Bubble Tip Anemone

Pink Bubble Tip Anemone

Anemones use microscopic stinging cells in their tentacles called "nematocysts" in order to stun their prey, and as a defense mechanism.  Once the prey is stunned, the tentacles move the now food towards the center of its disk, and into the mouth. The sting is less potent than other anemone species and under normal circumstances does not affect human tissue (Word of warning some people have reported allergies to these animals, though rare in occurrence). Under normal circumstances a single opening serves as a mouth, for both food intake and to expel waste.

These creatures are supported internally by water, which in turn houses zooxanthellae within its tentacles and body or base. The zooxanthella is what gives the anemone its color as well as a natural food source (supplemental feeding is still recommended). This is exactly why a strong light source is recommended but not necessary.

These anemones have been recorded to reach sizes of up to 15 inches across at its base (not foot). Which brings us to an aquarium size of no less than 24 gallons, however several aquarists have had success with these anemones in smaller nano aquariums. This brings a whole new set of issues that will affect the health and life span of the said anemone. Some of which may include stress from cramped quarters after it outgrows its aquarium, as well as water conditions that fluctuate to often or widely. Keep in mind that in a smaller aquarium it is increasingly difficult to control the water parameters accurately, primarily due to the inpatients of the owner. Any changes to the water parameters need to be done gradually, otherwise it will be stressful for the anemone sometimes leading to death.

Purple frog from India

he purple frog is the sole representative of an ancient lineage of frogs that has been evolving independently for over 130 million years. Its closest relatives are the Seychelles frogs, the ancestors of which were present on the Indo-Madagascan land mass with the purple frog’s predecessors when it broke away from the supercontinent of Gondwana 120 million years ago. Formally discovered in 2003, the purple frog spends most of the year underground, surfacing only to breed during the monsoon. It was the first new family of frogs to be discovered since 1926. This species is threatened by ongoing forest loss for coffee, cardamom and ginger plantations.

Micrathena gracilis

She’s got venom! She wears black, and she’s spiky like a demon! She’s a maiden of death, leaving behind her vicious fangs a string of hideous, staring corpses. Yeah! She delivers APOCALYPSE!

 . . . Well, if you’re a leafhopper, that is.

This little predator is often called the “spined micrathena,” but then again all three of our micrathenas are spiny, so you might as well learn its proper name: Micrathena gracilis (my-cruh-THEE-nah grah-SILL-us). By the way, I’m not being reverse-sexist by calling her a “her.” In almost all cases, when you see a spider living in a web, it’s a female. As a general rule, spider males are quite small, rarely spin webs, and have a single goal in life. And they don’t tend to live very long :/

Micrathenas are notorious for being one of the spiders that commonly builds webs across hiking trails. Micrathenas create beautiful and delicate orbs. There’s nothing clumsy about their webs. They’re shimmery and full of parallel lines so closely spaced that a mosquito cannot sneak through, and the spiders (which prefer to rest belly-up) move about their homes with grace, walking forward with their front three pairs of legs and using the back pair as a smooth-sliding hanger for the giant hind end. Usually, when seriously harassed, micrathenas plummet straight to the ground for safety.

Hey everybody i hope that you all had a great halloween! sorry i didnt post yesterday! hope u like the new topics im putting up
have a happy november 1st!
<3 Jasmine

Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders live all around us. In fact, there are more than 4000 different species of jumpers.

The jumping spider can jump 20 to 60 or even 75-80 times the length of their body. If you were just five feet (1.5 m) tall and could jump like that, you could leap over the Buddha statue in Japan which is 328 ft (110 m) tall (one of the world’s tallest statues).

When a jumping spider is moving from place to place, and especially just before it jumps, it tethers a filament of silk to whatever it is standing on. Should it fall for one reason or another, it climbs back up the silk tether.

All  jumpers have eight eyes, and two of the eyes seem enormous for such a little body. Jumpers have a superb vision which is better than any other kind of spider. With his eight eyes a jumper can see in almost every direction at once. When it is darkest, you are looking into its retina and the spider is looking straight at you.

Jumping spiders are also very famous for their curiosity because jumpers in contrast to other  arachnids are seemingly interested in whatever approaches them. If approached by a human hand, instead of running away to safe place as most spiders do, jumpers will usually leap and turn to face the hand. Further approach may result in the spider jumping backwards while still eyeing the hand. The curious little creature will even raise its forelimbs and “hold its ground”.

Their big eyes are so sharp, they can see things clearly from as far away as 20 times the length of the spider’s body. No wonder, scientists who study jumping spiders say they’re some of nature’s best stalkers – as good as lions and tigers. They usually see their prey before their prey sees them!