Finding a Pet POISON DART FROG

Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Inhabiting countries of South and Central America like Costa Rica, Columbia, Bolivia and Peru, the poison dart frog is a stunning, bright colored frog that secretes a poisonous toxin. The science community only discovered this unique frog in the 1960's, but it has been known by tribes for many years. By the name of the frog, one might think that it is somehow able to shoot poisonous darts, but this is simply not the case. The poison dart naming comes from the fact that tribes in the rainforest used the poison on the tips of darts that they would use to subdue a threat.

The poison dart frog is not just one frog, but an entire species of frogs that contains well over 100 individual types of poison dart frogs. Usually, these frogs are quite small and measure less than 1 inch long, but some species can grow up to about 2.5 inches.

While the poison in many species of poison dart frogs may not be enough to kill a healthy human, there have been instances where the poison entered a cut or scratch which resulted in death. Their poison is quite effective in subduing their predators, however, if a poison dart frog is born in captivity, it's unlikely that they will contain any poison. The poison that is developed in the frog while out in the wild is because of it's diet of ants, termites, beetles and other insects. When they no longer eat the poisonous beetles of Central America, the toxins in their body are no longer produced, making them harmless.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing frogs at the edge of a pond, marsh or stream, but the dart frog is different. It does not have webbed feet and is therefore not a good swimmer so you won't find one of these frogs living in ponds.

Unfortunately, the Poison Dart frog is experiencing a population crisis and is on the endangered species list. Over the years, destruction of rainforest land as well as droughts in their regions, these frogs have decreased in numbers. Fortunately, pet Poison Dart Frogs are bred only in captivity and are not collected from the wild.

The bright colors of these frogs are just incredible and it's no wonder why people want to keep them as pets. With proper care, the Poison Dart Frog can live for many years in captivity.

By Gary Phelps - Article Source: EzineArticles

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MYSTIC AQUARIUM: An Oasis of Wonderful Sea Creatures

Photo  by bunnygoth 

If you are one of the people who love visiting the place called Mystic Aquarium, you will surely enjoy the new Mystic Aquarium that had opened in the early spring last year 1998. There are plenty of renovations made and was made perfect for all those who love aquamarine life. Aside from all the renovations made, the visitors will now enjoy more than 3.500 new specimens of marine life coming from around the world. There are 200 species of different kinds and more than 34 exhibits that you can truly enjoy.  

The famous “island of life” which is Ocean Planet Pavilion has also improved. With new graphics and layout, you will not only enjoy the majestic scene but you will be amazed at how these spectacular facilities are made. You will see four exhibits that feature all forms of marine life. 

The river in this particular area carries 400 million tons of organic materials used as a habitat that supports different forms of marine life. You will also like this particular site as it appears to be real especially if birds are around. Children and adult are able to get close to marine creatures such as sea horses, crabs, mudskippers, octopus and many more famous aquatic living things. 

You will also love the coral reefs found underwater. This is one of the favorite attractions. Almost 28 foot and 30,000 gallon of a tank is the habitat for different types of fishes swimming around the brightly colored coral reefs. The reefs may appear to be real. Many are fascinated upon knowing that these coral reefs are only artificial. 

You will also find coral polyps under the water scene. These are small and soft-bodied animals living in colonies. They are made up of calcium carbonate and in a longer period of time, it grows bigger and bigger forming shapes. They are called coral reefs. 

It also serves as an educational venue for students. Mostly, it is visited by many students for educational tours and research. With plenty of species, the student will be in touch with all the marine creatures from around the world. They do not need to go to different places on the planet to appreciate them. 

If you are curious about the place, visit it now and experience a once in a lifetime opportunity to get close with all the marine creatures from around the world. You will miss half of your life if you do not move now. 

