ATLANTA AQUARIUM - GEORGIA AQUARIUM

Photo  by Storeyland 

Want to make sure your next family vacation is a real splash? Take your family for a cool and educational adventure at the Atlanta Aquarium.

Some people call aquariums "the new zoos" and without a doubt, they are some of the hottest lures. The recently opened Atlanta Aquarium was created to draw visitors to the city. Developed in part by the city of Atlanta, this titanic aquarium draws in travelers, who are then enticed to visit other destinations within the downtown entertainment zone.

The original idea for opening the Atlanta aquarium, also known as Georgia Aquarium, was developed by Bernie Marcus. In November 2001, Mr. Marcus announced his plans to donate the funds required to build an aquarium in downtown Atlanta.  From that idea, the Atlanta Aquarium was born.

The Atlanta Aquarium is a half-million square foot facility housing, more than 100,000 animals in 8 million gallons of fresh and salt water. From project groundbreaking to the grand opening, the entire construction process took only 27 months to complete. The Atlanta Aquarium is located on 9 acres of land adjacent to the Centennial Olympic Park in the downtown area.

When you visit the Atlanta Aquarium, you'll notice the unique appearance of the building's exterior. The facilities were designed to look like a giant ship breaking through a wave. As visitors move forward to the large atrium inside the building, they are led into the facility by "a wall of fish" guiding them inside. Once inside, guests are given the option to choose from five main galleries. Each gallery is easily distinguishable with a sign and icon at the entrance.

Take time to visit each of these fascinating galleries housed within the Atlanta Aquarium:

Cold Water Quest -- shows items covered in ice
Georgia Explorer -- identified by a light house
River Scout   -- displays a cascading waterfall
Ocean Voyager  -- offers a peephole into the huge habitat
Tropical Diver  -- with two video screens representing fish on a reef.

After visiting each exhibit, guests return to the main atrium to visit the next gallery.

Visitors to the Atlanta Aquarium will enjoy about 60 habitats through 12,000 square feet of viewing windows. The windows are made of a durable acrylic with a total weight of 328 tons. The largest of the habitats is a massive 263 feet long by 126 feet wide, with a depth of 33 feet. This giant carries 6.2 million gallons of water. This display, specially designed as a habitat for whale sharks, is also home to tens of thousands of other animals that commonly thrive amid coral reefs and open ocean waters.

As you continue to explore the Atlanta Aquarium, you'll find a 100-foot long tunnel and one of the world's largest aquarium windows, giving a glimpse into the whale shark habitat. The second of the largest habitats in the Atlanta Aquarium, it holds 800,000 gallons of water and was specifically developed to simulate the natural habitat of beluga whales.

Anyone with an interest in nature and oceanic life will marvel at the Atlanta Aquarium. Spend the day viewing 100 thousand creatures representing 500 species from around the globe living in over 8 million gallons of fresh and salt water. The Atlanta Aquarium is a true ocean jewel, right in the middle of Georgia.

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Tips on DOMINO DAMSELFISH Care

Attribution: Randall JE   This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Photo: Aquariumwiki

Domino damselfish or Dascyllus trimaculatus are classified to family Pomacentridae. This species is a native of the Indo-Pacific with an established presence stemming from the shorelines of southern Japan to Australia.

These fish received their names from their distinctive color pallets. They have black bodies just like a domino. There are three large white spots their bodies, one on each side and one on their forehead. They are also called threespot dascyllus and domino damsels. They commonly grow to as long as 5 inches in length and have a life expectancy of up to 10 years in captivity. These fish can swim in depths up to 200 feet.

This is one tough and highly adaptable little fish. They can tolerate conditions that would kill a less hardy species. This capability of surviving adverse environmental conditions has led to them being a popular biological stabilizer for aquarists who are cycling a new tank. If the damselfish lives it is OK to risk introducing more expensive and temperamental species to the new aquarium.

