Hayley

Hello,

I am setting up a 198L tropical tank. I am looking for some unusual fish to make up the tank. I have had the usual tetras, barbs, plecos, danios, guppys, loaches, silver dollas, etc etc in the past. Whilst they are all beautiful fish but so common in tanks these days.

I am looking for some equally beautiful, interesting fish, with personalities, that are not seen as often in tanks these days. It will be a community tank, so please don't post fish that will be happiest with just their own kind in the tank. I am also hoping to add shrimp in the tank... I kept a shrimp only tank a while back and I absolutely adore them. So if you have any idea about ornaments that will provide appropriate hiding spaces for them that the fish can't get to?

As long as the fish will get on together, require similar tank conditions and do not cost the earth (whilst still being unusual and full of personality) I will consider them.

I fear I may be asking for too much... but still, I am sure there are far more knowledgeable people than me out there brimming with ideas :)

I was given a BiOrb (15L) as a present a month or so ago. I have it set up with the substrate provided, I put a heater in so I could make it a tropical tank. I was told by the pet shop I could have 15 neon tetras in the tank (!?!). I have cycled it with Bacterlife, stress zyme, and used a de-chlorination liquid.

It has been running for 3 weeks now, all water parameters are great and I am ready to start stocking it. After doing a lot of research, I realised it is not nearly big enough for fish. So I would like to set it up for shrimp.

Would it be possible to keep the shrimp with the media supplied? I wonder if it would help or hinder the shrimp. If I can't keep them on that media, could you please suggest an alternative that wont clog up the sponge filter or disrupt the flow of water to the filter? Your advice would be a great help!!

I am trying to find out where to get the most realistic artificial jellyfish aquarium. I love watching the things, but I don't have the time or money to commit to live jellyfish. I have been looking at complete sets, as it were, often promoting 'mood lighting' (something I love) as a feature.

With that being said, I have been unable to find jellyfish with the most realistic movement possible. So I am not sure whether the best bet is to buy a complete kit, or source each part individually. If the latter, aquarium suggestions would be appreciated.

The more realistic the better, especially in terms of the way they 'float' (including the gentle pulsing movements they use to swim) and the speed of movement (some of the tanks I have seen look great except that the jellyfish caught up in the 'current' move unnaturally fast).

Perhaps I am asking too much, or setting the standards too high, but if any of you lovely people have any ideas or suggestions they would be appreciated.

Hiya, I was sent home with an urgent referral to be seen at the hospital by my optician due to a 'slightly raised and red optic disc'. Obviously I am fairly concerned, but I wanted to know how bad the odds are. For example, the adverts tell you to see your GP if you have had a cough for three weeks or more as it may be a sign of lung cancer, but most of the time it is fine. So is it more like that, or more like 'there is definitely something wrong and you should just hope it is not serious'.

I hope you can help!!

Hiya, I had a miscarriage at approximately three weeks seven days ago. The bleeding stopped yesterday, but I am still experiencing stomach cramps and back ache. How long does the pain last for?

Also, I was not trying for a baby but now everything feels different. I feel so lost, and so selfish that i had this life inside of me and didn't know. I was on the pill. I take a lot of meds, so i am sure that is what caused the miscarriage, but I feel so guilty about it even though it was not planned. Is there anything I can do to move on?

Just so you know, the bit about the pain and how long it lasts is the priority part of this message if you don't mind.

Thank you.

We are fostering an adult car for a friend of ours while she finds a new home. How can we let him into the garden to explore without the fear of him running away and not coming back.... we don't want to loose him!

I am due to start looking after a St Benards tomorrow 5 days a week while the owner is at work. I saw him today and he is a lovely boy who doesn't jump up etc, but on the paperwork they circled 'No' to 'Obeys basic commands' and mentioned that he pulls on the lead.

Is he too old now to train or can I make a start with him? I have experience training dogs, just never a St Bernards and never one this old. The owners seem to think he is ok the way he is, but I believe a happy dog is a trained dog. And because of his enormous size, I think it is more important than ever.