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RED NESAEA - Ammannia gracillis

Red nesaea - Ammannia gracillis

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Maintaining LIVE AQUARIUM PLANTS

Photo  by scott361 

Aquarium plants can make your fish tank look more vibrant and interesting. They can also make the aquarium more like the indigenous environment of the fish which will make the fish less stressed and healthier. Maintaining live aquarium plants poses can pose new problems for Aquarists. This article will discuss some of the things you need to consider to keep plants in your fish tank.

Plants need Carbon Dioxide to grow.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important nutrient that you need to keep aquarium plants healthy. CO2 is produced by the waste products within the fish tank, like fish excrement, excess food and as a  by-product of bacterial action but this is often not sufficient to keep plants in good condition.

Therefore many people utilize a system that puts CO2 into the aquarium. CO2 systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes but can be split into two simple types. Those that provide a constant source of CO2 and those that can regulate the CO2.

It is a good idea to regulate the CO2 either using the system or manually because fish will suffer if there is too much CO2 in the water. Rough guides for carbon dioxide suggest that 30 to 45 mg per liter of water is enough for plants to thrive but over 100mg per liter is too much for fish.

Plants need an adequate lighting source.

CO2 systems must be synchronized with the lighting system that you use in the aquarium. Light is a vital part of the photosynthesis process which plants use to turn light energy into chemical energy that they use to grow. Normally plants would derive the light source from the sun but in the case of aquarium plants, the sun may not be available so an artificial source is needed. The light source should provide a full spectrum of light to the plants. Popular types are mercury vapor or metal halide lights

Plants need a good substrate.

A substrate is the type of gravel or sand that you use in the fish tank. The substrate must be deep enough to allow the roots of plants to take hold and keep the plant firmly attached. You want the substrate to have a depth of about 8 cm.

Substrates can also be nutrient rich so they can help to keep the plants healthy but they must not alter the quality of the water. For example, lime based substrates will make the water harder or more alkaline. Most fish have a preference for soft or hard water if the water was to change due to the substrate the fish could become stressed or ill.

Many Aquarists use layers of a substrate to get around this problem. If a fish likes soft water then the top layer of the substrate would be a lime-free gravel. Under the lime-free gravel, a liner layer of nutrient-rich gravel could be used.

Summary.

Carbon dioxide, a good light source and a nutrient rich substrate are important components in maintaining live aquarium plants. Liquid fertilizers can also be used if you feel that the plants look in poor condition.

By Adrian Whittle - Article Source: EzineArticles

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AERATION: - essential factor to aquarium fish.

As we all know rivers and lakes are the natural habits for fish and other marines. Rivers and lakes have a large surface area which makes maximum provision of oxygen for fish survival possible. On the other hand, the aquarium is not like a river or lake, it has a smaller surface area and there is a limited movement of habitats. 

This makes provision of alternative means of oxygen for fish to breathe importantly. This artificial process of providing oxygen is called aeration. It's a simple process of re-oxygenating the water in the aquarium tank.

The Aerating System:

This is the series of material that increases the supply of air (thereby increasing oxygen concentration) they are:

• the air pump
• t-pieces
• rubber tubing
• clamp or regulator
• diffusers or airstone

Air pumps come in different shapes and sizes but the most popular ones are tecax air pump from Taiwan together with 'Dyna free, and the dragon' another popular one is super 555 from India though cheaper, but not as rugged. Occasionally available are the more expensive whisper and rens air pumps from Uk and rance respectively. Always place air pumps above the water level hooked to a non-vibrating material.

You can accomplish aeration in your aquarium tank by using the above-listed aeration materials. This materials form the aeration system. For small tanks, all you need is to attach simple aquarium air pump to airstone by means of rubber air tube. The system will be blowing air into the water which causes motion in the aquarium tank and thus provide necessary oxygen your fish needs to breathe in the aquarium.

