On February 10 my computer decided to move all my emails into the trash can section.  This automatically vaporizes them in three or four days.  SO, if I haven't answewred one of your questions, it's because it now exists only in the etherware.  LA
PS  About every other email goes straight into trash can for some unexplicable reason.  Usually I can catch them in time.  I guess my computer is about full.

A:  Thanks, Tom.  I'll add your info to my gerbil page.  LA

A:  Your Hong Bao is in the mail.  But all I have for your address is General Delivery Malaysia.  Tell your post office to look for it.  I sent it in a red envelope.  And because it's Valentine Day in our land of icicles, I drew a big red heart (with lace) on it.  I hope it doesn't get you in too much trouble at HQ.  I didn't send you a traditional Valentine card because I heard they're really cracking down this year.  I hope they're no longer monitoring your emails.
It's good to feed your fish a variety of foods.  Sounds like you're willing to go the extra mile for yours.
Don't worry about earthworms not being attractive to the opposite sex.  They are the opposite sex.  LA
PS  Happy Guy Lombardo Day to you, too.  He was Canadian but he's still famous in Des Moines.

A:  Nope.  Des Moines, Iowa.  LA

A:  Catfish whiskers don't have stingers on them.  But look out for their pectoral and dorsal fins.  They use their whiskers to find food in the dark.  Channel cats do like to snack on other fish, but I doubt they zapped your sharks unless they were lots bigger.  If you didn't see them nipping on the sharks, the ich was probably a coincidence.  But it's hard to say long distance.  LA

A:  Most fish like salt.  We add one teaspoon per gallon for new fish, weak fish, and sick fish.  Most salt companies recommend the same formula you used.  Wal-Mart is not always wrong.  LA

LA

A:  Keep your eye on the leporinus.  They like to nip.  They also grow to a foot long.  LA

A:  Still, watch out for the leporinus.  LA

A:  Your letter's quite a bit long to squeeze it into our Q&A section. Would you like me to make it your own page? With pictures? Should I use your real name or your soubriquet (which I like).   LA

A:  I thought I detected a soubriquet in here: 
My photography website:
http://www.wix.com/Psalmopoeus/photos <http://www.wix.com/Psalmopoeus/photos>
YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/superhotspiderchick <http://www.youtube.com/user/superhotspiderchick>
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ArachnoQueen <http://www.facebook.com/ArachnoQueen> k>

A:  "Superhotspiderchick" it is.  I uploaded your info verbatim.  I'll pageify it tomorrow (my day off).  LA

A:  I will.  LA

LA

A:  Your local fish store should be able to get them for you.  It depends upon their supplier.  If they order the four-inchers, you can tell which ones will have the long tails.  The little guys may but probably won't develop the long tails.  And, unfortunately, only about one of every four shipments come with the long tails you seek.  Happily, they are not expensive.  LA

A:  You probably won't be able to work with a hatchery or a wholesaler.  Their minimum purchase requirements and your shipping costs are prohibitive.  In addition there's all the permits and tax requirements.  You'll need to work with your local fish store which already jumps thru all those hoops.  Ask them to try to get you some long-fin shubunkins.  I do not know any good breeders.  I'm letting that excellent straight line just slip away.  LA

A:  I got ours from APET, a wholesaler in a Chicago suburb.  They sell only to retailers.  Just last month I filled out a three-page form to maintain my status with them.  Your local fish store can contact them at apet.com.  They truck to 11 states.  LA
PS  I haven't been able to get any more of those tiny eels, since the last batch.  They are not common.  I don't think you'll be able to get one unless you drive to Des Moines.  I have one left.  He eats California blackworms and hides under his filter.

A:  Erythromycin.  LA

A:  The firebellies usually look black.  The paddletails look brown.  Most importantly, paddletail tails look like a canoe paddle rather than a regular newt tail.  LA

A:  Sorry, Bob.  We don't ship critters.  We're a retail store in Des Moines, Iowa.  LA

A:  No.  It is illegal to ship apple snails across state lines.  You also need a permit to ship mystery snails across state lines without a permit that verifies they are not apple snails.  (Because they look like apple snails.)  The others are pretty much ignored.  Whoops, I almost forgot the African land snails that will get the Feds swooping down on you pronto.  LA

A:  Unless the Snail Narcs are tapping my emails again.  Do not let them take you alive.  The Snail Jails have a bad rep.  LA

A:  What I'm saying is, it is illegal to cross state lines with apple snails, but there is no way they can catch you.  LA

A:  Sorry, I've never seen a pink toe egg sac.  I'd recommend you try one of the tarantula forums.  LA 

LA
1.75-inch lafalili jewel fish.

A:  You probably saw one of these little guys.  They're brighter, smaller, and costlier than the regular jewels.  Grab them while you can find them.  They don't show up very often.  They'll do fine in a 12.  They're a cichlid so they're hardy.  The pictus will be fine for a while.  LA

A:  We don't ship fish, André.  I'm forwarding your request to my wholesaler.  Michelle will probably contact you.  LA

A:  I have not seen short-tail opossums for about three years.  LA

C.W. Bruner, February 20, 2010
Tank 2 red-belly piranha eggs.

CWB

A:  Don't count your red-belly piranhas until they hatch.  LA

Braden Cohen, February 20, 2010
Hey, in your report of the costly plecos IX you said this was an L201 but I'm pretty sure it's an L134  

LA

A:  Maybe.  I got the number from my supplier.  I riffed thru my Pleco Book, and there's no way I can say who's correct.  In the meantime, here's some mor pics of one of the same guys.  LA

LA

LA