A:  Glad you like the site.  I hope your sleep patterns are back to normal now.  LA

A:  It may sound strange, but I don't remember ever seeing or hearing of a Reeves turtle.  Glad you like the site.  A quick Google search makes Reeves turtles sound interesting.  LA.

A:  Sure, bring them in.  We trade in most fish at one-third of what we sell them for.  LA

A:  The "TetraTec" is probably your filter/heater combo.  Have you cleaned your filter sponge?  That's probably all you need to do.  Squeeze it several times under your water faucet.  LA
Write me back if this does not work.  And tell me exactly what you mean by "quality gets poor."

A:  I'm assuming your slow eater is the smaller guy?  Normally I would suggest quarantining him in his own tank.  But these guys like to hang in packs.  Can you add a divider -- a sheet of glass inserted diagonally so they can all see each other but not eat his food?  Then give him three small meals a day of live black worms, frozen bloodworms, and/or rinsed thawed brine shrimp.  Make sure he gets more than one type of food.  You can feed them the same foods.  LA

A:  I'm trying to spawn a pair of oscars right now.  You can check on their progress by clicking on Oscar Spawn  LA

LA
Chloe eating a superworm.

A:  Today we have a friendly female STO (Chloe).  I won't know what we'll have in November until November.  LA

A:  Your filter is working just right.  The brown sludge is from excess food.  Cut your food in half  LA

A:  We have no salamander larvae and do not ship.  Try Carolina Biological Supply.  LA

A:  I've never kept plants with these little guys.  Crabs eat whatever they run across -- which includes plants.  Plants also give them more hiding places.  They can't eat plastic plants, but you'd still have a hard time finding them in their tank.  If you prefer live plants, go with anacharis -- a decided favorite of crayfish.  LA

A:  Since bumblebee gobies spend most of their time on the bottom, I would not recommend mixing them with red claw crabs.  You might try African butterfly fish or hatchet fish.  They rarely go to the bottom.   LA

A:  Since it appears to be coming out of its anus, I'd suspect a portion of prolapsed intestine -- like a hernia.  Your picture's better than mine, but her breeding tube should look like a solid tube.  LA

LA

A:  Hi again, George.  Most water systems add chlorine to kill pathogens in their water.  It dissolves living tissue.  Fish gills are especially affected.  The chlorine eats them and the fish die from lack of oxygen.  Put enough chlorine in the water and it will dissolve the entire fish.  You need to add a chlorine neutralizer before doing large water changes.  Water conditioners do even more.  I can't recommend a specific brand because I don't know what's available in Egypt.  However, I would recommend limiting your water changes to 25% on small fishes and 50% on LARGE fishes.  And always add a water conditioner.  Water changes can affect many other factors in your water quality -- too many to get into here.  So, find out what's in your local water.  Ours varies by season.  Yours probably does also.  Main message -- do not make 100% water changes -- ever.  LA

Katherine Childress, Bloomington, IN, September 5, 2007

Hi, I just wanted too say that I love your site. you include a lot of good information. My question is do you sell any of the animals listed and if so do you have other locations? I also included a pic of my Burmese Python and me. She was 11.5 ft long, 5 yrs old, and 115lbs. She was a gentle giant with people. Anyway thanks for the awesome site!

KC

A:  We sell lots of the critters we profile but not all of them all of the time.  For instance, Des Moines has a six-foot limit on snakes.  And now the Iowa has banned some of the bigger constrictors anacondas, rock pythons, etc).  We have no other locations.  All other "Aqualands" are wannabes (and who could blame them?).  Excellent pic of the both of you.  LA

Ann Osborne, Indianola, IA, September 5, 2007
Hello - My daughter, who is 10, has been saving her money and is interested in buying a bird.  The ring neck dove seems to be a really nice choice.  Could you please give us some information about cost and availability?  Is it best to get the ring neck doves in pairs?
We live in Indianola and will probably be making a trip up top see what you have in your store, but I thought sending an e-mail first might save us a trip. Thanks!

