February 21-28, 2010 questions you asked Aqualand

We don't ship critters or live fish.
When writing us, include your location.
LA_Aqualand@msn.com

Michelle Black, Australia, February 21, 2010
Hi, I’m setting up a tank and am getting an Oscar this weekend! I was wondering what is a good daily diet for an Oscar? I’ll be getting a baby. Thanks for the help. I love your website, best information on the web!

A: I like twice a day feeding schedules. I don't know what specific products you find on your shelves in Oz, but I would base his/her main diet on the right size pellets made specifically for oscars. Then I would rotate in the right size frozen foods. Occasional live foods (worms, fish, crayfish) on a limited basis would be my third choice. LA

Michelle Black, Australia, February 24, 2010
Hi, Got my Oscar (Hannibal) today, not a baby as I thought I was going to get. I found this poor bugger in a pet shop that had him in a tank that he could hardly turn in and the water and gravel were brown! So I thought I would take him home and give him some TLC. He's in a nice sized tank now. But he does have scars and a weird mouth, just wondering if he looks normal to you and what you might think has happened to him? Sorry to bother you again. I know you're busy, it's just I trust your information and DON'T trust our local pet shop LOL.
I've offered him frozen bloodworm, flakes and he has a barb in the tank I wanted him to eat and nothing. Also got him some Cichlid large pellets and he only had 6. Not sure what to do!! Is he just still adjusting? He seems very docile too. Which is strange because the pet shop owner said he was a return because he was fighting too much. So I'm a bit lost what to do. General info -- pH is fine (same as my tropical community tank) and 80/81 degrees Farenheit.
Thank you very very much for your time. I REALLY appreciate it.

MB
Hannibal looking like he was chasing a car that suddenly hit the brakes.

A: Oscars always funk out at first in a new tank. His weird mouth may keep him from capturing live foods. Frozen bloodworms and flakes are probably too small for him. As long as he's eating his pellets, he'll get better. LA

tatapeachs, February 21, 2010
Hi, I emailed you before about my irridescent shark, and he's now in a bigger tank and doing quite well. With the exception of his nose healing from crashing into the sides of the smaller thank.
With the smaller (5gal) tank empty, I moved my betta and he's really enjoying it. However, I was wondering if it was possible to put other fish in with him, such as tetras or other small fish. Thanks muchly!

A: Sure. Tetras would make a good mix. Just make sure they're too big for him to swallow. Bettas love small neons. LA
PS I love your email name.

tatapeachs, February 21, 2010
Haha thanks! My cat loves to watch the fish and she's always loved this small tank - I got a 16gal for my birthday and moved the "sharks" there and theylre quite happy. I just wasn't sure if betas could be with other fish. Thanks so much.
I was looking through you website earlier and was woondering I you were looking for a copy editor/someone to proof rhings before they go live. Just a thought. Thanks again!

A: I thought you were serious until I read thru your email again. Or did you have someone else in mind? LA

Ray Cloud, February 21, 2010
Hi, I was told that you could help me out with my crested geckos ?
I was given a care sheet by the pet store I bought them in, but I can't seem to get either of them to eat crickets and neither of them like pure crested gecko diet, so I try to mix it with a little baby food and fresh fruit.
I bought calcium to put on the crickets, but when I do that, they seem even less interested in eating.
Is there something I could possibly be doing wrong?

LA

A: Start by warming them up five to ten degrees. Then offer them some applesauce on a spoon. Rather than dusting your crickets, gut-load them with the crested gecko formula. Parcel their crickets out a couple at a time. Take into account that most geckos are nocturnal and will get more active when it starts getting dark. Turn off their lights when you feed. Crested geckos will usually adjust to any feeding schedule after they get used to it (and you). LA

Ray Cloud, February 23, 2010
So how exactly do you warm them up?I've done everything else you suggested, and I've written out a feeding schedule that I'll follow every day.

A: You can warm up lizards two basic ways: heat from above or heat from below. For lizards that like to climb, heat from above works best. Get one of those dome lights that set on top of the cage. Add a 100 watt incandescent bulb. Position the light so it ouches no plastic (which will melt). You can also use a timer, which is optional. Turn the light on during the day. Turn it off at night. Get a couple cheap thermometers so you can measure the temperature. You may need a larger bulb if his tank doesn't reach 80 F during the day. LA

Lynette Max, February 22, 2010
Evening, Is there any way you can tell me the name of this Cichlid in your photo? I think my husband and I have two but are unsure of the name!! The first photo is your photo from your site, the second is a not too great photo of one of ours. In the right light you can see more of the blue in ours. Thank you!!

