VISIT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC VIRTUALLY

The odds are, a lot of people who want to visit Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California will not be able to due to financial reasons. Then again, some people might be turned off by the crowds, the parking, the standing in lines and everything else involved in visiting a major marine attraction. But you don’t have to be permanently shut out from the Aquarium of the Pacific’s doors. You can visit them online and get a virtual tour and updates.

An Ode To A Box Of Squid

I wish I’d made that title up, but that’s the title of one of the blog posts on the Aquarium of the Pacific’s website, where you can learn everything wanted and didn’t want to know about the workings of the aquarium and how the critters are doing. You can also find out that the aquarium workers write some really bad poetry. It’s a good thing they don’t plan on quitting their day jobs anytime soon.

The blogs on the Aquarium of the Pacific’s website are written by several workers and volunteers who help out at the aquarium on a daily basis. The blog posts are sorted into easy to figure out categories on a bright, easy to navigate site with plenty to read about. There are posts on individual animals, upcoming aquarium events, conservation tips and a look into the tech toys used to keep the gigantic tanks running.

What Critters Are There?

Although you can expect to hear about fish, sharks and octopi (that’s the official plural of octopus), the Aquarium of the Pacific also has other critters that you might be interested in. For example, they have a lot of birds – fifty species, to be exact. They also have over twenty species of marine mammals from seas to sea otters. Many reptiles also call the Aquarium of the Pacific their home.

But, if you want fish, you got ‘em – there are over 450 species living at the Aquarium of the Pacific. One of the most popular creatures living there is the Giant Pacific Octopus, who lives in the Northern Pacific exhibit. There are also crabs, lobster, shrimp, jellyfish and live coral. All in all, there are usually over 12,500 critters at the Aquarium of the Pacific at any given time.

If I ever get to go, I’d surely take advantage of the whale watching program they have. Since they are right on the ocean, whale watching tours leave almost daily. You do have to check the website for the most current details.

Tags: aquarium of the pacific, aquarium tanks, aquarium sealer

WHY I WILL NEVER KEEP SALTWATER AQUARIUM FISH

I have nothing against saltwater aquarium fish – in fact, I quite admire them. They are incredibly beautiful and awe inspiring. Learning about saltwater aquarium fish is a little like learning about life on another planet, as their way of life is so incredibly different from ours. Their fascinating behaviors, as well as their beauty have made them increasingly popular among aquarists. But you won’t catch me keeping them as pets.

Depleting The World’s Oceans

Scientific studies of the world’s oceans are getting grimmer with each new report. The seemingly impossible is happening – the seas are running out of fish. Although most of these disappearing fish stocks are due to commercial fishing and pollution, for some species, the culprit has been the pet fish trade.

Have you ever stopped to think where the fish in pet stores come from?  For most freshwater fish, they come from captive-bred stocks that have lived all of their lives in tanks or other man-made environments that they have grown used to. All types of aquarium goldfish are all domesticated fish, for example.

But this is not the case for saltwater aquarium fish that enter the pet trade. They have captured as babies or as adults from the ocean, slapped in a bucket and then shipped thousands of miles to live in artificial environments that usually cannot keep their tank water healthy enough for them to survive. Over 50% of all ocean-captured fish die before reaching the pet store. And that’s even before they’re sold to people who might not have a clue as to how to take care of them.

And Then, The Money Factor

Although the filtration and water circulation systems have greatly improved for the keeping of saltwater fish in the last dozen or so years, one other important factor keeps me from ever keeping saltwater aquarium fish – money. A common baby goldfish averages about fifteen cents (US), while a clown fish costs hundreds of dollars. And that’s just for the fish.

Saltwater aquarium fish need a large investment of your time, energy and especially your money. You need specialized food, water chemistry sets, filters, sump pumps, overflow boxes and water chillers (as opposed to water heaters). Because not much is known about the proper care and feeding of saltwater fish, you need to do a lot of personal research and experimentation on your own time in order to try and keep even one of these fish alive.

