A:  Blood parrots can be shy around puffers.  They have no way to defend themselves against puffer teeth.  The only puffers I've had that ate flakes were the avacados.  They were also the best community fish (along with the Indian dwarves).  LA

LA

A:  Because of our renovations, we have no kittens available right now.  This is the time of year the cat factories slow down anyway.  When we sell them, we sell 100% American kittens that our vet pre-processes for us.  If you want one of the more unusual breeds, you need to attend the Hawkeye State Cat Club Annual Show on Valentines Day.  They hold it every year at Adventureland Palace Theater.  The Cat-n-Around Cat Club holds their annual show in October at the State Fairgrounds.  Those are your best bets for hooking up with breeders.  LA

A:  No.  LA

A:  We have none.  They're evidently out of season.  LA

A:  Interesting article.  Heat works great.  The info in the article applies to Aquaculture where they can't use malachite green (on food fish).  Most ich cures use formalin plus malachite green.  Both are ich killers but together they work synergistically.  Many ich meds also recommend bumping the temp (very hard in a pond).  Salt also helps.  I couldn't add a link to the article since it's in PDF format.  Thanks for the info.  LA

A1:  Not too hard.  Put the glass divider in diagonally.

View fom the top.

This way you cannot see the divider.  Be sure to seam your divider so you won't slice your fingers while positioning it.  You don't need to "glue" it in place.  However, I have seen it "glued" with a parakeet in the back half.  It's way easier with fish on both sides.

A2:  Tougher.  You'd need a chiller for the trout.  They don't live very long anyway.  I don't know about the "mud puppies."  The term means different critters in different parts of the country.  LA

A1:  I would suggest most of the Synodontis, most of the gouramis, larger barbs, and angelfish.
A2:  I have not bought a chocolate gourami since 2004.  LA

A:  I don't get many days off these days.  However, next Monday afternoon looks good.  Let me know if that fits your schedule.  LA

A:  Excellent.  I've never seen a menarambo.  LA

A:  At least one black, one white, and one grey.  LA

A:  At least one black, one white, and one grey.  LA

A:  I have no idea what scientists call these guys gals.  They are not wild caught.  Kathy Welsher, our employee, has raised them for years and years.  We've had ours for maybe five years.  Their egg cases seem to be about the size of a BB.  Your missus may or may not kill you anyway, but I said earlier I'd send the eggs to you FREE.  I need your address tho.  LA

A:  You're welcome.  And thanks for the idea.  I plan to try a few similar experiments soon.  We're still in the process of recovering from our renovations.  I've been impatiently waiting for our new window decals for a couple weeks.  I noticed some boxes of cat and dog supplies came this morning.  Several dozen new fishes scheduled for this afternoon.  Lots of updates still in the works.  Keep in touch.  LA

LA

GVC removing stuff from goldfish tank.  Lotsa stuff in a goldfish tank.
 

A:  It seems to me that the whole point of gravel vacuum cleaners is to enable you to make water cahanges while messing with your gravel as little as possible.  If the standard gravel vacuum is too large to let you work around your plants, use a smaller size.
PS  I prefer to siphon out a much smaller % than you're removing.  I try to remove 25% or less -- particularly during the winter when our local waterworks adds more ingredients to our water.  LA

A:  Good to know.  I'll add your info to the page.  Thanks.  LA

LA
Here's a box of 150 roundtail bettas from Thailand.  Note the small size of the bags

A:  Thai betta "factories" ship their bettas in very compact bags because air freight from Bangkok is very expensive.  While in Los Angeles a few decades ago, I saw perhaps 60 male and female adult bettas kept in a tall 18.  They were housed in there since birth and the water was pink with vitamin K.  The males did not develop the expected long fins and all seemed to get along fine.  Housing choices are limitless.  LA
PS  Female bettas housed separately have almost as much desire to fight as the males.  Males housed in colonies (fraternities) usually develop their finnage slower than average.  They're also on the pansy side.