This is not a timid creature by any means. They have a propensity to be downright tenacious for a fish of their stature. The level of aggressiveness increases as they mature. Housing them with smaller and more docile species may prove problematic. They will also exhibit territorial behavior toward members of their own species, especially in smaller aquariums. Suitable tank-mates include dwarf angelfish, puffers, and cardinalfish.

A common trait among damselfish is their symbiotic relationship with sea anemones. They are commonly referred to as anemonefish because of this inherent mutualism. Sea anemones exude neurotoxins which can be deadly to most other fish. Damselfish have a natural immunity to these toxins which inevitably leads to mutually beneficial coop between the two species. Dominoes feed on the semi-digested matter left floating around the anomie because of its dietary habits and remove harmful parasites from the creature. There is the additional benefit of being able to seek shelter within the tentacles of a species even the most aggressive of predators will instinctively steer clear of. In return for shelter and provisions, Dominoes excrete fecal matter which is a source of nutrition for the anomie. Dominoes also associate with Diadema sea urchins and branching coral.

This is an omnivorous species. Part of their diet in the wild consists of ingesting various species of algae. It is recommended that you provide them with an abundance of live rock to graze on. The live rock will provide them with both the plant matter necessary for their nutritional requirements and make for an acceptable hiding place in the absence of their symbiotic partners.

In addition to plant matter, they can be fed brine shrimp, chopped fresh shrimp. mollusks, or squid. They will also eat marine flakes for omnivores.

Like their relatives the clownfish, dominoes are sequential hermaphrodites. They are all born as males. If you place two males in an aquarium together the larger more dominant fish will undergo a gender change. This species has been known to breed in captivity.

By Stephen J Broy Technological advancements in the aquarium industry continually redefine the concept of "home aquarium ownership." Just twenty years ago not even the biggest public aquarium was capable of keeping jellyfish alive in captivity. Now they make desktop Jellyfish Fish Tank Aquariums. And why would you want a jellyfish tank? Perhaps you should check out what the translucent bodies of Pet Moon Jellyfish look like under LED lighting. Pet Jellyfish give a whole new meaning to the term exotic pets. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Artificial Freshwater AQUARIUM PLANTS

There is always a certain amount of joy and fun in putting decorations in your freshwater aquarium. In fact, adding artificial plants to your aquarium can cost a little less than the money you spend on maintaining your aquarium. As we all know, artificial plants are reasonably priced and they require very little care and maintenance once they are placed in the aquarium. The idea of placing them in your freshwater aquarium was introduced rather late. There was a time when artificial plants were looked upon as eyesores by many 'newbies' in the aquarium community.

Today, however, their appearance is very similar to real plants and you have to actually touch them to tell that they are made of plastic materials. In fact, the majority, if not all artificial plants used in freshwater aquariums, are made from silk allowing them to freely move in the water.

One of the greatest benefits of using artificial plants in aquariums is the fact that they shine in all their glory the moment you place them in your aquarium. This has a glorious effect that live plants can never provide since they need time to grow and blossom. As a rule, however, it is necessary that before you add artificial plants to your aquarium you must ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned and that they are free from any contaminants that can harm the fish. A little trick to make your the plants appear more realistic: soak them in warm water for thirty minutes. This is good for softening the fabric.

What's more, artificial plants do not require additional care and maintenance. They can stay as they are whether or not the aquarium is lighted. There are no problems when adding special nutrients and you can basically place them on any aquarium substrate. In fact, you can execute the most daring design when it comes to arranging them in the aquarium. By choosing your favorite artificial plants, you can easily place them anywhere you wish. If the time comes when you decide to remove them, you can easily do so without the worry of hurting the fish or damaging the tank.

In fact, you cannot kill your artificial freshwater aquarium plants, and so you do not have to worry about pruning or feeding them to them to make them grow. They will always be what they are-artificial plants. But if well chosen, they are not ordinary plants and though they are lifeless, they bring about the appearance of life to both the fish and spectators. Moneywise, they are way cheaper than live plants because you only need to purchase them once, and you can continue to enjoy their beauty for as long as you desire. They only cease giving life to your freshwater aquarium once you decide to throw them away.