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Mouth Brooding AFRICAN CICHLIDS

Photo  by Rusty Clark – hottnfunkyradio.com 

Worldwide, shelter brooding is a kind of reproductive habit among cichlids. Many cichlids guard their offspring and hide them inside caves, shells or simply inside the mouth of a parent. To breed them, clear clean water and substrate ranging from mud to gravel are required (with regards to the Betta species). Dense vegetation really should be planted into your aquarium. Their water temperature needs to be cool, say between 65 and 75 degrees F. Flowing streams coming from the highlands have cooler water.

Most African Cichlids are what's called "maternal mouthbrooders." Mouthbrooders are highly advanced from an evolutionary standpoint. They've developed a technique for protecting their young along at the most vulnerable time in their development. Mouthbrooders brood their eggs within their mouths!

For many of the non-mouthbrooding cichlids, and that is most neotropical cichlids, more or less stable pairs are formed and maintained through pair-bonding behaviors. Such behaviors as jaw locking, gill flaring (frontal displays) and beating/circling (lateral displays) function permitting inspection and "testing" of potential mates. This behavior will continue, following the establishment of any pair bond, as a ritualistic recognition or greeting behavior reaffirming that bond.

There isn't any best or right setup and design for cichlids. You can find however designs which may be better suited to your cichlids and make them feel more at home. If you're interested in seeing natural behaviors from the fish you should try to design your aquascape to mirror the environment your fish would live in if it were wild.

Not every setup will work with every cichlid. One example is an exceptionally rocky African Mbuna setup will not make a South American or even an African hap very happy. Many individuals who keep fish think cichlids are difficult to take care of, but Cichlids are easy to maintain once you learn how to keep them healthy and stress-free. 90% of issues with cichlids start with stress, tank mates, pH levels, and feeding them the wrong food.

To acquire more information about the technicalities of keeping cichlids, read Cichlid Fish Secrets. It's very professionally written and very easy to read whatever experience level, which is loaded from start to finish with relevant, detailed, and simple reading information.

By Perry Leman - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Characteristics Of The SERPAE TETRA Fish

Photo  by dmott9 

Are you looking to create a tropical aquarium? Do you want to add more fish to your existing aquarium? If so, consider getting the serpae tetra fish. Serpae tetras are community fish that will mix well with other fish. Whether you are a seasoned aquarist or someone who is only starting to discover the wonderful world of the aquarium, the serpae tetra fish is a good choice for your aquarium. Serpae tetras are community fish that are easy to keep. They are hardy fish and mix well with small fish in an aquarium.

Originally from South America, Peru and the Amazon River basin, the serpae tetra fish is sleek, tall and compressed. A serpae tetra fish typically grows up to 2.2 inches long. The female serpae tetra fish is generally a bit more rounded than its male counterpart. The color of the serpae tetra fish's body can range from bright red to reddish brown. The serpae tetra fish's ventral and anal fins are red. Its dorsal fin, however, is black with white fringing. A black spot can be found behind its gill cover. As the serpae tetra fish ages, this black spot slowly become smaller.

If you are thinking of getting serpae tetras, make sure that your aquarium is well planted. Serpae tetras love live plants and driftwoods. While the serpae tetra fish can tolerate being in an aquarium with low temperatures, it is best that you keep the temperature between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your serpae tetra fish happy.

The serpae tetra fish is an easy fish to care for and to feed. A serpae tetra fish will eat everything from flakes to live, freeze-dried and frozen foods. Give your serpae tetra a variety of diet. If you have several serpae tetras, you will notice that they will nip at each other's fins while you feed them in an effort to grab for food.

Serpae tetras are community fish. However, it is recommended that you do not mix your serpae tetra fish with neon tetra fish because serpae tetra fish can be a bit too aggressive for the neon tetra fish to handle.

You will typically find serpae tetras swimming in the middle and bottom areas of the aquarium tank. In general, serpae tetras do not bother other fish in the tank. However, serpae tetras love to play with and chase each other around the tank.

Submitted by: George Chao - Source: www.isnare.com