In the text below I shall try to give a short overview of some of the basics when breeding crayfish. Particular species may have other behaviours and demands. It should be said that my main experience as an aquarist is with relation to fish, but I shall try to convey what little knowledge I have. Sexing Crayfish Sexing crayfish isn't always easy. The genital openings are located in different places on the body depending on whether it's a male or a female.
Males have their genital openings behind/under their posterior pair of legs. Females have their genital openings under the third pair of legs counted from the posterior. However, many individuals have a male as well as a female genital opening, making the sexing much more complicated. But these are always either male or female; usually male but you can't be sure. Mating and egg carryingIn aquariums, spawning is possible any time of year.
The male makes a little sperm packet and places it on the female's stomach. The female then spawns her eggs, passing them through the sperm packet so that the eggs get fertilized. It is not uncommon for the female to lose a claw during this process. She then places the eggs under her tail where they will be kept until they are ready to be released. How long this will be depends on the water temperature and the species, but it will be at least 4 weeks.
A lot of other factors can also affect the length of the egg carrying period, such as water quality, and food supply and quality. The mother will watch over the young for a short time after birth. FryThe fry are very small when they are born but are fully developed miniature crayfish. Fry are usually detritus feeders, which means that they will feed on any decomposing plant parts and food leftovers they can find while scouring the bottom. Vegetable food is preferred and they can be fed boiled lettuce leaves that are left to decay in the aquarium.
Be aware of the water quality. Fry are often very cannibalistic and a large aquarium is required if you want a higher number of fry to survive. Sorting fry for size may help the survival rate. BreedingNow you know about their breeding behaviour and how to raise the fry, but how can you get them to breed in the first place? Well, first of all you have to give them the right environment and good food to get them in a condition in which they can spawn. Some species also need different triggers to breed.
These triggers may be a change in the amount of light and number of light hours, a change in temperature, change of circulation, etc. FeedingCrayfish usually accept most kinds of food, and I would recommend feeding them a diet based on boiled lettuce, sinking pellets, shrimps, and once or week or so, fish meat. This will get them in good condition and help the female survive the spawning period since she usually doesn't eat while she is carrying eggs. Housing/environmentMany crayfish species can be kept in relatively small aquariums, but I recommend using larger aquariums since this lowers the pressure on the females by the males. The aquarium should be decorated so that a lot of hiding places of suitable size are provided.
Hiding places can be created using rocks, roots, flowerpots, coconuts, PVC pipes, and so on. It's important that there is at least one, and preferably several hiding places for each crayfish. By William Berg of Sweden, for http://www.aquaticcommunity.com.
Article by William Berg originally published at http://www.aquaticcommunity.com. Article may be reproduce as long as it is not edited and a live link to http://www.aquaticcommunity.com is placed in the article header. (java links and PHP links are not allowed)Bathroom Remodeling
Bathrooms have to be just as comfortable, functional and good looking as the rest of the house. Hygiene and sanitation are also important aspects apart from making the bathroom look warm and inviting. Bathroom remodeling can be because of many reasons: as a part of fixing a major problem; as a part of revamping the whole house; for special reasons like fitting in a child's bath tub or an adult's wheelchair; for altering the size or the shape of the room; for including additional gadgets like: showers, tubs, water supply systems, counters, cabinets, bars, shower walls and so on. With the availability of several accessories and fixtures, bathroom remodeling has become very easy and interesting.
Bathroom remodeling calls for several safety precautions. If the remodeling involves tearing down of the whole bathroom, the area nearby should be covered with builder's paper to protect it from abrasion and dirt.
Measurements have to be carefully noted so that all the fittings...
Bathroom Remodeling
Essential Oil Application Methods
BATH:Add 10-12 drops of a single oil or a blend to 1/2 Cup Epsom Salts or baking soda - or 5 drops to 1 TBSP of Epsom Salts or baking soda. Pour it into a hot bath while it is filling. Soak until water cools.DIRECT INHALATION:Apply 2-3 drops of essential oil or blend to palm of one hand, rub palms together, cup hands over nose and mouth and inhale vapors deeply 6-8 times.DIFFUSION:A few drops in a diffuser (for therapeutic use, cold air diffusers do not harm the fragile properties of essential oils), you can buy electric devices, candle warmed, ceramic rings to place on light bulbs, or just use a bowl of warm water.However, using heat to diffuse essential oils will destroy essential oils, rendering them therapeutically ineffective. Cold air diffusers gently break up essential oils into tiny molecules through micro diffusion thus retaining the integrity of the oils. This process creates a fine mist vapor that floats in the air and can be absorbed gently into the body through the respiratory...
