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I have been interested in wildlife for as long as I can remember, I have kept tropical fish and all kinds of exotic animals over the years, and I have always felt that one of the best things about keeping these animals is the opportunity to sit and observe them interacting and exhibiting natural behaviours.

Because of this I have tried to create as natural and realist habitats for my animals as possible.

Over the years I have worked for English Nature as a Aquatic Entomologist, as an independent ecological consultant, I have given lectures for the Cambridge Natural History Society, carried out studies on the biogeography of Osteoglossidae (Arowana Fish), the ecology and natural history of Land Crabs, the Biogeography of Hylidae (Tree Frogs) and the natural history of Mantidae (Praying Mantis) along with many others.

I have given biology lessons for schools on fish and invertebrates, studied reptiles and amphibians in the Botwsanan bush Africa, worked in a Butterfly farm, led biology field trips and expeditions as well as designing and installing home and business computer systems and networks. Through all of this I have always enjoyed creating aquarium and vivarium habitats and often combine the two. Because of this enjoyment and passion I decided to create this podcast and blog to help spread this knowledge for all to share.

Aquariums/ 1 pages

Photos of setting up various aquariums and some finished aquariums including Freshwater and Brackish Aquariums featured in the bombina podcasts

Aquariums

Contact_files/ 2 pages

I always enjoy your feedback, so please do not hesitate to join in.

Forum http://bombina.ning.com

Email: neil@bombina.co.uk

Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44260404747

Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/bombinapodcast

or Reply using comments on the Blog

I also regularly contribute on Reptile Forum UK, Aquarium Forum and Vivarium Forum

(See Links Page)

Thanks Neil

Fish_Shops_files/ 1 pages

Details of local shops to me in the UK that I have visited and recommend, with short reviews and contact details

Home/ 2 pages

Bombina Podcasts and Blog How to create and maintain naturalistic and interesting enclosures for tropical fish, exotic reptiles, amphibians, insects and invertebrates

Blog Archive

Have you ever wanted to keep tropical animals but don’t know where to start?

Or perhaps you have fish but want your tank to look that bit more original and natural. Do you keep exotic amphibians and want to know how to feed them? or perhaps you want to breed Praying Mantids, and just don’t know where to begin. Well I want to help!

I have been keeping Tropical fish, Amphibians, Insects, Reptiles and Invertebrates for over 15 years and I want to share my knowledge and experiences with you so that you can get the most out of this rewarding and interesting hobby

I will aim to concentrate on inexpensive and minimal maintenance systems as I believe that ultimately these are the systems that survive and you will enjoy.

I am producing a video podcast with step by step aquarium and vivarium creation as well as how to’s for things like waterfalls. In conjunction with the podcast, I will be running a blog, talking about various aspects of aquarium and vivarium husbandry along with interesting observations and comments for you to enjoy.

Archive_files/ 2 pages

All blog posts about keeping exotic pets, such as fish, invertebrates and amphibians

Podcast/ 2 pages

Aquarium and Vivarium Creation and Maintenance Video Podcast

Podcast Archive

Video Podcasts all about keeping exotic pets and creating natural set ups, covering topics such as plants, substrates and filters. Current episodes are creating a freshwater tropical planted aquarium for shrimps, snails and other invertebrates

Poll_Results_files/ 2 pages

Current and Past polls asking How Much Research Do You Carry Out Before You Buy A New Animal?

How Helpful Should a Shop Assistant Be?

Should Species Be combined in Vivariums?

Recommended_Links_files/ 3 pages

Recommended Sites and stories of interest to exotic pet owners

Setup_Photo_Galleries/ 1 pages

Photo Galleries

Pages/ 1 pages

Fish, Reptile, Amphibian, Invertebrate Gallery

Show_Notes_files/ 2 pages

Freshwater invertebrate aquarium

The requirements for the Freshwater Invertebrate tank are surprisingly simple and inexpensive.

