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.

Butterfly facts, trivia and information collected and brought to you by Pet Street Mall, premier online retail store for best selection of quality pet products and needs. 

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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