Tags: aquarium, perfect aquarium, turtle aquarium

A CORNER AQUARIUM REFRESHES THE DÉCOR

A corner aquarium could be the most refreshing spot in a home or office. A corner aquarium could be the spot where family members or employees go to relax and retreat from the problems and pressures presented on a daily basis. The corner aquarium solves some of the dilemmas presented to those who want an aquarium but do not have the perfect place to put one.

A corner aquarium does not take up the space of others. A corner aquarium can be placed in an area that is often just empty space because nothing else quite fits. Many people just enjoy the sight of graceful fish swimming in the crystal clear water of a luxurious aquarium. People who thought they did not have room for an aquarium before should consider the corners for a lively addition.

Every room has at least four corners, and there are not many pieces that fit neatly into a corner. Most chairs do not quite fit, and many decorators fill up the corners with plants. The plants work well for many rooms because they go with many different interior designs, but think about a corner aquarium that will fill up the same space with the glorious movement of beautiful fish. A corner aquarium can be filled with the colors of different types of marine life including fish and plants. The sounds and sights of a corner aquarium can be the perfect solution to every empty corner.

A Corner Aquarium Adds Life To Homes And Offices

There are some magnificent corner aquariums available to fit the décor of any home or office. The available aquariums are appropriate for freshwater or saltwater fish. Many people first choose freshwater aquariums because these are the easiest to maintain, but people can start with a freshwater aquarium in their corner and change to a saltwater aquarium later using the same tanks. These aquariums are available in tanks that can be placed on a stand specially designed to fit perfectly into a corner.

A corner aquarium can liven up the empty space of any corner, and these tanks come with the lights and other equipment that add to their enchanting appearance. The corner placement also means that the aquarium is viewed from many different positions in the room. Office workers might enjoy glimpsing magnificent fish swimming peacefully in the corner from many different angles of a busy office. The corners of many homes might be brightened with colorful fish and plants in an aquarium placed strategically in previously empty corners.

Tags: acrylic aquarium, aquarium lighting, mystic aquarium

BEAUTIFUL FISH OF THE SEA AT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland is one of the finest aquariums in the United States. It features more than 16,500 specimens of sea life and more than 600 species of animals. There is so much to explore at this aquarium that it may take more than one day to see it all. But once you come, you will be glad you did.

The National Aquarium features animals and sea creatures from all over the world. The National Aquarium has an Australian animal exhibit which features the animals native to the land down under, as well as special exhibits that show stories of survival in that environment.

Amphibians are also in abundance at the National Aquarium. These are the types of creatures that most people are familiar with and can see in nature. Some of the National Aquarium’s specimens can be found in your own backyard, while others come from all over the world and are very rare.

Besides fish and other sea life, the National Aquarium is also home to birds, mammals and reptiles. Some mammals are also sea dwelling creatures, like the dolphin. The birds that they have at the National Aquarium are land and sea dwelling birds. Some fish right out of the sea for their meals while others look on land.

The National Aquarium is also home to a large collection of invertebrate species. Invertebrates are small animals that do not feature a backbone. Many small sea dwelling creatures fall into this category. Crabs, lobsters and sea cucumbers all fall into this category.

Planning A Trip

If you would like to plan to a trip to the National Aquarium, it is as easy as checking their website for times, dates of special events and news about new exhibits. It is a great place for a family vacation, as well as for couples and anyone who is interested sea life. The website features a trip planner so that making plans for the aquarium’s special events and exhibits is easier than ever.

Baltimore is also a great vacation spot. Once you are done visiting the aquarium, there are many other historical and fun activities to explore in Baltimore. Baltimore is a great town for shopping and it is close to Washington, D.C. If you are thinking about taking a vacation to the east coast, make sure that you make Baltimore your central point. You will not regret making the trip to the National Aquarium.

