About Jack Dempsey Cichlids

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Originally from Yucatan peninsula, Guatemala and Honduras, the Jack Dempsey Cichlid belongs to very beautiful, but aggressive fish. The Jack Dempsey cichlid is named after former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, since it is a strong and energetic fish. The scientific name for the Jack Dempsey is Archocentrus octofasciatum. The species forms a part of the genus Cichlasoma in the Cichlidae family.

In Spanish speaking regions, this fish is called Mojarra castarrica or Riquiraqui. In Poland, it is known as Pielegnica niebieskoluska, Germans call it Achtbindenbuntbarsch, and finish speaking aquarists know it as Helmikirjoahven.

Wild Jack Dempsey cichlids can be found in North and Central America where they inhabit a region that stretches from the Papaloapán River in southern Mexico to the Hondurian Ulua River in Central America.

An adult Jack Dempsey cichlid can grow up to 10 inches (25 centimetres) long and must be provided with plenty of space. In the wild, the Jack Dempsey cichlid inhabits densely grown waters.

The Jack Dempsey cichlid will typically reach sexual maturity when it has grown to approximately 7-8 inches (18-20 centimeters).

The female will choose a flat surface and clean it before laying her eggs, another favorite spot will be a large clay flowerpot. The female will tend her babies while dad keeps intruders a safe distance from the developing eggs. The fry hatch in three days at 82 degrees Fahrenheit and are fully mobile four days later. Offer them newly hatched brine shrimp or finely powdered prepared foods for their initial meal.

After a month the fry will be large enough to move into a growing on tank and your breeding pair will start to show signs of wanting to breed again.

In the wild these fish feed on worms, insects, crustaceans and small fish. They will accept most foods greedily but on occasions you may try them with something new and it may take them a while to actually realise that it is food but with patience they will accept it.

The Jack Dempsey cichlid is easy to care for in the aquarium but considered unsuitable for inexperienced aquarists since they might find it difficult to handle its aggressive temperament and counteract violent behaviors.

Avoid standard community aquarium species, since they tend to be peaceful and will become bullied by the Jack Dempsey cichlid.

Avoid keeping more than one Jack Dempsey cichlid in the aquarium, and avoid species that look similar to the Jack Dempsey cichlid since they may be perceived as enemies by the Jack Dempsey cichlid. It is also very important that the aquarium is large enough for the Jack Dempsey cichlid, and decorated in a way that makes it possible for the cichlid to claim a limited region as territory.

About Butterfly

A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts, egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. Butterflies exhibit polymorphism, mimicry and aposematism. Some, like the Monarch, will migrate over long distances. Some butterflies have evolved symbiotic and parasitic relationships with social insects such as ants. Some species are pests because in their larval stages they can damage domestic crops or trees; however, some species are agents of pollination of some plants, and caterpillars of a few butterflies (e.g., Harvesters) eat harmful insects. Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts.

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Complete Facts and Trivia about Butterflies:
There are about 28,000 known Butterfly species throughout the world.

Caterpillar grows to about 27,000 times the size it was when it first emerged from its egg. Because the caterpillar's skin doesn't grow along with it as ours does, it must periodically shed the skin as it becomes too tight. Most caterpillars molt five times before entering the pupa stage.

Caterpillars are boneless, but have over 1000 muscles. These muscles help the caterpillar move very quickly from place to place, and so both aid in finding new food and in escaping from predators. Butterflies are a valuable source of food for various birds, which are as necessary for maintaining the ecological balance.


Butterfly doesn't spin a cocoon. Caterpillars shed their final skin to reveal a pupa. The outer skin of this pupa hardens to form a chrysalis which protects and hides the amazing transformation that is occurring inside. Pupae take on a wide variety of appearances, depending on the species of butterfly. Some hang from beneath leaves or twigs. Others are girdled to the side of a stem much like a worker on a telephone pole. Some are smooth and shiny while others are rough and even spiky. Some are beautifully colored with dots and lines of gold while others are drab and barely noticeable. No matter what the design, the function is the same - to lessen the chances of being eaten by a predator and to increase the likelihood of producing an adult butterfly or moth.

Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge 12 inches. They can fly up to the speed of 12 miles per hour and can only see the colours red, green, and yellow.

Butterfly wings are transparent. The iridescent scales, which overlap like shingles on a roof, give the wings the colors that we see. Contrary to popular belief, many butterflies can be held gently by the wings without harming the butterfly. Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 86 degrees.
Both butterflies and moths belong to the order lepidoptera. In Greek, this means scale wing. The name 'Butterfly' was first coined to describe the Yellow Brimstone Butterfly, a variety commonly seen across Europe. It was actually known as 'Butter-colored Fly' and that later became 'Butterfly'.

Butterflies taste with their feet. Their taste sensors are located in the feet, and by standing on their food, they can taste it!
All butterflies have six legs and feet. In some species such as the monarch, the front pair of legs remains tucked up under the body most of the time, and are difficult to see. Pollen gets attached to the legs of the Butterfly and is carried from plant to plant, assisting in fertilization and the propagation of new seeds and plants.

Butterflies don't have mouths that allow them to bite or chew. They, along with most moths have a long straw like structure called a proboscis which they use to drink nectar and juices. When not in use, the proboscis remains coiled like a garden hose. Butterflies use their antennas to smell.

Male butterflies are often attracted to females by the release of a powerful chemical called 'pheromone' from special glands. Some Butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of specific plants, others lay them in mid-flight. Some Butterflies, like the Cabbage White Butterfly, lay their eggs on cabbage leaves - the eggs and the caterpillars that emerge presently are velvety green and blend in well with the cabbage leaves.

Many butterflies migrate in order to avoid adverse environmental conditions (like cold weather). Butterfly migration is not well understood. Some can migrate only short distances but others migrate thousands of miles.

Butterflies have very brief life spans. Some - usually the ones found in the Tropics - can live up to a year, but others live anywhere from a few months to a few weeks to even a few hours.

About Water Striders - Water Walking Insects

The family Gerridae contains insects commonly known as water striders, water bugs, magic bugs, pond skaters, skaters, skimmers, water scooters, water skaters, water skeeters, water skimmers, water skippers or Jesus bugs. There are around 500 known species, commonly placed in around 60 genera. These are predatory insects which rely on surface tension to walk on top of water. They live on the surface of ponds, slow streams, marshes, and other quiet waters. There they hunt for insects and other small invertebrates on top of or directly below surface using their strong forelegs which end with claws. They can move very quickly, up to 1.5 m/s. They paddle forward with the middle pair of their legs, using fore- and hind legs as a rudder. Like all insects, the water striders have a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), six jointed legs, and two antennae. It has a long, dark, narrow body. Some water striders have wings, others do not. Most water striders are over 0.2 inch (5 mm) long.

Fun Facts and Trivia about Water Striders:

Water strider, sometimes called Jesus bug or pond skater. Water striders live on the surface of ponds, slow streams, marshes, and other quiet waters.

Aside from a force called surface tension that pulls on the water’s surface creating a very thin stretchy layer on the top, water striders have tiny hairs on their legs that allow them to walk on water without sinking. All six of the water strider’s legs are covered with thousands of microscopic hairs that trap air, making the legs waterproof and thus increasing its legs’ water resistance and its overall buoyancy allowing it to simply float and travel on water surfaces.

The water strider has six legs like all insects. This bug holds its short, front legs up under its head. It moves along on its two middle legs and uses its two back legs to steer. The water strider's body never touches the water!

In the case of the water strider, it has splayed legs and water-repellent hairs all over these legs. This also keeps it from sinking. A water strider cannot swim!

The leg tarsi are covered with fine hairs (hair like setae) that are difficult to wet.

