Housing and Caring for Salamanders Salamanders can be found in damp, wooded areas under rotting logs, rocks, and matted leaves. After a rain, they can be seen on rocks and logs. Pick them up by hand or scoop them from ponds with a net. Place them in a wide-mouthed jar fi lled with damp leaves.

CAUTION: Some salamanders have poison glands on their skins. Wash hands after handling.

Place salamanders in a woodland terrarium that has small ferns, moss, and woodland plants. Add rocks for cover and climbing and a container of water at soil level. A weighted wire screen over the top is necessary to keep the salamanders in the terrarium. Salamanders will eat small aquatic life, small insects, earthworms, and mealworms. If some do not eat, return them to where they were found.

Housing and Caring for Frogs and ToadsFrogs and toads can be caught by hand or with a net at night near plants in shallow, calm waters. They can be located by listening for their calls. If they are in the water, scoop them from underneath with a wide-mouthed net. Both animals can be kept tempo-

Copyright © 2015. Tommy’s Turtle: I Wonder Why. Published by NSTA Press.

rarily in a wet burlap sack for transport. Keep toads in a woodland terrarium. Frogs are

best kept in an aquarium that has places for them to climb on dry land. Both will eat live worms, roaches, caterpillars, insects, and small aquatic life. Observ-ers should watch a frog as it eats (its eyes retract and bulge because the food is forced down the throat by an inward movement of the roof of its mouth).

Housing and Caring for SnakesSnakes can be found in fi elds and woods and near creeks. Nonvenomous snakes are easily caught by hand. Those easiest to handle are garter, ring-necked, and hognose.

CAUTION: Some snakes are venomous, so be sure

they are properly identifi ed before handling. You can also purchase nonvenom-ous snakes at a pet store.

A snake can be gently but fi rmly held just behind the head with one hand while the rest of its body is supported with the other hand. Snakes can be trans-ported to the terrarium in old pillowcases with the tops tied securely.

Nonvenomous snakes can be housed in a large woodland terrarium covered with weighted wire mesh that folds over the sides. Put a 2-in.

Terrarium

(5-cm.) layer of sand or gravel at the bottom, and embed a pan of water in the sand. Add some rocks and a sturdy branch on which the snake can climb. Place the container where the snake can receive sun-shine, but do not let it get too hot. Snakes will not feed regularly, and some will not eat at all in captiv-ity. If a snake does not eat for several weeks, release it in the area where it was found. Most snakes will eat live insects, worms, grubs, or frogs. Be sure to clean the container frequently.

Setting Up a Cool Freshwater AquariumIn the story, Tommy set up a cool freshwater aquar-ium (not a tropical or saltwater aquarium) in which his turtle could live. An aquarium is a simulated environment designed for observing and caring for marine plants and animals. When properly set up, freshwater aquariums need little attention.

Containers Commercially prepared tanks, preferably with slate or glass bottoms, are most satis-factory; however, almost any large, sturdy glass container will work. Small-mouthed containers are not good, for they do not provide enough oxygen for most marine life. It should be kept in mind that a commercial aquarium is fragile and tends to leak once it has been bumped, moved, or allowed to remain empty for a long time. Also, the tank should never be lifted when it is fi lled with water and sand, and an empty tank should not be lifted by the top frame. Although cool freshwater aquariums might be covered or not covered, tanks used for tropical fi sh should include a cover that is slightly raised to allow air to circulate over the water. A cover will help keep the temperature constant and retain moisture. Be sure to spread several layers of waxed paper under the tank to protect the surface where it rests.

Sand If sand is placed in the aquarium fi rst, water clouding can usually be avoided. The sand should be coarse and washed before being put into the container. To wash the sand, simply place it in a clean container, fi ll the container with water, stir, and pour out the dirty water, holding the sand in the container with your hand. It might be necessary to repeat this process several times. The layer of sand used in the aquarium might vary in depth, but 1 in. (3 cm) is suffi cient. If it is piled higher toward one end, refuse will settle toward the other end, making it easier to remove. Ornaments and sea shells should be avoided because they provide crevices in which refuse will collect and foul the water.

