Gladys Is A Mom See Photos Of New Baby After Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Gives Birth

Gladys, a 12-year-old gorilla at Cincinnati Zoo, gave birth to a male baby gorilla at 8:32 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Mom and baby are doing well, according to the zoo. This is Gladys’ first baby and the 51st gorilla born at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

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Pufferfish Poisoning

The poison found in pufferfish, blowfish, balloon fish, toads, sunfish, fish, toadfish, globefish, and swellfish is a tetrodotoxin.

This is one of the most toxic poisons found in nature.

Most people who eat pufferfish do so intentionally as pufferfish are considered an Asian delicacy, served in some types of sushi and sashimi.

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10 of the World’s Most Dangerous Fish

Many people around the world depend on fishes or products made from fishes for their food and economic livelihood. More than 30,000 different species ply Earth’s oceans and bodies of fresh water. The beauty of many fish species is highlighted in fish stores, aquariums, and in home collections. Some species, however, have darker, more terrifying aspects. A select few of these may attack human beings, while others might deliver a dose of poison when handled carelessly or not properly prepared for consumption. Some species are maligned due to their shocking appearance or by their ferocious reputation in folklore and myth; however, one species, though cute and tiny, threatens bathers in a very, shall we say, personal way.

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The Blanket Octopus Looks Like a Rainbow Ghost Alien

Honestly, how are any of us supposed to get anything done when there are animals like this cruising above in the ocean like it’s no big deal?

WE’VE GOT technicolour ghosts down there doing… whatever technicolour ghosts do, and we’re just out here living our lives. Blast that thing into space so it can finally be with its people.

Okay, fine, it can stay, but let’s take a moment to truly appreciate how bonkers this creature is.

Meet the blanket octopus (Tremoctopus violaceus), a bizarre, impressive, gorgeous feat of evolution that might actually be even weirder than it looks.

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Care Guide for Discus Fish – The King of the Aquarium

Discus fish are one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in the hobby, known for their spectacular colors and large, circular shape. However, they’re notorious for being extremely difficult to keep, with Internet forums often recommending strict practices like 100% water changes every day. In reality, only a small percentage of people are able to follow those rules, and the rest of the world uses more low maintenance methods. We’ve spent many years keeping discus personally at home, caring for them in our fish store, and helping customers be successful with them. Based on our experiences, this care guide offers practical advice and useful tips for beginners starting their first discus tank.

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10 Of The Most Popular Pets In The US That Aren't Cats Or Dogs

It makes sense to assume that dogs and cats are the most common pets in the United States; after all, they make up a significant number of our favorite animal accounts on Instagram, attracting thousands of followers each day and taking over social media feeds.

While it would seem that something equally as soft and cuddly would come in as third runner-up, the next most popular pet in the US isn’t quite what you’d expect. Below are the most popular pets in America besides cats and dogs.

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Top 5 Benefits You'll Get From Owning Pet Koi

The Good and Bad of Keeping Koi

Any type of pet comes with their own challenges and setbacks, and koi fish are no different. They're subject to disease, emergencies and sometimes sadly turn out to be a bad fit for their owner. For the sake of those who have the time, finances and space to keep these great creatures, let's embrace the positive gems that koi have to offer.

1. The Best Parts of This Hobby

2. The Koi Pond Provides Moments of Peace

3. The Hobby Has a Great Social Factor

4. Keeping Koi Offers a Good Challenge

5. Koi Are a Reactive Pet

6. You Can Trade and Sell the Fry

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WHEN AND WHY TO STOP FEEDING YOUR KOI FISH IN WINTER

We’re moving into the winter season, and temperatures are dropping. You might be thinking about your koi pond and how your koi will fare during the winter months.

Your fish will be just fine, but colder weather does mean you need to adjust your feeding schedule.

Here’s how your koi feeding schedule will change as the temperature falls – even to the point where you stop feeding them until the spring.

HOW WEATHER AFFECTS FEEDING SCHEDULE

As the air temperature falls, your koi pond water temperature will drop. There’s a direct relationship between water temperature and koi feeding because your koi’s digestive system slows down as the temperature does (with one exception).

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How To Raise Koi Fish In A Pond?

Koi fish are renowned as an easy-to-raised specie and if raising them successfully, you might earn a fortune from them.

However, there are still some certain requirements that you should keep in mind before bringing them home, such as pond sizes, expenses, living environments, and how to feed them. Rest assured, all will be told in this article.

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Is a Fish the Right Pet for You? 7 Reasons Why It Might Not Be

Are you considering buying a pet fish?

Excellent choice!

But they certainly are not for everyone.

I have had pet fish for quite some time now…

Over 30 years, in fact. Where does the time go?

During this time I have actively been involved in online fish forums, local meetups and helped many, many beginners overcome problems with their aquarium setup.

You would be amazed at how often I hear this phrase uttered by beginners after receiving advice:

Ugh… If I knew that, I never would have considered fish as a pet!

What are these deal breakers?

That’s exactly what I am going to reveal in this guide.

If at any point while reading this, you think to yourself:

I don’t like the sound of that…

Then I highly recommend considering a different pet for you and your family.