Water striders feed on live and dead insects (insectivorous) and other aquatic organisms. Special vibration sensing hairs on their legs help them find insects rustling in vain, trapped by the surface tension of the water. The front legs of water striders are short, modified for grasping and used strictly for capturing prey. Some are aquatic (water) insects, such as mosquito larvae coming up from the bottom, and others are terrestrial (land) insects, such as butterflies or beetles that accidentally land on the surface. Injured dragonflies are a favorite food, as are worms that fall in the water. Water striders have a sharp mouthpart, called a rostrum, to suck up body juices from prey.

The water strider dose not bite humans.

Water Striders grow 1/4 - 1/2 inch long with narrow body; body covered with hairs and dark brown or black in color.

The short front legs of a water strider are for grabbing prey. The middle legs push the insect forward, and the hind legs steer. The shape of their legs and their light weight keep them from breaking through the surface.

Common Water Striders have very good vision and move quickly on the water.

In breeding season, water striders communicate by sending ripples to each other on the surface of the water. Females lay eggs at the water's edge, usually on plant stems. When eggs hatch, nymphs (baby striders) must grow for over a month before they become adult water striders. Water Striders must always keep moving to so they don't become prey themselves to fish or other predators. These insects do not have wings. They are usually in large groups and prefer the protection of overhanging trees and shade. Common Water Striders can live for many months, and adults can overwinter. They can crawl inside a plant stem when it gets too cold.

Predators of the water strider, like birds and fish, take advantage of the fact that water striders cannot detect motion above or below the water's surface.

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About Giraffe - Tallest Mammal

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant. The giraffe's scientific name, which is similar to its antiquated English name of camelopard, refers to its irregular patches of color on a light background, which bear a token resemblance to a leopard's spots. The word Giraffe, comes from the Arabic word - zerafa, which means charming or lovely one. Giraffes can be found in southern, central and eastern Africa. As of now, their population is in good standing.

Facts and Trivia about Giraffes:

The giraffe is one of only two living species of the family Giraffidae, along with the okapi. The family was once much more extensive, with numerous other species. The giraffids evolved from a 3 metres (9.8 ft) tall antelope-like mammal that roamed Europe and Asia some 30–50 million years ago.

The tallest mammal in the world is the giraffe. Male giraffes normally weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds and can stand up to 19 feet tall. Female giraffes can be up to 16 feet tall and weigh between 1,600 and 2, 600 pounds.

A baby giraffe is about six feet tall at birth. Newborn giraffe calves begin their lives by falling 6 feet to the ground. When it is first born, a baby giraffe is very wobbly on its legs and so cannot stand up for at least its first half an hour.

The neck of a Giraffe can be as long as 8 feet! Their tongue is a foot long. The giraffe’s long tongue is so tough that it can wrap around the thorns of a thorn tree to grab twigs. Both man and giraffes have the same amount of neck bones - 7. The legs of a giraffe are almost 2 m long.

Giraffes have knobs or horns on the top of their heads that are used to protect the head in fights. These grow to be around five inches long. Male giraffes do not use their horns as weapons against predators, the only time they use them is to fight peers.

When giraffes walk, they move the two legs on one side of their body, the other two on the other side. Their long legs mean that when it comes to running they can gallop along faster than the speediest racehorse. When drinking, a giraffe has to spread its forelegs wide or kneel down to reach the water. This position makes it very vulnerable to attack by lions.

A giraffe’s coat is patched in brown on cream, and each giraffe has its own unique pattern. The reticulated giraffes of East Africa have triangular patches, but the South African Cape giraffes have blotchy markings.

A giraffe’s heart can pump 16 gallons of blood in one minute! Giraffes have one of the highest blood pressures of all animals, due to their height and the large size of their heart. The average giraffe's blood pressure is two or three times that of a healthy man.

The giraffe can drink 12 gallons in one setting. They can go without water longer than a camel can. They can go several days with no water, and stay hydrated by the water of the leaves.

