LA
Caecilian worm -- apparently unobtainable these days.

A:  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to obtain any of the species of caecilian worms for at least two years.  I'm sorry that I can't help you.  LA

LA

A:  Okay.  I've got a couple dozen pics of firemouths.  And since I've got a half dozen breeder size firemouths, I'll set up three breeding tanks tomorrow.  Once they breed, I'll finish the firemouth page.  LA

A:  You have to.  Patience is a virtue.  LA

A:  We used to get land snails from a truck driver who captured them in California and brought them back to Iowa.  Now some of our Aqualand minions capture them from the wilds of Des Moines.  We're very close to the Des Moines River.  (Some days closer than others). 

LA
Four blocks down the hill from Aqualand.  The telephoto lens shows about half a mile of water.

You may not be able to get land snails because the Feds put the kibosh on shipping snails across state lines without a permit (mainly as a reaction to the voracious appetites of the African giant snails and the apple snails).  You may be able to get Texas land snails from Carolina Biological Supply.  Here's their info:


              Carolina Biological Supply

Texas residents do not need a permit. Residents of Georgia, Florida and Mississippi need a permit to obtain this snail.
This snail is restricted in all other states. Sold in packs of 25.  $34.75.
Note: Orders are shipped directly from our vendor in Texas. Deliveries may be delayed due to inclement weather.

A:  Some days we're busier on the phone than others.  We're less busy before lunch.  If at first you don't succeed ...  LA
PS  You can always communicate by email but that usually takes an extra day or two.

LA
Gerbils do the same thing these hamsters are doing.  They love toilet paper.

A:  All rodents love to shred all types of paper including toilet paper.  They shred it to make their own version of what they think a perfect gerbil hang out should look like.  Toilet paper won't hurt them.  They like the tubes even better.  LA

A:  Livebearers like to pick at goldfish.  They evidently like the slime.  The mollies will be fine as long as you keep them warm.  LA

A:  I'm not sending Ms Hanh an answer, but I'm adding these pics to show you why I'm so impressed with many S.E. Asia fish farms.  LA

A:  We got the sparkling gouramis and croaking gouramis from two different suppliers.  When the croakers came in, Mike mixed the two  because he thought they were the same thing.  I haven't looked at them closely enough to decide.  As for the teeny rasbora/danios, I can't remember their former prices.  We've had them in stock several times.  LA
PS  We're messed up on plants.  We tore out three dozen tanks on the back wall because the remodelers said they needed the clearance   They've done diddly-squat so far, so this morning I set up 10 tanks in the area to breed some firemouths.  I'll take some of your Azolla because I have none.
PPS  I'm only at Aqualand in the mornings now.  Sometimes I stay later if I get wrapped up in a project (like this morning).

A:  Sounds good.  I'll put them on top one or more of my new firemouth tanks.  LA

LA

A:  He or she was hungry.  Here's some help for the next time.  Amphibians are primed by going thru a winter -- a couple of months at about 60 F in low water with short rations.  When you kick them up to 75F, raise their water level, and increase their rations, the male will start singing his love call to coax the female into some serious beach blanket bingo.  He grabs her (amplexus) and she usually pops out the eggs as he fertilizes them.  Either move the eggs or the parent and give them some dessert.  If you want to raise the little toadlets, some wingless fruit flies or pinhead crickets will help.  You need to add a red colorant to their diet as they grow, or they won't grow red bellies.  Check into the red powders fed to canaries to turn them red.  Lotsa work.  Good luck.  LA

A:  Jealousy is a terrible thing.  LA

A:  Your main problem is you have some fish that don't play well together.  They're not as much of a problem right now as they will be when they grow larger and more territorial.  They will get along better if you give them more room.  LA

A:  I already said everything I know on my various pages.  You might be able to find a fish forum that covers a specific species.  Unfortunately, many have no idea re the interactions between the various species at different ages.  LA

A:  Glad you like him.  Don't spoil him.  Russian tortoises eat a fairly sparse diet where they come from.  I couldn't copy your picture because it was too big.  LA

LA

A:  Well, I've seen one before but I don't know its actual name.  I just called it a heavily armored plecostomus.  LA

A:  You bet.  Somewhere in the Amazon River.  But that's quite a bit of acreage (as we say in Iowa).  LA

LA
Easy to get calcium into their system when you mix it with applesauce.

A:  Relax.  Bearded dragons eat almost anything you offer them.  You mentioned you have pellets.  The pellets for baby beardies are a total diet for them.  If he is hesitant about eating pellets, sprinkle them on top of applesauce -- which they really crave.  And feel free to turn the lights off at night.  And if you want to cool his cage, raise your lights higher.  LA.

LA

A:  Baby applesauce (and most baby foods) ought to work great.  Heat rocks dropped out of favor years ago.  They can easily burn your lizard.  Dandelions make a great bearded dragon food.  LA

LA

A:  Excellent info.  I'll add it to my moray page.  Thanks.  LA

A:  Those people were probably wrong.  We don't ship any live critters.  We don't ship anything else either.  LA
PS  All the waterdogs have morphed into salamanders by this time of year.

A:  Don't worry about lights for Java moss.  If you want Java moss to adhere to your gravel (a fun project), you'll have to cover it with a wide mesh net to anchor it.  It will adhere over time to the gravel and grow up thru the net.  You'll need to trim it often to give it the golf course look you're aiming for.  LA

A:  Both the website and the black ghost knife page were photographed and written by Larry Arnold, PhaD.  Write "cite" rather than site.  LA