A:  Answering shop details takes an extra day because my computer is at home.  We currently have seven doves in stock.  Pied, fawn, and white @ $25.  Most people prefer to purchase pairs.  LA

antinarelli2003, September 6, 2007
I want to put fire-belly frogs out in my pond. Will they survive?

A:  Of course, as long as your pond stays between 55 and 90 F.  And they are not eaten by raccoons, opossums, dogs, cats, coyotes, turtles, crayfish, or birds.  And no roving tribes of young vandals cross your land.  And your frogs can find a food source.  No prob.  LA

Hello,

 

John & Julie Yarnall, Michigan, September 8, 2007
The information on your site about Fiddler Crabs was great! We just rescued 8 fiddler crabs from our local store. We have had Fiddler Crabs in the past, so we are familiar with care for them. While my husband was setting up our tank I noticed that one of our new crabs had lost BOTH arms. I know they will grow back, but how well will this little guy survive? If you could give us any info. We would greatly appreciate it.

Thank You

A:  The armless guy is at a decided disadvantage at the dinner table.  I'd separated the dis-armed guy until he molts another set of arms.  LA
 

Chris Clement (Ex-Military), Cincinnati, OH, September 9, 2007
Dear Larry, I have recently moved back to the states and have set up my new aquarium. I was looking around the local shops and could not find what I (REALLY) wanted (Datnoides pulcher) but instead wanted to start my tank off with a pleco *to start the biological chain* then I acquired a spotted gar. Not knowing really what I got myself into I looked it up somewhat and I have more than enough room (5x2x2) and the FX5 is sufficient for the gallon amount. While I was reading up on gars I noticed that most places say not to keep then with plecos (Scribble Plec 9-10inch). What I am wondering is this going to be a
problem for the gar or just get rid of it? AND I was wondering if you could help me in locating a Pulcher in the Cincinnati area? Just thought I would ask. Thank you

CC

A:  Welcome back from England.  I wouldn't worry about mixing a gar with a pleco or any other fish too large to swallow.  They grab bite sizers very fast but ignore larger fishes.  They're often seen with crappies, bass, many of the sunfish, various catfish, buffalo and other suckers, and carps.  They just ignore the other fish.  I can't imagine them bothering a pleco.  I've never been to Cincinnati, but they should have excellent access to Datnioides if they're available --  I haven't seen any of them on lists this year.  I didn't even know they changed the name of the yellow tiger fish to D. pulcher.  LA
 

Eric & Jennie Melendy, Memphis, TN, September 9, 2007
Great site! Check this out.

I got this guy as a two incher, I never saw him for the first year. He hid under a rock. This is when he was about one foot long.....

At about 30 inches, he was getting too big to turn around in a 150 gallon tank.  It was about this time, that I had to find a place for him, so I contacted the Memphis Zoo, and about six months later, they had made a 1400 gallon tank for him.

Here he is today. He's got to be 5 feet long. They feed him live crawfish. I think he likes that better than Jumbo turkey dogs.

And they gave him a little friend.

Eric & Jennie Melendy

A:  Those red-tail catfish do grow big.  Few people realize just how big.  That school of cardinal tetras in with him looks impressive also.  LA
PS:  I visited the Memphis Zoo a few decades ago.  They had a 100 + pound snapping turtle back then.  Is he still around.

 

Evan White, September 9, 2007
Hi Larry, Sorry it took me so long to get this to you. I have been CRAZY busy here. With school, the animals, and work I hardly have time to think. But I didn't forget! This might be a little more in depth than you were thinking, hopefully though it is still OK. I have used most of the info before, and I just added lots of pics for the page. If you can/want to,
please go ahead and add more from the ones I already sent you. I tried
to get the best pics I could, and I think most of them are OK, so
hopefully they work for you. And also, I hope this is useful for people
who Google Spiny turtles, or Heosemys spinosa etc. Your site comes up for so many searches, so hopefully this will get viewed a lot, and be
helpful to people. Anyway, hopefully the attachment works, I tried to
size the pics well enough that they wouldn't go all funky on you. If I
need to send it again etc. just let me know. Hope you enjoy! (Oh, feel
free to edit any spelling mistakes I might have missed:) Regards,
P.S. I am really gonna have to come and visit your store in Iowa
sometime. Road trip maybe......

