Hedgehog Coral

Hedgehog Coral
Echinopora Sp.
"Eye-catching colors and wild shapes, this coral has several fascinating varieties!"
3/31/2010

The Hedgehog Coral often forms amazing relationships with Clown gobies –

give it a try keeping them together!

Clown Goby’s from the genus Gobiodon have similar living habits with the Echinopora genus (including the hedgehog coral) as the more popular clownfish do with anemones. These coral gobies love to make their homes among both Hedgehog Corals and other corals such as the Acroporas and will sometimes even spawn in a reef aquarium if given enough individual territories and free room. The gobies only reach about 2 1/2 inches, have a toxic body slime, and are very energetic! A great combination to have in a coral reef aquarium!.. Read More

Clydesdale

Clydesdale
Equus caballus
"I have a quiet and calm temperament, but I sure do eat a lot!"

As a draft/heavy horse, the Clydesdale is one of the most popular horses of its kind

in the world!

Clydesdales are heavy draft horses with high stepping gaits and beautiful coats. Most people immediately think of the Clydesdale as the primary symbol of the draft horses. In the past they became popular used as carriage horses because of their beauty, and still today they are used as fancy carriage horses and put in show rings. The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales are the most-well known of this breed… Read More

Fresh Step Cat Video Contest Almost Over

How can anyone not love these furry little critters?!? Entries from the Fresh Step contest will change anyone’s mind.

I entered the Fresh Step contest about a month ago, and have been checking back routinely to see the competition that my little Bridget is up against. Long and short of it: her chances might be getting sort of slim.

For those of you who don’t know or haven’t been reading Fresh Step has been running a contest where anyone can upload their video of their cat doing something silly, cute, crazy, awesome, beautiful, funny, whatever to the Fresh Step YouTube page and have a chance at their cat being featured in a national Fresh Step advertisement. If you want to enter simply click here – http://www.youtube.com/freshstep – and follow the instructions at the top right hand part of the page.

I’m not sure how anyone could see some of these entries and not adore cats.

• Watch this one for instance:
  Really?!? I have a new meaning in my life and some people still complain that cats are no fun?
• Or this:
  Honestly, there is a reason cats have been such a perennial favorite pet. They are smart, clean, fun to watch, fun to pet, and just so awesome to have around. Some people say they don’t do anything or they don’t obey, but clearly the first part is not true and the second part is just part of their nature. They may not obey, but as all us cat lovers know, they are still loyal and loving.
• Check out this final entry from the contest:

Those three are my favorites. Though I love Bridget I maintain that she has some tough competition from some of you guys, but the game is still afoot!

If you liked those videos be sure to check out the rest at the Fresh Step contest page here – http://www.youtube.com/freshstep.

Note: In full-disclosure, this post is part of a sponsorship campaign with Clorox’s Fresh Step Cat Litter’s YouTube contest in coordination with Lijit Networks, Inc. I received compensation for these posts, but the opinions expressed here are my own. I also run third-party advertisements through Lijit, compensated on a CPM-basis.

Torch Coral

Torch Coral
Euphyllia glabrescens
"How about a little Metallic Green Coral in the mix, just to brighten things up!"
3/18/2010

The Torch Coral is not only beautiful, but can also be a great surrogate anemone

for your clownfish!

The gorgeous Torch Coral E. glabrescens really stands out from the other Euphyllia spp. with its flowing tentacles. The tentacles are straight with no branching and are generally very long and thin, eliminating the use for sweeper tentacles. They are tipped in a contrasting color of cream, green, or white, hence its common name. It is also a branching species… Read More

Chinese Shar-Pei

Chinese Shar Pei
Canis lupus familiaris
"I am extremely loyal to my family and a highly intelligent dog!"

The Chinese Shar Pei originated from the ancient Chinese Guangdong province and is a

rare breed.