Giraffes are social animals that travel in large herds consisting of both males and females of all ages. During the breeding season, rival male giraffes rub their necks together and swing them from side to side. This is called necking. The gestation period is typically 15 months. During the first week of life, the baby giraffe is carefully guarded. While the mothers feed, the calves are kept in nursery groups. Giraffes live for 10-15 years in the wild, but average 25 years at zoos.

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About Jack Russell Terrier

About JRT
The Jack Russell terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. It is principally white-bodied smooth, rough or broken–coated which is commonly confused with the Parson Russell terrier (the American Kennel Club (AKC) and affiliate variant) and the Russell terrier (a shorter legged, stockier variety) with the term "Jack Russell" commonly misapplied to other small white terriers. The Jack Russell terrier is a broad type, with a size range of 10–15 inches (25–38 cm), the Parson Russell is limited only to a middle range with a standard size of 12–14 inches (30–36 cm), while the Russell terrier is smaller at 8–12 inches (20–30 cm), however each breed has different physical proportions according to the standards of their breed clubs.

Jack Russell Terrier dog breed also called Russell Terrier and Rebel Terrier

JRT breed was named after a clergyman named Rev. John Russell. Originating from the dogs bred and used by Reverend John Russell in the early 19th century from the white terriers of that period, they have similar origins to the modern Fox terrier.

JRT's were used as a small game hunting dog particularly for red fox, digging the quarry out of its den in the mid-1800s.

Some of the Jack Russell's talents include: hunting, tracking, agility, and performing tricks.

The Parsons are the long legged Jack Russell Terriers named officially Parsons Russell Terriers.

The Jack Russell Terrier and the Russell Terrier are the same breed but are entirely a separate breed from the Parsons Russell Terrier.

FCI, ANKC, IKC, recognize the shorts as Jack Russell Terriers and the UKC recognized the shorts as Russell Terriers.

The Jack Russell Terrier is a pleasant companion when it is sufficiently exercised; however if they do not get enough, they may become a nuisance.

Jack Russells can live anywhere from between 14 to 21 years on average given proper care.

Lens luxation, also known as ectopia lentis is the most common hereditary disorder in Jack Russell terriers.


JRT Height: 10-15 inches (25-38 cm)
JRT Weight: 14-18 pounds (6-8 kg)

Jack Russell Terrier was recognized by the following group:
JRTCA = Jack Russel Terrier Club of America
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
UKC = United Kennel Club
KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club
CET = Club Español de Terriers (Spanish Terrier Club)
ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
IKC = Irish Kennel Club
CKC = Continental Kennel Club
NKC = National Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.

Nipper was a dog born in 1884 who was thought to be a dog of the Jack Russell terrier type. He was the inspiration for the painting Dog looking at and listening to a Phonograph, later renamed to His Master's Voice. The painting was used by a variety of music related companies including The Gramophone Company and EMI. Today it remains in use incorporated into the logo for HMV in UK and Europe.

A Jack Russell named Bothy made history in 1982 as part of the Transglobe Expedition. Owned by explorers Ranulph and Ginny Fiennes, he became the first dog to travel to both the north and south poles.

On April 29, 2007, a Jack Russell named George saved five children at a carnival in New Zealand from an attack by two pit bulls. He was reported to have charged at them and held them at bay long enough for the children to get away. Killed by the pit bulls, he was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal in 2009, the animal equivalent of the George Cross. A statue has been erected in Manaia, New Zealand in his memory.

Wishbone, from the television show of the same name which aired from 1995 to 2001 in the United States, was a Jack Russell terrier. Wishbone's real name was Willowall Soccer, and was chosen from over a hundred other dogs vying for the part.

Jack Russell terrier dog actor Wishbone with his noticeable paw markings on his left ear.