A:  I posted your page September 11.  Thanks.  LA
 

M. Wight, September 9, 2007
My daughter bought a parakeet a year or two ago with the money that her grandparents gave her. It was a baby, the cere had not yet changed color yet. Eventually it turned blue, just like the one in the 7th picture on the parakeet page of your website that has the caption "once you trim his wing he will sit on your finger." On every website I have looked at it says that a blue cere means the bird is male and a brown or even a purplish color is a female. Well, two days ago my son discovered an egg at the bottom of the cage and today the bird has laid another one. Have you ever heard of the bird having the wrong color cere or the possibility of a bird having the wrong reproductive organs or something? I was also wanting to ask if you knew when I should or could remove the eggs. They aren't going to hatch because we only have the one bird, so they are not fertile eggs. I don't want to remove them too soon because I read that it would encourage the bird to keep laying eggs.

A:  I have no explanation for the cere mis-color.  And I have no idea how long it will take before your female stops laying eggs.  I'd probably remove them after two weeks.  LA
 

Craig Heller, Santa Barbara, CA, September 10, 2007
SECOND NOTICE - You must confirm listing by 09/17/2007
Listing ID:2223666705
Complete and update information to list Aqualand Pets Plus, as a supplier available for Department of Defense bid and sales opportunities in the 2008 Department of Defense Buyers Guide. The information on your company and products will be accessed by Department of Defense and military purchasing agents and buying facilities.
Please complete and submit before 09/17/2007 or you will not be listed. Please click below to complete and update your information (you may have to copy and paste into your browser): http://www.???
The Department of Defense Buyers Guide is published by Federal Buyers Guide Inc., a private sector organization that has provided vendor information to the government for over 30 years.

A:  These guys are probably just selling ads, but it's an intriguing way to expand Aqualand's horizons.  LA
 

Doriana LeForna, Queens, NY, September 10, 2007
Hi. I want to know if 3 freshwater teacup stingrays in a 30 gallon tank for my son's birthday will they be all right. Thank you very much if you can give me an answer.

A:  Actually, "teacup" refers to their size at the time of sale rather than their species.  Most of them grow to about an 18-inch diameter -- way too large for a 30-gallon tank.  Stingrays are not a recommended fish for 12-year olds.  LA
 

Doriana LeForna, Queens, NY, September 11, 2007
Thank You very much. I will remember that. Also do you recommend any boyish fish or reptiles that will live in a 30 gallon tank? Thank you once again  I will  try to come to your fantastic retail store

A:  Water turtles or a collection of barbs, gouramis, swordtails, corydoras, and angelfish.  Our retail store is not fantastic.  It's just an olde-fashioned pet store.  LA

 

Note to Leslie:  I inadvertently (that's sesquipedalian for knuckleheadedly) deleted your corrections (and email address) for my Pleco pages.  I hope you can send them to me again.  LA

 

Leslie, September 10, 2007
I've just been perusing your website at http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish,%20Plecostomus,%20Expensive%20V.htm
You have some plecs listed with "L" numbers that I believe are incorrect.  Leopard Frog plecs are L134, not L201 - L201 is known as Hypancistrus contradens.
Planet Catfish.com L134 info: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=213
Planet Catfish.com L201 info: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=677
The "Para plec" is not L057 but L124 and known as  Peckoltia sabaji. 
- info: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=195
The L057 is of the species Baryancistrus. Info: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/numbers.php?mode=l&thumbs=16&start=64&genus_id=0
The Royal you have on http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish,%20Costly%20Plecos%20VI.htm is most likely an L191 http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=642
There are several other plecs on your pages that may be misnamed. I've been using PlanetCatfish.com for my information.  There is lots of information on this website.  If I may, I'd suggest that you list either the "L" number or the scientific name with your plec photos, since there is a lot of overlap with common names.
I think your website is very informative, and would be even more so with updated species information on the photos you show there.
With regards,

A:  Thanks for re-supplying the ID info.  I've included it in my September Q&As.  Within the week, I'll get the actual corrections made.  I'm having upload problems right now.  LA

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