Essential Oil Application Methods
Snorkeling Vacations
Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean are popular locations for snorkeling vacations, along with Australia and Bali.
Bali is known for its temples and volcanoes. Rich in culture and mythology, a world of sensory delights is opened to travelers of all ages. The island boasts of mountain streams and beaches lined with palm trees where Technicolor fish, including the kingfisher are in abundance. There are also tropical retreats famous for their spas, cuisine and pools.
The Ayung River in Bali is located amidst a rain forest and surrounded by teak trees.
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is one of the most accessible reefs offering snorkeling opportunities with many guided tours available.
Many of the day trips take place at the inter-reef islands like Michaelmas Cay, Green Island and Fitzroy Islands.
Some tours offer a chance to simply walk onto a beach and into the water instead of jumping from a boat. Resting buoys...
Why Count Strokes When Swimming Freestyle?
You may have had coaches that make you count strokes throughout the workout, either by mixing it into drill sets, the main set, or at the end of workout. Some coaches recommend making a habit of always keeping track of your stroke count. As a coach of distance swimmers and triathletes, I believe stroke counting is a necessary part of most swimming workouts.If you stick with it and do it on a consistent basis, stroke counting in swimming is an excellent way to increase your DPS (Distance Per Stroke). The world's best swimmers are faster than you because they travel further with each stroke, not because they are moving their arms faster. Keeping track of the number of strokes you take per length will allow you to begin to lengthen out your stroke, as well as add more speed and distance while keeping your heart rate down and allowing you to save your energy for later in the swim or race.The goal should be to bring down your average stroke count per length.
Great swimmers like Alexander...
Why Count Strokes When Swimming Freestyle?
Skamper-Ramp? Wins Readers Choice Award
Charleston, SC (ContentDesk) July 12, 2006 -- Skamper-Ramp?, dba Skamper Industries, LLC was selected as one of the Top 50 Products of 2006 by readers of Pool & Spa News magazine.
The patented, polypropylene water rescue device for pets and animals prevents drowning by allowing them to exit the water on their own.
It is available in two sizes, Skamper-Ramp for animals up to 45 lbs., and Skamper-Ramp Big Dog", for pets up to 90 lbs. or for use with most boats and docks.Pool & Spa News is recognized as one of the leading pool industry trade magazines with over 16,000 paid subscribers across the United States. Each year the publication selects the 50 products receiving the highest number of product information requests to be featured in a special Readers Choice showcase.
Skamper-Ramp was first honored with this selection in 2004 and now again in 2006.Skamper-Ramp has also received national product recognition in articles and features in newspapers across the...
Skamper-Ramp? Wins Readers Choice Award
Alaska Cruises offer breathtaking scenery for your vacations.
Alaska cruises can offer some of the most pristine, natural beauty you'll ever see on your vacations. Beautiful crystal clear inlets of water found no where else in the world. Icebergs and sheer cliff walls rising thousands of feet into the air. Choosing from among the many
Alaska cruises will be easy and fun; making your vacations an exciting and rewarding experience. Deciding which of many Alaska cruises is right for your
vacations.One thing to decide is when you want to go.
Many people favor the month of August because the weather and temperature are favorable to being outdoors. Another consideration to keep in mind for Alaska cruises and vacations is which direction on the ship you'd like your cabin to face. Inside cabins are less expensive while outside facing cabins offer the convenience of stepping onto your balcony and seeing the many splendid sights. Dressing warmly and comfortably is another consideration, especially if you're susceptible to being...
Alaska Cruises offer breathtaking scenery for your vacations.
Designer Water Adds Graphic Artist, Chuck Higbee, to Existing Work Force
Arlington, TX (ContentDesk) July 9, 2006 -- Designer Water USA, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Chuck Higbee to their graphic arts department. Chuck is a locally renowned artist with over 30 years experience in advertising design and print production.Since a picture is worth a thousand words, please view Chucks portfolio of work at www.chuckhigbee.com.Personalized bottled water is a growing business and I am proud to be a part of such an innovative and flourishing company. With my graphic arts knowledge and experience coupled with the Designer Water concept, I see great things in the future for us, Higbee said.With the summer heat upon us, the private label bottled water industry is a great venue in which companies can offer a thirst-quenching, quality advertising product to their customers.Businesses are not the only ones who can benefit from the Designer Water product. Individuals who are celebrating weddings,...
Designer Water Adds Graphic Artist, Chuck Higbee, to Existing Work Force