Actor Gene Hackman's pet in the 1995 movie Crimson Tide was a smooth-coated Jack Russell terrier named "Bear". Max, a Jack Russell terrier, played the role of Milo who is one of Stanley Ipkiss's only friends in the 1994 U.S film The Mask starring Jim Carrey. Max also played the female dog Audrey in the 2000 film Mr. Accident.

Jack Russell: Dog Detective is a series of children's books by authors Darrell and Sally Odgers, and published by Scholastic. It is about the adventures of a Jack Russell terrier named Jack Russell and his gang of friends including Jill Russell, Lord "Red" Setter and Foxie Terrier.

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About Pugs

The pug is one of the oldest breeds of dogs, dating back to before 400 BC! Pugs estimated existed in China at the time of Confucius, at around 700 BC. One emperor, Ling To (168-190 AD) liked them so much, that he gave these small dogs rank, the females received the same rank as his wives. He ordered that these small dogs (pugs) are to be guarded by soldiers and fed only the best meat and rice. If anyone attempted to steal one of these dogs, he or she would be sentenced to death.

The pug is of Chinese origins, like the Pekinese and Shih Tzu.

While they originated in China, there is no such thing as a Chinese Pug. The correct name for the breed is Pug or Pug Dog. There are two colors of

Pugs: fawn, which is broken into silver and apricot fawn, and black. The fawn Pugs are distinguished by their black masks. Females are generally around 16-18 pounds and males, 18-22 pounds.

The original name for the short-haired pug was lo chiang-sze and was shortened later to the word lo-sze.Pugs love to eat, so it isn't uncommon for them to be a little bigger.

The pug probably gets its name from having a similar facial expression to marmoset monkeys which were also known as pugs, and kept a pets in the early 1700's.

At around 1736, the pug was the secret symbol of "The Order of the Pug" (Mopsorden), a order led by the Grand Master of the Freemasons.

Josephine, before her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte, had a pug named Fortune. When they got married in 1796, Napoleon supposedly refused to let the pug come up to their marriage bed at night. The pug then reportedly bit the general in the leg and Josephine announced that if the dog would not stay in the bed then neither would she. From then on Napoleon shared his bed with a Pug and Josephine.

Also Josephine used her pug to carry secret messages under the collar to her husband while in jail.

The pug has different names all over the world. Pugs called Mops in Germany and Holland, Mopsi in Finland, Carline in France, Doguillo in Spain.

Pugs are consistently in the top 20 most popular dog breeds each year as determined by the

American Kennel Club, they are currently 14 on the list.

In 1885 the American Kennel Club officially recognized the pug as a breed and accepted it for registration.

Pugs are relatively clean.

Pugs are not aggressive, as a rule.

Pugs travel well.

Adult Pugs will relax with you.

Pugs are adaptable to many situations.

Pugs are usually great with children.

Pugs are typically not big barkers.

Pugs get along with almost all animals.

Pugs are toy dog breed.

Pugs can be silver, black, or apricot-fawn.

Pugs have short hair coat and can be glossy and smooth.

Pugs are very playful, friendly and could be a watchdog.

Pugs shed a LOT.

Pugs can have health problems.

Pugs can't tolerate extreme heat.

Pug puppies are very active and hyper.

Pugs are puppies until they are around 2-3 years old.

Pugs should not be kept as outdoor dogs.

Pugs can be difficult to housebreak.

Pugs can become overweight easily.

Pugs sneeze, snort, and snuffle.

Pugs snore loudly.

Pugs are NOT outdoor animals and should never be left outdoors unattended. Because of its "pushed in" face, the Pug has a shorter breathing passage and is highly susceptible to extremes in temperature, especially heat, so you must be very careful not to over exert the Pug in times of warm or hot weather. While Pugs are generally good with children, small children may not be good for a Pug. Because of their large, protruding eyes, Pugs are extra susceptible to injury and must be treated gently and lovingly. Pugs loves to sleep and cuddle so it is advisable to get a comfortable heated pet beds..