Which brings me to my first point…

To read more on this story, click here: Is a Fish the Right Pet for You? 7 Reasons Why It Might Not Be

'Massive' Goldfish Weighing 9 Pounds Found in South Carolina Lake

A goldfish weighing nine pounds came under the spotlight Monday after being discovered during a fish population survey at a lake in South Carolina, park officials said.

Ty Houck, an official with Greenville County Parks, said the “massive” fish was found swimming on Nov. 16 in a 12-acre body of water in Oak Grove Lake Park in the county of Greenville.

Greenville Rec, which oversees the park where the fish was discovered, posted a photo of the golden spectacle on Facebook on Monday.

To read more on this story, click here: 'Massive' Goldfish Weighing 9 Pounds Found in South Carolina Lake 

Common Freshwater Tropical Fish Diseases

Learn about common fish illnesses and how to effectively treat them.

Looking into your aquarium and seeing one of your fish ill for the first time can be alarming for many hobbyists. Unlike cats and dogs, you can’t just hop in the car and take them to the vet. Moreover, because of the delicate nature of tropical fish, if not treated quickly, the illness may not only kill the infected fish, it could spread to the rest of the tank potentially harming your entire population.

So the obvious question for fish owners when their fish is infected is, “What illness does my fish have and how can I treat it?” The good news is that many of the most common aquarium fish diseases are treatable and if done properly, your fish has a good chance of survival. Moreover, many of the treatments are relatively simple to perform (and a lot cheaper than taking a cat or a dog to the vet).

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Save Teaism’s Koi!! – Please Share!

Longtime readers of the site know my affinity for fish so this one hits home – thanks to Patricia for passing on from Penn Quarter Teaism:


“Well friends… wanted to do a live video but wasn’t sure how to do it on Facebook and Instagram at the same time. If you’re stuck at home with kids who normally like to come watch the fish, you can entertain them with this.

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Scuba Diver’s Strange Encounter With Seal Pup Goes Viral

This Encounter Captured Millions Of Hearts
When a videographer unexpectedly encountered a group of seal pups while scuba diving in the sea, their behavior completely took him by surprise. 55-year-old Gary Grayson loves nothing more than taking a walk (or a swim) on the wild side. However, when he ended up bumping into a seal just off the south coast of England, nothing could prepare him for the response he would receive after posting a video of the strange encounter online…

To read more on this story, click here: Scuba Diver’s Strange Encounter With Seal Pup Goes Viral

Meet Unama'ki, the 2,000-Pound Great White Shark Who Reached the Keys

A massive great white shark that weighs over 2,000 pounds made its way from Nova Scotia, where it was tagged, down to the Florida Keys in just over a month.

According to OCEARCH, a nonprofit research organization that tags sharks to keep track of their movement and activity, the 15-foot-5-inch adult female "pinged" just off the coast of Key West on Saturday morning.

She's been named Unama'ki, a term meaning "land of the fog" in the language of the indigenous Mi'kmaq people of Nova Scotia.

OCEARCH stated on its website that it hopes Unama'ki will lead them to the site where she gives birth, exposing a new white shark nursery.

To read more on this story, click here: Meet Unama'ki, the 2,000-Pound Great White Shark Who Reached the Keys

Is Your Pet Left Handed or Right Handed

Cats, dogs, parrots and even fish are right or left-handed, scientists have revealed.

The discovery was made by psychologists from Queen's University Belfast, who as part of their research played with 42 pet cats for weeks on end.

Dogs are the same - until they are spayed or neutered, when the difference disappears, suggesting hormones play a role in left or right-handedness. They found that females are 'right-handed' while toms favor the left.

Paw preference: Female dogs favor their right front paw and males choose their left, according to the study.

The scientists also reported that parrots will pick up objects with their 'dominant' foot, toads are mostly right-handed and fish will have a preference to left or right when they dodge a predator - and even humpback whales prefer the right side of their jaws when feeding.

Dogs wag their tails to the right when relaxed and to the left when agitated, this week's New Scientist reports.

The experts said: 'Male and female cats differ in their behavioral patterns, for example hunting styles and parental care, and it is possible that these place different demands on motor functioning.'

Female felines use their right paw while toms tend to use their left

Dr Culum Brown, a behavioral ecologist, said they also tested the theory with parrots: "Anything they are interested in they will pick up with their dominant foot".
Curiously, those parrots that favor their left or right rather than liking both equally, have been shown to be brainier.

With goldfish, the way they dodge predators is likely to allow them to use a specific eye and side of the brain to deal with the threat.

To test it out, place an unfamiliar object in the center of your fish tank and watch which way your pet swims round it.

Toads, however, prefer their right, and pounce more quickly on morsels of food that enter their line of vision from their right.

Humpback whales prefer to use the right side of their jaws to scrape up sand eels from the ocean floor.

While there are advantages in following the crowd, it can also be good to be different. For instance, those humans or animals that are left-handed, or pawed, in a right-handed world, have the surprise on their side when they launch an attack.