Finally, artificial plants can significantly add life and beauty to your freshwater aquarium without causing any danger to the fish. Aside from the fact that they are very easy to care for, you do not need to monitor them very closely as they will never invite algae to grow on them. Maintenance is also inexpensive and cost-effective.

By Garry-Ian Macdonald - Article Source: Ezine Articles

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Introduction to PARROT CICHLIDS

Bloody Parrot, also called the Red Parrot
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Typically speaking there are two kinds of cichlids that belong to the parrot cichlid family, the Hoplarchus Psittacus (Green Parrot) and the Blood Parrot. The Green Parrot Cichlid is known to be the "original" parrot. It is a beautiful green cichlid that originates from the Amazon in South America. Not surprisingly its name came from its big parrot-like mouth. It is known to be less common within the aquarium industry but over the past few years, it is slowly becoming more popular.

The Blood Parrot is noticeably more common in aquarium shops. Interestingly, the Blood Parrot is a fish that has been developed over a few years of selective breeding and when it first came on the scene it was a bright Orange. Nowadays this fish is known to be found in many different colors such as Red, Purple, Blue, Yellow, and Green just to name a few. Given the mass range of selective breeding and colors that have now been produced, there has been a blanket name placed over these multi-colored fish, this is known as the Jellybean Cichlid.

Because the Blood Parrot Cichlid is a man-made hybrid so to speak, knowing the exact origins of this fish become difficult however there is speculation that it might be a cross between the Severum and a Midas Cichlid or Red Devil.

An interesting fact is that it does not have a scientific name due to its hybrid origins, it should also be noted that it will never be given one because of this reason.

Water parameters for this fish are somewhat the same as the original Green Parrot, neutral pH and a temperature of around 26°C or 78°F. Parrot Cichlids have been known to grow to 12 inches in length or more in some rare occasions and can be expected to live for up to 10 years.

Some good Tank Mates for the Parrot Cichlid are as follows;

* Geophagus cichlids,

* Rainbow cichlids,

* Firemouths,

* Severums

* Some Tetra species (make sure they are not fin nippers)

Blood Parrots generally attempt to breed when the water parameters are suitable, and in some cases have been known to attempt to breed every few weeks or so. Unfortunately, the lack of egg fertilization is a common problem associated with these fish and breeding, although consistent might be very unsuccessful.

However more and more people have reported that they have had successful breeding pairs, perhaps this is all a part of their hybrid origins being bred out of them.

By Craig Wrightson If you would like to learn more about Parrot Cichlids and their environment, visit my site African Cichlid Success - NEW eBOOK! Get Instant Access! Learn everything you need to know about setting up and maintaining a perfect Cichlid Tank including the unbelievably simple secrets the professional breeders use on caring, feeding, breeding, and diseases! Article Source: EzineArticles

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Basic Tips On AQUARIUM MAINTENANCE

Photo  by Atomic Mutant Flea Circus 

Well maintained aquariums reward their owners with majestic displays from the vibrant and healthy fish. The living creatures within the enclosure make aquarium maintenance a crucial part of ownership. The best way to execute this responsibility is to gain basic knowledge as well as engage a specialist. It takes regular attention and not money to keep the glass pond beautiful and healthy.

The health and beauty of all creatures largely depend o what they eat. As true as the old adage You Are What You Eat states, the health, beauty, and vibrancy of your fish will depend on what you feed them on. With numerous online platforms and books on fish feeding, it is not difficult to master this. Consulting a specialist in aquatic life in Cincinnati OH will guide you on the specific foods based on your type of fish.

Like all other living things, the temperature is crucial for the fish in ponds. Water bodies do not experience drastic changes in temperature. This means that the organisms inside are unlikely to be affected by external temperatures. However, for aquariums, the temperatures change drastically considering their size. The likelihood of boiling or freezing is therefore heightened. This means that you must pay constant attention to the temperature.

