ended up getting a hoplias almost 6 weeks ago, used stuff called Stress Zyme, with the tank having a turnover rate of about 15 times an hour and everything has been fine. No cloudy water, no signs of stress. He’s now living happily with an oscar, a bichir and a hujeta. All around 6-8 inches. One more thing I would like to ask you is your opinion/experience of filters. Things have changed a bit since I stopped keeping fish 11 years ago. What filters do you use and have most success with? What do you think of under gravel filters? And what kind of turnover rate do you have on your tanks? Do you ever use multiple filters etc? :) Best regards, A: Your hoplias may become a problem. They can turn vicious as they grow. He will go for your hujeta first. I use lots of filters, a couple hundred sponge filters (many as old as three decades), a couple hundred under gravel filters (many as old as two decades), ten power filters, a few of the ancient corner filters, and a couple canister filters. I move the power filters around when population density or over feeding warrant. Newer under gravel filters are superior to the older ones, but the old ones still get the job done. Multiple filters (a UG plus a power filter) work best. LA Alejandro Chemin, Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 26, 2005 I have interest in gold dempsey, I breed blue dempsey in Argentina. my web page is www.geopetfish.8m.com.8m.com You can obtain to me to some females and males? Thanks A: Sorry Alejandro, I have none of the gold dempseys at this time. But they were not as good-looking as the original dempseys and quite inferior looking to the newer blue dempseys. LA Rick Hunt, August 26, 2005 Hi, I recently set up a mangrove brackish tank. I am having a hard time finding fish dealers online that I can purchase some from. I especially like bumblebee gobies. Can you please let me know if you know of any? Thank you A: I’m not a real expert on the on-line fish dealers. Your local fish store probably carries these little cuties at a surprisingly low price. They’re usually quite readily available. LA Brian Plum, Brooklyn, Ohio, August 27, 2005 HI GUYS, I WAS LOOKING TO BUY A CALOTES, BUT CAN’T FIND ONE AROUND ME. WHERE CAN I BUY ONE? THANKS A: We haven’t seen calotes on the lists for months. Many lizards are seasonal. Keep looking for them. They are not rare beasts. LA Brian Kooyman, Marengo, Iowa, August 27, 2005 My sons & I have started breeding freshwater angelfish. We are about 25 miles west of Iowa City & Cedar Rapids. I have been selling them to local pet stores but am producing more than I think they will need. I currently have around 2000 to 2500 silver angelfish and around 200 black angelfish in various stages of development. I am working on pairing up other varieties. I would like to sell these to pet stores who are interested. I raise them in tap water (dechlorinated) so they are very hardy fish. When I deliver them locally I transport them with aeration so as not to stress them. We take great pride in our hobby/small business and just want to continue if we can find customers who want our production. If you would like to look at our small facility and have a representative in the area sometime, feel free to email or call us. We currently run the business out of our basement. I could also bring a free sample for you to examine. Just fishing for answers and would appreciate any feedback. Thank you A: We currently purchase angels from people in Fort Madison, Fort Dodge, and Des Moines. We rarely ship them in (except for the red ones). Right now we are combating the angelfish virus so our stocks of angels are low. I’m saving your e-mail and phone numbers because I like to take Tuesday Field Trips on my day off. I might drop by some Tuesday for tea and crumpets. I’ll call first. LA Ray Harpin, Creston, August 28, 2005 Can you tell me how much for a short tailed possum? Also directions coming from Creston on I-235? Thanks. Also, any contacts for a fennec fox? A: The federal inspectors won’t let us sell short-tail opossums anymore. They insist on federal inspection and several extra rules and expenses that don’t apply to normal pet shops. So your best bet is to go to one of the exotic animal auctions. I think Macon, Missouri hosts one every quarter. You will see the federal inspectors at those auctions this year. Come up on I-35 (not 235) and turn right on the Douglas exit. Go East young man till you cross the renowned Des Moines River. Douglas magically becomes Euclid. Keep going to the top of the hill. You’ll see the stop lights and our cool arch over Sixth Avenue. We’re right on that corner. Tuesday is my day off. LA Pablo Escobar, August 28, 2005 You tried to put how many chocolate gouramis in the tank at the same time? Way to spike your TDS and your Nitrogen compounds? Smart start. Was the Ph 4.5 or less? Did you get the electrical conductivity down to damn near zero? Did you get your TDS, GH and KH to less than one? Did they only eat live food? Was the tank AT LEAST 88 Fahrenheit? What? No? And they died? Wow. Seems like you did quite a half assed experiment, huh? A: Send me a paragraph about yourself, Pablito, and I’ll add your comments to my chocolate gourami page and add you to our Board of Correctors. LA Clay Carter, Indiana, August 29, 2005 I just thought I would add… and/or ask… in your buttikoferi page, you said that you need a very large tank to keep them with others. I have a pair of them that are 14 inches each. They were in a 75 gallon tank, but then I moved them into a 55 with a 15 inch clown knife, a 12 inch Oscar, an 11 inch Lima shovelnose cat. And 2, 3-inch Oscars and 2, 3-inch pacús. I know this tank is crowded, but I have noticed that when I crowded these fish, they all got healthier. My pacús’ tails got blacker, my Oscars all got deeper colors and the stripes on my buttikoferis turned more gold and have stopped fighting all together. I’m not sure why, but my fish are healthier and eat better. I thought I would put this up to see if this is normal. A: I wouldn’t call it normal or abnormal. However, I wouldn’t recommend crowding them that way. We sell some buttikoferis several times (customers bring them back because they beat on their other fishes). Keep your eye on them. LA