The Aquarium is 800mm Wide x 300mm Deep x 450mm Tall

which provides a volume of 108l or 28 US gallons

The Tank is uses one Arcadia Plant growth 30 inch 25w tube as lighting, but it is also lit with sunlight for 5 hours a day.

Water flow and air are supplied using a Superfish Airflow pump and uses 3m of hose attached to two airstones. I have not used non return valves in the hose but it is recommended.

The tank is heated with one 300w combined heater and thermostat set at 26℃ but regularly rises to 28-29℃ if the sun is strong, but be very careful when allowing sunlight to reach a tank, try to ensure that only one half is in the sun at any one time of that the sun is diffused with blinds or shading. The heater is protected using the plastic guard that came with it, this means I can lay the heater on the sand at the back of the tank without damaging it.

The substrate is silver sand I have used 35kg in this tank at a cost of £8, I washed the sand before adding it to the tank and then allowed it to dry for a few days before using it in the tank so that it was firm but not wet, making it much easier to work with.

The caves are made using slate roofing tiles as they are thin and easy to work with. They can be sharp when broken, so always be careful and make sure that you rub all edges against a hard rock before adding to the tank to avoid any injuries to yourself or your animals.

Planting and Stocking

The plants in the collection are as follows:

Back Ground

5 x Elodea Densa, 1 x Aponogetum Crispus, 5 x Twisted Vallisneria, 5 x Hygrophylia Polysperma, 5 x Hydrilla Verticiliata, 5 x Ludwigian Natans, 5 x Rotalla Macrandra, 5 x Cabomba Caroliana, 5 x Ludwigia Mullerii, 5 x Straight Vallisneria, 5 x Rotalla Indica

Mid and Foreground

10 x mini Amazon Sword, 10 x Mayaca Fluritalis, 5 x Echinodorus Latifolious, 5 x Cryptocoryne Wendtii, 10 x Sagittaria Natans, 5 x Bacopa Monnerii , 5 Eleocharis Parvulus (Dwarf Hairgrass)

Stocking

The Aquarium has Invertebrates and small fish, although some of the fish will be moved to a different tank soon.

The invertebrates in the tank are

7 Bee Shrimp Caridina sp (Shop Bred from bee shrimp but show little colouration)

5 Amano Shrimp Caridina japonica

2 Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina Heteropoda

1 African Filter Shrimp Atyopsis gabonensis

Lots of Malaysian Sand Snails Melanoides tuberculata and an unidentifed species of sand snail

2 Horned Nerite Snails Clithon corona

The Fish in the Tank are

2 Tiger Gobies Species unknown see the gallery for pictures

2 Mekong Sole Brachirus elongatus (possibly) see the gallery for pictures

4 Freshwater Pipefish Microphis deocata or brachyurus (Again Possibly) see the gallery for pictures

2/25 Endlers Livebearers Poecilia wingei (Poeser, Kempkes & Isbrücker, 2005)

Services/ 9 pages

Welcome to Bombina Services

Ecological Services

Garden Design and Landscaping

Technology Services

Home Computing Solutions

Reptile Rescue and Rehoming

Contact Details

Business_Solutions_files/ 1 pages

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Contact_Us_files/ 1 pages

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Garden_Design_and_Landscaping_files/ 1 pages

Home_User_files/ 1 pages

Main_files/ 2 pages

Reptile_Rescue_files/ 1 pages

Pet Terrapins are being released in to our ponds and streams with increasing frequency.

These engaging little reptiles will survive in Southern England quite happily, unfortunately our ecosystems have not evolved to deal with these active and intelligent predators, therefore the terrapins eat and damage our native aquatic wildlife and must be removed. Using our specialist lightweight equipment we locate and capture these wonderful creatures before they cause to much harm and relocate them to new owners with the suitable conditions and expertise to look after them. So if you see a terrapin, want to find a new home for your beloved pet, for whatever reason or just want rid of a troublesome exotic pet.

Maybe you have seen a strange creature hiding in your garden or house then please contact us and we will be there to help as soon as possible.

Technology_Services_files/ 1 pages

Wildlife_Consulting_files/ 1 pages

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