Electric Eels
Note to A. Wilson at the University of Arkansas:  Electric eels are now available again.  LA

Ben Carpenter, Gold Coast, Australia, December 12, 2007
I was just looking at your peacock bass and jaguar pages and noticed that my p-bass, and my jag look a lot different than the ones on your site. So I sent you a few pictures as an attachment just to show you, and I hope that maybe you might even put some of those pics on your page.
My tank is 6ft by 2ft by 800mm high,  roughly 900liters = 240gal (I think) or something like that.
Inhabitants:
   - 14 inch jaguar
   - 7 inch jaguar
   - 12 inch splendida (bay snook)
   - 10 inch oscar
   - 5 inch convict
   - 8 inch pleco catfish
Also the "Mangrove Snapper" on the misc oddballs page is an Australian native. They are called Mangrove Jacks here, and grow to 3 feet and are pretty expensive.
And also I did have the "pleasure" of being stung by an Australian species of fresh water stonefish "Bullrout" and.... it ain't good.
Yer, well that's about it, and just so you know your website is the most helpful aquarium website I've ever come across. And I hope you like my pics. (They took me ages to take.) Cheers

BC

BC

Jim Coursey, Baltimore, MD, December 12, 2007
I left a question out! I was looking at your page on adding rocks to the
aquarium. I thought this would definitely be a good way to make my
aquarium look much better and give my fish new places to explore and hide. What kind of rocks work, and which should I avoid? What preparation do I need to do before I add rocks to my aquarium?

Cornelle Winfield, Harrisburg, PA, December 12, 2007
Hello, I know about the six young thing. But, I still can't find any around here. Do you know where I can order some or get them?

Chuck Porter. December 13, 2007
I was wondering a couple of things. I have a golden gecko and a white line gecko and I was wondering what all I would have to do to breed them? Can I cross breed them? If not, what would I have to do to breed geckos? If you could let me know as much as you can, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Jeff Lilland, Ames, IA, December 13, 2007
I was interested in purchasing a Western Hognose, and preferably from a store rather than online.  I know in Iowa we have certain regulations over venomous snakes, but from my understanding the venom is not harmful to humans and is usually invenomated more by the snake chewing than just a strike.  So I was wondering if you could obtain one of these for me?  It wouldn't be a far drive for me to run up there if you could obtain one for me. Thank you,

Jeff Lilland, Ames, IA, December 13, 2007
From what I've been reading they can feed on mice.  I know they do feed on toads, but that toads aren't their main diet.

Dianna Miller, Helena, MT, December 13, 2007
How big do moonlight gouramis get? I have a gourami tank and would like to add a moonlight to it, but I can't find anything definitive as to their adult size. My tank is a 10-gallon tall tank. Also…how contagious is velvet? I just bought three new gouramis and by the next evening, one was covered with fuzz and subsequently died. I am treating the rest of the tank and so far, no one else has shown symptoms. Thanks for any information you can provide.

A:  I just can't argue with people like you.  Be sure to get over to Lawrence, KS and visit Pet World.  It's about 150 miles closer.  LA

A:  People whose bettas live in glass houses should not throw stones.  I'll add your comments to my betta housing page.  LA

A:  You're probably okay at first.  However, as your fish-eating ropefish grows, your badis and young kribs start looking tastier and tastier.  LA

LA

A:  I googled cabomba + "Long Island" and it sounds like cabomba is very close to taking over.  Our local carp would clear it out quick.  Unfortunately, then you have to get rid of the carp.  At least they're edible.  I'm adding your warning to my cabomba page, but it sounds like we're maybe a couple decades late.  LA
PS:  It is pretty.
PPS:  Here we have lakes that get choked with hornwort.

 

A:  There are so many organizations dedicated to protecting various species in areas around the world, that I can't even come up with a list -- just some examples.
Start with CITES -- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.  Look them up.  There's too much for me to list on my whole web site.
Iowa DNR -- our state's protective oversight of our local animal and plant species.  Most states have a comparable group.
Species organizations, e.g., American Killifish Association continues to breed species whose habitats no longer exist.
Other species groups (angels, discus, bettas, guppies, cichlids) raise and disseminate fish that never existed in the wild.
Fish farmers in the Orient (take Singapore, for example) rear and export mass quantities of tropical fish that were "tamed" generations ago.
South American fish exporters (Peru Aquarium Group for example) collect and house mass quantities of fish from several South American countries for export all around the world.
Florida Fish Farmers do the same thing plus they rear acres and acres of ornamental species that they send all around the world.
Many other southern fish farmers raise food fishes (especially tilapia and catfish) that they sell all over the country.
Further north, numerous goldfish farms raise and sell tons of different varieties and sizes of goldfish.
Several states rear wild species.  In Iowa I know our DNR rears trout, walleye, catfish, sunfish, grass carp and others for stocking in private and public water areas.  On the coasts they specialize more in trout and salmon.
Private fish farmers in Iowa rear various food, ornamental, and sport fishes.
Lots of groups are forming and shaping the future of the fish trade.  Lots of organizations regulate the trade.  When you realize that every box of fish coming into the country requires inspection, perhaps there's already plenty of regulations in situ.  LA
 

A:  "Albino" by definition means no black pigment.  You'll usually see pink eyes.  Albino oscars come in albino, red albino, tiger albino, super red albino, and lemon.  The snow oscar is an "almost" albino.  It has a bit of black pigment that shows mostly in its finnage.  The reds this century are much redder than the reds of last millennium which were more of a bronze or copper cover.  I'm sure there's more coming.  Best of all, they're all oscars.  LA

 

A:  You sent your email to me on my day off.  This always delays matters.  In fact, you should just call Aqualand and get an instant answer.  As of today, we have one 2.5-inch oscars.  I've ordered more for Friday.  We have nearly a dozen of the 3.5-inch oscars.  Your $30 would easily cover a young oscar plus three or four trips to McDonalds.  LA

A:  Probably I should have said breeders of discus prefer bare tanks.  I've seen too many discus doing just fine in planted tanks with driftwood and gravel.  LA
 

A:  I frankly do not know what airline regulations apply to water dragons in these troublesome times.  However, I really doubt they'll let your dragon stay with you.  You may even have to buy another airplane seat for him.  I'm assuming you'll have to ship him as cargo.  I suggest you call the specific airline you plan to use and see what they say.  LA
 

A:  Thanks, you mean rat whacker.  I've never seen a rat's tail skin come off either, but there are plenty of rat advocates out there.  Actually, if you whack your rats right, there's really no reason their tail skin would come off.  Maybe it takes practice?  LA
 

A:  Algae-eating shrimp and otocinclus never bothered my moss balls.  I wouldn't trust plecos though.  For more cool water fish, go to our Cool Water Tanks Page.  LA