A:  Namaste and shukriya for your interest, however we can't supply your needs.  Check with Carolina Biological Supply instead.  LA

A:  Aqualand is not a biological supplier.  We are a retail pet store.  I do not have the necessary permits to export.  I do not have the specimens you seek.  Are you just yanking my chain?  Did one of my friends in India put you up to this?  LA                  

A:  We have zero in stock today.  If we had any, they are now weighing in at $180.  LA

A:  Don't be so modest.  Nearly everybody I know from Minnesota does claim to be an expert.  However, in this case I believe you are correct, sir (as Ed McMahon used to say).  I'm going to blame my mistake on the fact that Crayola changed the names of some of their crayons.  I've added your correction to my page.  Thanks.  LA
PS  I've added your name to my list of Minnesotan experts.

A:  You sent me the 2008 proof not the 2007.  Anyway, I don't want to sell my guppies to the government.  LA

A:  From members of the American Killifish Association -- aka.org.  You need to join to participate.  Unfortunately, they publish their website info in white print on a black background.  They get 90% for cool and 10% for readability.  LA

A:  Sorry.  We haven't had any for several months.  If you're coming to Iowa anyway, drop in and say "Hey."  LA

A:  I'm ordering 30 roundtails for Friday delivery.  If you buy 10, I will give you an extra one free.  LA

A:  When it comes to frog diseases, you're barking up the wrong tree when you ask me.  The only thing I can suggest is make sure he has clean water and do not overfeed him.  Outside of that, I'm not much help.  LA

A:  Water changes usually encourage algae growth.  Excess light always encourages algae growth.  If she's leaving the lights on 24 hours, she needs to cut the light to 8 or 10 hours.  Also, the newer 32-watt bulbs are nearly twice as bright as the "older" 40-watters -- one more reason for cutting back on the hours of light.  Floating plants such as water sprite and duckweed will reduce light and absorb plant nutrients.  On my tanks with the brighter bulbs, I've wrapped pieces of aluminum foil.  LA
PS  Is that thanks a million bucks or thanks a million loonies?

A:  In our neck of the woods, goldfish do great in horse tanks.  The new water coming in constantly makes them hungry, healthy, and happy.  However, we don't worry much about algae. I don't think snails control algae much.   To control algae, you can add water hyacinths.  They grow fast and will shade and cool your tanks.  Yes, they're illegal in Florida, but they grow wild all over Florida.  You'll need to thin them occasionally or you'll never see your fish.  Plecostomus enjoy eating  algae but you need to remove them during the winter.  Crayfish pretty much stay on the bottom and will pose a limited threat to your goldfish.  LA

A:  APET does not sell to hobbyists. Wholesalers do not sell to hobbyists.  APET delivers by truck, so they don't sell to California.  To buy fish from a wholesaler, you need a permit from your state, a sales tax permit, and a hefty minimum order.  Several fish wholesalers conduct business in California.  Your local fish store should be able to get those fish you want from a California source.  They are neither rare nor expensive.  LA

LA

A:  Russian tortoises drink water.  You just haven't seen yours drink.  Make sure you provide a low water dish yours can get into.  If you're providing a lot of fruit (not recommended) your turtle will need less water.  They do better on weeds.  Here's a helpful site for you by Dr. Joe Heinen, DC:  russiantortoise.org  LA

LA

A:  On most turtles/tortoises you can count the ridges on their scutes.  Each ridge usually represents one winter (but not always) when they go into hibernation.  Russian tortoises also go into estivation during hot weather, so they probably get an extra ridge.  However, in captivity they usually go into neither.  Most of those sold appear to be in the 5 to 15-year-old bracket.  I really doubt he was one year old.  LA
PS  I'm just now uploading changes to my Russian tortoise page.  You can probably already access part of it if you want.

A:  I have plenty Russians and painteds.  I would be interested in cooter pictures.  LA

Q&As Jan I 0108
Q&As Jan II 0108
Q&As Jan III 0108
Q&As Feb I 0208