The Chinese Shar-Pei has been around for a very long time, however not much is known about it’s actual history or ancestry. Some thoughts are that it may have descended from the Chow Chow, but they really don’t have that much in common with the Chow Chow. The only real similarity is that they both have dark tongues. The Chinese Shar-Pei is a non-sporting dog breed and looks almost like a completely different dog now than it did originally. It is no longer as wrinkled and has a much sleeker build. The original type is often referred to as the “bone-mouth” Shar-Pei by enthusiasts and the type seen most often today is referred to as the “meat-mouth” Shar-Pei. In the past Shar-Pei’s were often used as fighting dogs as well as farm dogs, but that is uncommon now. Most Shar-Pei’s today are simply pets, showdogs, or sometimes watchdogs… Read More

Flexible Leather Coral

Flexible Leather Coral
Sinularia flexibilis
"Can yoga excercises and a leather coral mix? Look at this flexible fellow and see what you think!"
1/10/2011

The gentle sway of a Flexible Leather Coral has an almost hypnotic movement

in the correct water flow!

Mesmerizing to watch, the Flexible Leather Coral Sinularia flexibilis is a bit more flexible than others in its genus. A more distinctive difference however, is that it is slimy to touch rather than having the dry, leathery feel most of the leather corals are known for.

Like other Sinularia sp., the Spaghetti Finger Leather Coral is not as sensitive to handling and is an easy coral to propagate. This contributes to their predominating numbers in the ocean and makes them ready availability for the reef aquarium. But water quality is important to them, making them a bit more challenging to care for than their siblings… Read More

Holland Lop Rabbits

Holland Lop Rabbits
Oryctolagus cuniculus
"I am the smallest of the lop rabbits, weighing only up to 4 pounds!"

Floppy ears make this rabbit very adorable, as well as making it a delightful bunny overall!

Holland Lops are miniature versions of the larger Lop-eared Rabbit, as are the Mini Lops. They are the most popular breed of Lops and are also the smallest. Holland Lops actually came from Holland (hence their name), where their breed started development in 1949. The 1960′s finalized the breed that has continued on through today. The United States saw it’s first Holland Lop brought over in 1976 and has since become an extremely popular pet rabbit breed… Read More

Splendid Knotted Fan Coral

Splendid Knotted Fan Coral
Acabaria splendenss
"What could be more splendid that a beautiful, colorful fan coral in your reef? There’s just one problem… VERY difficult to keep!"
11/14/2010

The Splendid Knotted Fan Coral is a rarity in the aquarium industry, and a hard to keep beauty!

The Acabaria corals are found in the Red Sea, Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Maldives. They inhabit reef crests, current swept slopes, and calm open water; but live along shaded areas or under overhangs and in dimly lit caves. They are very colorful! The attraction of these sea fans is the deep red or deep orange color of their rind contrasted behind light polyps. They also have fascinating twists and turns in their branches… Read More

White’s Tree Frog

White’s Tree Frog
Litoria caerulea
"Looking for a great beginner soft coral? I’m a hardy little frog and am great for kids!"

The White’s Tree Frog, a quiet critter with bulging eyes, is one of the most laid back

animals there is!It is a very easy frog to take care of and thus is excellent for beginners and experienced frog owners alike!

It is said that it would take purposeful effort on your part to startle one of these adorable frogs. Unlike many of their relatives, including it’s close ‘cousin’ the White-Lipped Tree Frog, the White’s Tree Frog is not big on jumping, and will generally only do so when startled.

The White’s frog is a very gentle, laid back animal; it is said that it would take purposeful effort on your part to startle one. Unlike many of their relatives, they are not big on jumping, and will generally only do so when startled. One of their most intriguing acts is when they are eating, they stuff their food into their mouths with their front feet and seem to become all legs and elbows… Read More

Colt Coral

Colt Coral
Cladiella Sp.
"Big lumpy fingers full of fluff is the best way to describe me… I just don’t know where "colt" came from!"
1/10/2011

The Colt Coral has heavy lumpy looking “fingers” covered with fluffy polyps,

and they grow in all directions!

The Colt Coral Cladiella sp. is a popular and easy care leather coral that is readily available for the reef aquarium. It has projections resembling fingers that are round to cone-shaped, and stubby. These thick finger-like projections branch upward from a very short, pale white stalk. They will fork and grow more projections, which grow out in all directions. They have polyps that are fully retractable, yet when extended are well tufted, giving it a very fluffy appearance. All total these characteristics give a “thicker” look to their colonies… Read More

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