A: My computer said your picture was too big to open (too many bytes). The blue fish are sold as Psuedotropheus kennyi and as Psuedotropheus lombardoi. They are juvies. The females keep their blue color as they mature but it gets lighter. The males turn yellow with lighter bars. LA
PS Blue is a reflected color. It shows best when the light source is in front of the fish.

Everdina Butler, probably Iowa, February 24, 2010
HI, would you price me a 20 long aquarium? All glass?

A: If you call 283-0300 you'll get the price instantly. Otherwise I have to go to work tomorrow, look up the price, and try to remember to email you back. LA

Dr. Marc Schneider, Washington, DC, February 23, 2010
Did you receive the e-mail which I sent to you recently (copied here-below)? Please confirm since I have had problems lately with emails intercepted by spam-filters set too high.
Cordially,

I am Dr. Marc Schneider and I work for Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc. in Washington DC ( Tel: 1 202 250-3645) - I would like to speak with the person in charge of your international clientele. Who is my contact? Who should I speak to??
In fact, after visiting http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com. , I have noticed that your website cannot be found on foreign search engines (I tested it on Hispanic search engines, German search engines, Asian search engines, etc.) Our company is specialized in multilingual search engine promotions in 28 languages . From the Japanese Google to the German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish to the MSN in Chinese, we can show you how to develop a true international online presence by promoting your website on foreign search engines.
Let us show you how to develop a presence on the multilingual web without having to translate your website: It is not necessary to translate your website in order to submit to foreign search engines, however, you need to have at least 1 page in Japanese optimized with Japanese keywords and meta tags in order to submit to Japanese search engines, at least 1 page in Spanish optimized with Spanish keywords in order to submit to Hispanic search engines and so on...
I strongly suggest that you watch our online presentation which will explains clearly how to get top rankings on foreign search engines with only 1 entry page per language (click on the following link or copy-paste it into your web browser): http://www.mplw.net/demo
From the Japanese Google to the German Yahoo, from the AOL in Spanish to the MSN in Chinese, get users to find your website when searching with YOUR KEYWORDS in their Native language.
Please call me at +1 (202) yyy-yyyy or email me and let's work on giving your website the true international exposure which it deserves to have with foreign native online users!!
Regards,

A: I did receive your original letter and I watched your excellent video. You have a great idea for websites that are selling via the web. I'm not selling anything via the web. My "international clientele" are mostly people trying to sell me something. Some are legit. Some not so much. LA

Karrie Walter, Portland, OR, February 25, 2010
I have a White's tree frog who is pretty young, and it doesn’t like being handled at all. It always tries to jump away. How do you get your White's tree frog used to being handled?

A: Hm, all the ones I've had seem very relaxed. Once in a while I'll get one that takes a flying leap, but most will just stay wherever I put them. If I put them on my palm and slowly turn my hand over, they will walk around to stay on top. I haven't had the little bitty guys for ~~a few~~ several years, so maybe yours is just too young. The little guys are a lot less dumpy and can probably jump more easily. As he puts on weight, he'll jump less. LA
PS There's always a possibility it's not a White's tree frog.

Eric Leiss, Bethlehem, PA, February 25, 2010
Hello. I have been worried about my 6 - 6 1/2 inch needle nose gar lately. It has become almost transparent and you can see these white "balls" in its body (about 6). Somehow 1/2 - 3/4 of a cm has broken off of his lower jaw. Also, lately he has been positioning himself at a 60 - 75 degree angle, head down. I am very worried about him. Please E-mail me as soon as possible. Thanks.

A: His prognosis is not good. You will likely lose him. You can try giving him 100% new (aged) water. Add a teaspoon of salt per gallon. Then offer him some very small feeder fish. LA

Eric Leiss, Bethlehem, PA, February 26, 2010
Thank you. When I add the salted water to the aquarium for my gar, will that affect my pleco at all?

