Aquarium pets - Red-Eared Slider Turtle
Aquarium pets - Fire-Bellied Toad
It’s obvious where these unique-looking amphibians got their name: They’re typical toady green on top, but have super-cool orange-red tummies underneath. As amphibians, they require aquariums that offer both water and land. A 50-50 ratio works well, and the tank should definitely not contain less than 25 percent water. As you might expect, the fire-bellied toad’s bright coloring indicates that it secretes toxins from its skin. While this should pose no severe danger to you, the toxins will contaminate the aquarium’s water, which can harm the toad, so you will need to change the water frequently.
Aquarium pets - Red-Clawed Crab
Several species of crab may be kept as aquarium pets, with red-clawed crabs being a popular choice. They possess a bold look and personality, although they are aggressive pinchers, so handling should be kept to a minimum. As far as aquarium setup is concerned, red-clawed clabs can survive for some time in fresh water, but brackish (somewhat salty) water is best. Fill your aquarium with water up to a few inches below the top of the tank, and provide a few perches above the water line. Make sure to keep a tight lid on the tank, because these feisty critters are definitely escape artists!
Aquarium pets - Freshwater Snail
Snails are frequently kept as aquarium pets, whether as cohabitants with fish or other creatures, or as attractive pets in their own right. Apple snails are a popular choice, as are mystery, inca, nerite and rabbit snails. Snails are fairly low-maintenance; their tanks require 10-25 percent water replacement every two to four weeks. A tight-fitting cover is essential, because snails can climb the walls of their aquariums and escape if given the chance.
Aquarium pets - Sea Monkey
The name “sea monkeys” is a marketing term that was used to sell brine shrimp to kids from ads in comic books. The gap between the colorful cartoon drawings of sea monkeys in the ads and the reality of the brine shrimps appearance infamously caused a lot of kids to feel ripped off, but over the years, the retro kitsch aspect of sea monkeys has given them a continued cult following. And what makes brine shrimp legitimately cool is the very trait that allowed them to be sold through the mail. Brine shrimp lay eggs that, when dried, can remain viable for years. All you need to do is “just add water,” and the baby brine shrimp take just a week to grow into maturity.
Aquarium pets - Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp are among the most popular freshwater shrimp kept as pets. Their name comes from their unique, near-transparent bodies, which makes them cool and fun to watch. But the truth is, ghost shrimp as usually purchased as food for fish and other aquarium inhabitants. But there are plenty of people who enjoy keeping ghost shrimp as pets for their own sake. They are small and easy to care for. All you need in your tank to keep your shrimp happy are plenty of appropriate plants. Be prepared to watch your ghost shrimp family grow, because these suckers spawn easily in an aquarium environment.
Aquarium pets - Fire-Bellied Newt
So you want a fire-bellied aquarium pet, but a toad isn’t for you? A fire-bellied newt may be just the ticket. About 70 percent of your newts aquarium should be water, while the remainder should include a sloping land area for the newt to bask. It is possible, if desired, to provide a full aquarium with floating cork bark on which your newt can rest when necessary. A newt’s aquarium should also have plenty of aquatic plants, stones, logs and the like for climbing and hiding purposes. Also note that, like their fire-bellied toad cousins, fire-bellied newts secrete a toxin that can irritate your skin, so you may wish to wear gloves if you have to handle your newt.