Goldfish Survive 4 Months After New Zealand Earthquake

Two goldfish were found alive in their tank in a building that was badly damaged by the earthquake that struck New Zealand.

The two goldfish, named Shaggy and Daphne, have become the smallest survivors of the earthquake in February.  The earthquake killed 181 people in Christchurch.

There were originally six goldfish in the tank when the quake struck. When the survivors were found, there was no trace of three others. A fourth was found dead. There is the question of their missing companions. Goldfish are omnivores.

The fish spent four and a half months, trapped in their tank in a downtown area of the city, that was off-limits. There was no food, or electricity to power their tank filter. They were discovered by workers, and rescued.

The fish survived from eating algae growing on the tank’s rocks and walls. Fish can go without food for a while because they are cold blooded, and unlike mammals don't burn up food to keep warm.

How to Care for Oranda Goldfish

If you are both aquarium enthusiasts, you may want to consider oranda goldfish as your first pets together. These beautiful fish develop large hoods called wens on their heads and are as friendly as they are attractive. Understanding proper care for these delicate fish is vital for their longevity.

Educate yourself on the specific needs of oranda goldfish. Common goldfish such as the shubunken have flat, long bodies; but orandas have large, round bodies that make them slow swimmers -- they do not compete well for food with more active species. Their hooded heads are also prone to disease from bacteria and unclean water, so they are not tolerant to polluted water. In addition, unlike other types of goldfish, orandas must have stable water temperatures: not too cold, because they do not thrive if the temperatures in their tanks dips too low.

Choose a tank suitable for your fancy goldfish. Orandas do best in tanks that provide plenty of room to swim. In addition, these hardy fish may reach sizes of 10 to 12 inches (25cm to 30cm) in length, making a spacious home necessary. A long or rectangular tank with capacity of at least 20 to 30 gallons (76l to 114l) will give your pets the space they need to thrive.

Set up your fancy aquatic pets' tank with a filter and heater. Because orandas do not do well in dirty water, a filtration system will help keep their watery environment fresh and clean. An aquarium heater is a must for these fancy fish that are prone to temperature shock if their water temperatures dip too low.

To read more on this story, click here: How to Care for Oranda Goldfish

How To Keep Your Tank Safe During A Power Outage

A power outage may only be a minor inconvenience for you but, for your aquarium fish, it can be deadly.

A power outage is a minor convenience for most people – it simply means that you have to take a break from television, computer, and charging your cell phone. As long as the outage doesn’t last too long there will likely be no damage done. When it comes to your aquarium, however, a power outage can be a major problem. In order to maintain the delicate balance in your tank you need to keep your filtration system and heater running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether the outage lasts for a few hours or a few days, there are several things you can do to minimize the damage.

Types of Power Outages

Before getting into the details of how to protect your aquarium during a power outage, it is important that you understand that different types of outages will affect your aquarium in different ways. A localized power outage occurs when the main source of power to the aquarium is disrupted. This could be due to a power strip coming unplugged or a fuse being blown. In some cases the problem is easily remedied – you can just plug the cord back in or flip the switch on the circuit breaker. If the problem is due to an equipment malfunction, like a cracked heater, you may not even realize the problem right away. You may want to consider installing a plug-in alarm that will alert you if the power to your tank is interrupted – this is an especially good investment if you have a very large tank full of expensive fish. It is also a good idea that you use different plugs for different pieces of equipment so they do not all go out at once in the event of a localized power outage.

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Have You Ever Owned a Betta Fish? They Are Truly Beautiful Fish!

Have you ever owned a betta fish? If you have then you know the beauty of this little fish! If you have not…Then you don’t know what you are missing!

Several years ago my husband came home from work and surprised me with a beautiful burgundy fish in a vase with a peace lily flower in it. After staring at it for several seconds, I asked where he had gotten it. He told me that a lady on his job was selling them and that he had previously ordered it for me.  She told him that I should keep it in the vase and that it would eat off of the roots.

I ended up getting my betta fish, who we named, fishy-fish, a one gallon aquarium and fed him flakes. He was so cute. He would come close to the glass when he saw us, and would wave his fins. He lived to be 2 years old.

Facts about betta fish:

• They originate in the shallow waters in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and parts of China.
• The water for keeping healthy bettas should be soft, warm, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
• They thrive on heat, and will become increasingly listless when the water temperature falls below 75 degrees.
• They are one of the most colorful and amusing breed of pet fish to have.
• Betta fish can live for up to 5 years.
• 90% of problems with bettas start from stress
• Poor tank conditions make them sick live foods are best for the betta, however, they will adapt to eating flake foods, frozen and freeze dried foods.
• Their digestive tract is built to digest meat, rather than vegetable material.
• Their upturned mouth is designed to grab insects that have fallen into the water.
• Water movement should be kept to a minimum, which means that power filters and powerheads are not suitable.
• Only one male may be kept in each aquarium, unless they are separated by a barrier, they will fight.
• They may be kept in a community tank as long as the water conditions are met, and there are no aggressive fish.

When it comes to owning a pet, most people prefer to start small. Some like to start with hamsters, fish in aquariums. Some people think that the smaller in the pet, the less work!