A: If you limit it to one teaspoon per gallon, he won't even notice it unless you pour it directly on him. LA

Arpan Saha, India, February 25, 2010
Hi...I currently saw your site. It is awesome. But in flowerhorn section, there are no awesome pictures. Here are 2 I found.

A: I couldn't open your attachment. Some of the flowerhorn sites in Malaysia have awesome flowerhorn pictures. I've seen some of the Malaysian posters and they are impressive. But I only use pictures I've taken myself. LA

Arpan Saha, India, February 25, 2010
thnx for replying...i didn't knew that all the pics r taken by u only, that's an awesome collection....but this pic is of one of my internet frnd from Kolkata, India, u got to see this (u may not attack if u don't like though,), this is in jpg format of 67 kb..I'm resending it....and last thing to say:-- the site is awesome and helped me a lot....

A: Shukriya, Arpan, but I still can't open your picture without adding another program. I hate to add more software because I'm running out of room. My computer adds additional virtual memory every day. LA

Bob Nugent, Colorado, February 25, 2010
One more thing Larry, then I promise I'll leave you alone. Can you turn me onto your source for your inverts? Thanks!

A: apetinc.com $300 minimum order and there's a three-page qualification sheet you will need to fill out. LA
PS: They sell much more than invertebrates. These inverts came in today:

LA
Panther crabs, Chocolate bunny snails, Yellow antennae snails, Vampire crabs.

bib sera, Melbourne, Australia, February 26, 2010
Hi from Melbourne again
Not sure if my oscar has hole in the head disease. Hoping not but can't
really tell as he has lost his appetite since the floor renovation a month
ago and gone a bit "docile" -- not as boisterous and energetic. However photos of him several months ago (labeled oscar 8 & 15) also shows the "holes" so hoping just sensory holes and all ok. Would you be able to tell?
Thank you

A: I really can't tell anything more concrete than I wrote back in January. If you want to treat for hole-in-the-head disease, use metronidazole. LA

Jorge Fajardo, February 27, 2010
Hello, I am very impressed with this website much better than others which can't even compare. So what I was going to ask you guys is I currently have a 110 gallon aquarium with 2 tinfoils, 3 corys,1 pleco,1 Chinese algae eater, 3 small channel cats, 2 bala sharks, 1 pink gourami, 1 blue gourami,1 golden killi,1 lace catfish, 2 jewel cichlids, and 2 convicts. Okay, so what I was wondering was is a dragon goby compatible for my aquarium and if so what about freshwater flounders as well? Would a dragon goby and a fresh water flounder eat live ghost shrimp or dead shrimp or is there any other natural or processed fish food I could feed them?

LA
Sort of a medium channel catfish.

A: Your channel catfish will grow into your biggest problem. They will eat most of the fish you list, but not the plecostomus and the tinfoils. Flounders and dragon gobies love frozen brine shrimp. As do your other fish -- especially the channel cats. LA

Trinity, Oregon. February 12, 2010
My aunt has a pg female chocolate catfish. She's about ready to pop. I don’t think she can get much bigger. Do you know if they lay eggs or bear live young? The male chocolate and her were raised together and are neat when they swim. They're both in with other fish in a 37 gallon fish tank I can't find anyone who has been successful with having a pg fish:} Please let me know anything recent about them. Thank you

ps I have pictures but no way to download at this time

A: Although I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "chocolate catfish," I can tell you that they lay eggs. Add a couple caves for them to choose from. Many catfishes spawn in tube-shaped "nests." Go to Pleco Bristle for some basic info. LA

Brittany Schlenker, BC, Canada, February 28, 2010
Hello Aqualand, First let me say I love your fish informational links, I am up till 3am every morning reading. I just have a few questions about Borneo sucker fish. Firstly, can you put them into a very well oxygenated tropical tank or will they only survive in cooler waters. Second, if you can put them
in tropical tanks will they eat hair(thread) algae, if not can you recommend something else to help me tame my hair algae? Thanks very much

A: I don't think Borneo suckers eat algae. They sort thru the algae in search of the Aufwuchs, Deutsche for the tiny organisms that live in the algae. Nerite Snails actually rip into algae better than anything I've seen other than a single-edge razor blade. LA

Rachel Webb, February 28, 2010
Do you sell Short Tailed Opossums?

A: I would if I could get some. I haven't seen any STOs for two or three years. LA

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