Tags: great lakes aquarium, home aquarium sharks, aquarium care

THE RELAXING BENEFITS OF A HOME AQUARIUM

Studies have proved time and time again that having a pet in your life can make you a happier and healthier person by making you more relaxed. Just watching fish gently glide about in your home aquarium often triggers an almost hypnotic state in the observers. Sales of tapes and DVDs just of a camera taping a normal home aquarium sell very well to help calm the overstressed.

The Sounds

One of the benefits of a home aquarium is not only the sights but the sounds that they make. Many people find the noise of running water to be very soothing; just look at the proliferation of home decorative fountains to see that. There are also many white noise machines that feature reproductions of water noises like rain or waterfall.

Advances in aquarium technology have led to air pumps and filters to become a lot quieter than they were twenty years ago. You can always move an air pump around onto various surfaces to see what sounds quieter. Then again, after a while, the steady drone of an air pump can become soothing in and of itself.

The Appreciation

Fish are underrated as companions and roommates. They don’t argue (except to perhaps beg for food), they don’t contradict you and they don’t say nasty things about your mother behind your back. One of the joys of owning a home aquarium is the delight in seeing that your fish recognize you.

They often do unique behaviors just for you as opposed to any other human that happens to be around. These behavior can include rising to the top of the water and kissing the surface as if mimicking eating, following you about (as best as they can), or even darting about the tank. Although it can’t be proven that fish feel happiness, it certainly looks like they are happy to see you.

The Self-Confidence

Running a happy home aquarium takes planning, patience and some technical skill. You also need to devote some time every day just watching your wet pets to see if they are in good health. These are all skills that the average person just can’t be bothered with learning. But seeing a healthy fish glide about like a living jewel because of your work is like looking at a painting you made. This can give you a lot of self-confidence that can carry over into other endeavors in your life that you plan to do.

Tags: hardwater in aquarium, aquarium lighting, virtual aquarium

COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN KEEPING AN AQUARIUM

Aquariums look fabulous, can help you lower your blood pressure and provide a sense of accomplishment. But they can also raise your blood pressure if your fish keep floating on the surface of the water instead of happily among the waters. You can easily avoid the most common mistakes anyone (beginner or expert) can make when maintaining your aquarium.

Don’t Overstock

The biggest temptation in keeping an aquarium is to cram as many fish in there as possible. Resist!  This will save you cleaning time, money and the fish’s lives. Although pet stores commonly overstock their tanks, they tend to have double the filtration systems needed and the fish move out of the tank once they are sold. You can’t do the same thing if you want to keep your fish alive.

The safest rule to follow is allot four gallons of your tank to each fish, assuming the fish are only an inch long each (excluding tail fins). The rule used to be one gallon per inch of fish, and that is still written in a lot of older aquarium care books, but it has since proved to be unreliable. Besides, your 20 gallon tank doesn’t hold 20 gallons of water – there’s also gravel, plants and decorations. So, in a twenty gallon tank, you can have at the most five fish.

Don’t Overfeed

Although there are many scientists that claim aquarium fish are stupid, they all possess the intelligence enough to beg – and they are really good at it. But eating too much is just as bad for your fish as it is for you. And a fish that eats too much will be a fish that passes out a lot of waste. This can all play havoc with not only your filtration system, but the chemical composition of the tank water.

The general rule is not to feed more than your fish can eat in about three minutes. If they are bottom feeding fish or shy fish, then give it ten or fifteen minutes. This is something you learn by doing. It will seem like you are hardly feeding your fish at all (and the fish will agree) but they have tiny stomachs and need only a little bit of food.

Get The Biggest Tank You Can Afford

Another mistake is that people think smaller tanks and bowls are easier to take care of than larger tanks. Not so!  Smaller tanks get dirty very fast and need daily maintenance. The bigger the tank (with the proper amount of fish in there) the less maintenance it needs.

Tags: aquarium fish diseases, aquarium air pumps, aquarium fish species