Water If you do not use the water from where the marine animal was found, ordinary tap water is fi ne. Remember, however, that tap water contains

chemicals such as chlorine that will kill fi sh as well as any germs it was meant to destroy. To make tap water usable, let it stand (not in the tank to be used) for several days to allow the chlorine to evaporate. To avoid disturbing the sand or gravel base (which might create a clouding that will

take several days to clear), place a saucer or large piece of paper over the sand and pour the water directly over it. Fill the tank to half its capacity and then add plants. Anchor the plants securely, fi nish fi lling the tank, and remove the paper. Allow the water to stand for several hours to adjust to room temperature. The water temperature should be kept fairly constant and should be the same as the habitat that the aquarium represents. When the climate is extremely warm, an aerator will help cool the water. If the climate is too cold, various heating devices can be obtained from a pet store. The water temperature for most freshwater marine animals is best between 65°F and 70°F (19°C and 21°C).

Aquarium

Animals It is best to allow aquarium water to sit for several days before introducing any animal life. When you place fish in the aquarium, float them in their con-tainer or plastic bag in the aquarium for about an hour. The temperature of the aquarium and the water in the container will gradually match, and the fish can be placed into the aquarium without shock. This precaution is necessary for the health and survival of the fish. Know your animals and plan for their proper food in advance. Foods will vary depending on the type of fish. Local pet stores carry products for all types. The more varieties of animals in the same tank, the more interesting and varied your observa-tions will be.

A cool freshwater aquarium can be stocked with goldfish, minnows, dace, and sunfish. If you want a tropical or saltwater aquarium, check with a pet store for the best way to prepare the aquarium and the kinds of marine life appropriate for those environments.

To create balance in a freshwater aquarium, add scavengers such as snails and catfish. These house-keepers are active at night and clean up any refuse they find on the bottom, thus helping to keep the water from becoming foul. The snails will also eat algae off the glass. One medium-sized snail for every gallon (4 L) of water is sufficient.

PlantsPlants can transform a plain-looking aquarium into an attractive one. They are also beneficial to the environment in practical ways, such as producing oxygen and consuming carbon dioxide. They use refuse as fertilizer, produce shade, and provide hid-ing places and egg-laying spots for the fish. There are many varieties of plants that might be chosen. Cool freshwater aquariums might include Sagit-taria, Ludwigia, water poppy, and Nitella.

EquipmentA great deal of equipment can be obtained to improve the efficiency of an aquarium: filters, bub-blers, aerators, controlled feeders, and so forth. Most are unnecessary, but a few slightly improve the operation of the aquarium. A dip tube is essential for

removing sediments that collect in the tank. Decay-ing matter, which soon fouls the water, should never remain in the container. Mechanical filtering of the water through glass wool and bone charcoal makes cleaning the tank a rare necessity. These filters are usually attached to the back of the tank. Aerators have several advantages. They cause bubbles to rise through the water. The bursting bubbles break the surface tension, increase the air-to-water surface, and maintain more uniform chemical conditions.

CAUTION: Be sure any electrical cords are plugged into a protected wall receptacle to prevent shock.

Problems All plants need light to manufacture their own food. Too much light, however, will cause green algae to form on the sides of the tank, and if the water is not fresh, too little light will cause brown algae to form. The algae will not hurt the fish, but algae are often unsightly. The condition usually clears by changing the amount of light on the tank. If the edge of the water becomes surrounded by bubbles or the fish swim at the surface, sticking their mouths out into the air, something is wrong. Usually the trouble is pollution or a lack of oxygen in the water. Check for dead snails, dead fish, or uneaten food.

CAUTION: Everyone working with the aquarium should wash their hands with soap and water after handling any of the animals or the aquarium.

After an aquarium is established, you might want to keep descriptive notes and draw pictures of the characteristics of the animals: their shapes, how they move, how they relate to one another (e.g., It might be observed that one or two animals dominate or become the “bosses” for other animals). Observ-ers might also test the effect of changes in light or temperature on the environment. What happens if a new animal is introduced into the tank? How do the others act toward it? And is it possible to train fish to respond at feeding time to a light tap, whistle, or other signal?