Temperature is so crucial for aquarium life because it determines the state of the ecosystem. Human beings and animals in the wild take cover when it gets hot or cold. Fish in an enclosed glass box have very few options and depend on your care. Just as you throw a coat over your shoulders when it gets cold or heads to the shade when the sun scorches, attention must be given to the animals in the enclosed glass environment.

PH is crucial for survival in any aquatic environment. Different environments have varying PH which is the case in fresh and salty waters. It is worth noting that some fish are meant for salty waters while others are for fresh lakes. Making a mistake on the PH will turn your aquarium into a death trap.

Water PH can be altered by several factors considering the small size of glass ponds. An innocent maintenance activity like changing the water or type of food is likely to significantly affect PH. Caution should be exercised whenever any material is introduced into the pond. Consider the alkaline or acidic demands of your fish and other creatures when setting up an aquarium.

Aquariums are owned and run by ordinary citizens and not Ph.D. holders in fish studies. It only requires basic knowledge to ensure healthy, beautiful and vibrant aquatic life. This knowledge helps you to identify signs of stress or sickness so that you can take appropriate action like informing an aquatic vet. The signs that are worth watching out for include white spots as well as erratic behavior.

As part of basic maintenance, scrubbing your pond is critical in maintaining good health. This is the trick to maintaining a healthy ecosystem that will make your lounge attractive. Water should be changed regularly and attention paid to any algae buildup. The above tips ensure that your fish live a long, healthy and happy life.

About the Author: Lelia Hall You can get valuable tips for picking an aquarium maintenance OH company and more info about a reliable company at http://aquaticinteriors.net now.

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NEON TETRA - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon innesi

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SALAMANDER Facts: What You Need to Know About Them

Photo by Jannis_V

Did you know that salamanders are one of the most unique creatures in the world? In fact, they have caught the interest of many people and most of them want to have one at home. If you are planning to get salamanders as a pet, but don't know much about them, then below are some of the important salamander facts that you would need to know.

Salamanders are true amphibians. This is in contrast to what most people think that they are reptiles. Salamanders belong to the order Caudata and have similar characteristics with the lizards. They exist in an average of 500 species with a huge group located across Northern hemisphere. But, since they live in a secretive way, they are rarely seen in an open viewpoint.

The name "salamander" is rooted from the Ancient Greek word, Salamandra. The early people have considered salamanders as mythical creatures of fire because they would all of a sudden show up from flames. On the other hand, this primitive amphibian is also thought as one of the earliest living vertebrates on earth. As a matter of fact, they also show evidence of life's evolution on land.

Most of the salamanders are ranging from 10 to 20 centimeters. These cold-blooded animals have tails and four legs. Their front legs have four toes while their back legs have five toes each. Like other amphibians, they normally have smooth skin since they thrive on water and moist areas.

Their color varies extensively. Some species have bright colors and beautiful spots of orange, yellow and red. Some of these amphibians have gills and others have lungs. However, some species also have both lungs and gills while others do not have either one of them.

Mainly, there are three types of salamanders based on their habitat. They can be terrestrial, aquatic, and semi-aquatic salamanders. Some salamanders live most of their life in water while others prefer it on land. Also, some of them may be adjusted to fit both land and water. This is the reason why you need to take note of your salamander species and create the right habitat that will replicate their home in the wild.

Salamanders grow and develop in the process of metamorphosis. Their life starts as a larva and grows into an adult salamander after a few days or years depending on which species they belong. Mature salamanders need to lay their eggs in moist areas for them to survive.

Since salamanders are exotic and extraordinary animals, they need proper attention and care. Despite the fact that they can be found in different species, their population are massively deteriorating because of some reasons that scientists are not yet sure up to this time.

Hence if you want to have a salamander as your pet, see to it that you will participate in the campaign in protecting their species from extermination. As a novice, you can ask for advice from experienced raisers and owners. You can also do your thorough research for you to know the right way of taking care of your salamanders.

By JM Miller - Article Source: EzineArticles

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