CAptain Summa, August 29, 2005 Um...is my question for this month already used up? If not can you tell me some info on freshwater barracudas. A: They are expensive, savage predators, and rather plain looking characins. You already used up your August question. This was your September question. LA Dennis James, Marion, Iowa, August 29, 2005 I LOVE your website. I want an excuse to drive to Des Moines and visit your store. Do you sell frozen pinkie mice? I have a hatchling Okeetee corn snake and I DON’T want to buy them from a giant chain pet store. If you have them, how much do they cost? Thank you A: Before you drive all the way to Des Moines for a frozen pinkie (which will melt during the two-hour trip back home), check out the Pet Playhouse over in Cedar Rapids. Impressive joint and much newer than Aqualand. Then come over to visit us. Bring dry ice if you plan to bring frozen pinkies back. They cost a buck. LA Michelle Malbert, August 29, 2005 My son has a leopard gecko. Last night we discovered he wasn’t in his tank. We have no idea how he got out. Do they jump? The tank cover has a small opening maybe 2 x 6-inches at the back of the cover which is open. Could he have climbed out of there? I know they can’t climb the glass. We also don’t know where to look for him! I would think he would be trying to hide somewhere dark, since he is in his den most of the time. What should we do? We hope you can help us. Thank you so much. By the way, We really like your web site. My son Steven has found it to be very helpful with our other pets. A: How high is your cage cover? Could he have wedged his way up on his tail? In any event, he probably is searching for a small hiding place, as you say. You might try placing small boxes along the edges of the room he escaped into. Also, look for him at night when he’s on the prowl for food. Good luck in your hunt. LA Michelle Malbert, September 1, 2005 We found diesel tonight!!! (my son’s leopard gecko). He was right in my son’s room, on the floor, only about 6 feet from his tank. He must have come out in the dark, and the cat was kind of afraid to go in there. I told the kids to go check out the room, and there he was!! He is o.k. None the worse for wear. Maybe a little hungry. I’ll go get him some extra crickets tomorrow. Thanks for your advice. Andrew, New Zealand, August 31, 2005 Four weeks ago I bought 10 ringneck doves and locked them in an aviary approximately 8ft by 5ft by 8ft high. I fed them on a daily basis. After 3 weeks I let them loose as I’ve seen these birds flying out of captivity before. The first day I let them go, they scattered for the trees. The same evening they all came back to feed and some went back inside the aviary on their own. The second day all 10 were still here and feeding. They continue to fly out in the wild very happily, and when they become hungry they come back to the aviary for a feed. I don’t feed them in the aviary but from our hands and on a feeding platform I’ve made outside the aviary. Some then go inside and some to the trees but all 10 are still here 1 week on from letting them loose. We do live in the country and we do have a cat but at this stage she doesn’t bother the birds. Seeing these birds flying longer distances than just in such small cages is a fantastic sight. They clap wings as they take off and perform some unusual flying acrobatics which you’ll never see in a cage or inside your house. I recommend to anyone who owns these birds to give it a go. Let them really fly. They will come back once they know where their food supply is. After such a long period of being caged they will most certainly know where home is and they will let you know when they are hungry. PS They seem to have mating sessions very regularly, many times a day. Is this for pure enjoyment or to reproduce? I thought humans were the only creatures to do this. LA For instance, we caught this guy on Aqualand's front sidewalk this morning, August 29,2005. A: Ringneck doves have always seemed to me to be incapable of survival in the wild. We have peregrine falcons (and a few owls) in the city and all manner of hawks and owls outside the city. Snakes, feral cats, raccoons, skunks, and even opossums would find them easy prey around here. Our mosquitoes apparently carry West Nile flu. Plus our winters drop to 10 below zero on a regular basis. PS Monkeys are pretty good at it, also. LA Kate Pix LA Long-tailed grass lizard (skinny) Kate Foster, Southern California, August 31, 2005 We found this weird lizard in the downstairs bath tub of my house. It is about 4 inches long, has a really long tail, is very slender, it's skin appears to be smooth, and darts very fast. It’s tail can curl around it and over it. It’s eyes are black, very little and set in it’s face. It’s nose is pointy. I think it is a baby, do you think it is? I’ve attached 4 pictures. Please let me know if you have a problem with them. Is this specie native to Southern California or is it definitely an imported lizard? Would it survive if I let it into the wild? I assume if I were to keep it, the proper home would be an aquarium with a hot rock, gravel, crickets to eat, and a daily misting with water on the sides of the tank? Western fence lizards eventually become “tame” and “friendly.” Do you know if this species has the same potential? Talking on the phone we thought it might be a long tailed grass lizard, is this what it still appears to be? I LOVE the Degus! Is there any way to “ship” them to Southern California? Thank you, thank you sooo much for your time and help! I truly appreciate it! Thanks again! A1: Excellent pictures. But I can’t give you an exact species. It’s very similar to a long-tailed grass lizard but has a shorter tail. The long-tails we usually see are green and yellow striped. Treat it like any skink. Most will drink out of a low water bowl and eat insects (and a bit of soft fruit). Most lizard keepers prefer a basking light to heat rocks. He is most active in the day time but will be shy or scared at first. He will “friendly up” for you fairly fast. A2: I don’t want to try smuggling degus into California. Besides that, we rarely ship anything. And we sold our last pair of degus Saturday. 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