my science project

Question
wow thank you so much!!!
i probably should have warned you about this whole experiment thing, but
thanks for helping me out!

just a couple more thingss...

1) what kind of degrees would allow you to be an expert in a field like this?

2) what kind of education did you have, what was your major and where did
you go to school?

3) what type of frogs/fish/aquatic animals do you personally own that have
given you your gained experience?

once again..A BIG THANKS!
please reply soon...as always.
my write up is due thursday!
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-----Question-----
so nowww, for my project my teacher wants an expert biographyy.
she wants me to ask questions such as :

1) did you take educational classes for this science field, or is it more of a
hobby of yours?

2)do you work in this field? if not what job-like situations or hobbies have
given you the experience related to this field?

3) what do you like/dislike about this type of work/hobby?

4) for this job/hobby what types of things must you do on a daily basis? what
are your responsibilities?

5) what skills are used in this job/hobby?

6) what technology, furniture, tools, and labspace is needed for working in
this science field?

7) what types of jobs might be available to experts in this feild of science?

please answer these, i need to turn in a written report about them!

THANKS again! :]
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-----Question-----
hello!
for my science class we all have to do a science project of our own. mine is :
what is the effect of food type on african dwarf frog activity level?
i have 3 different types of food and 3 different frogs.

do you have any ideas on how i could improve the experiment?
or any common knowledge on aquatic frogs?
-----Answer-----
Hi Meighan!
Wow, that sounds like a neat experiment!!  I think the only thing I ever did
was grow crystals :)  Your's sounds like a lot more fun!!  

I don't have a lot of knowledge on the frogs, just real basic stuff.  I do have
one though.  I can tell you what I know/learned.  

A true African dwarf frog will have all 4 feet webbed, if they're not all webbed,
then you have an African clawed frog.  They get quite large, and will eat
smaller fish.  Also, anything sold as an albino ADF is not an ADF, it's an
African clawed frog.  You can also tell by their eyes and where they sit on
their head, to distinguish between the 2 species.  

I feed mine a variety of frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, fish flake
food, flake spirulina, and sometimes those little frog pellets.  But he seems to
have a hard time eating those.  They don't see very well, I believe they use
their smell & touch senses to find food.  So, it's not good to have them with a
lot of fish, or more "aggressive" eater fish because they may not find/get
enough food to eat.  I always try to put the food right in front of him to eat.  
That's about all I know on them.  Here's a link for you to read over.  It looks
really good-browse through the links on the left, and has some great ideas
especially about the feeding, that I'll be doing now!

http://aquaticfrogs.tripod.com/id8.html

As far as improving the experiment, I really can't think of anything.  Just from
the "scientific stand point", you're going to have them each separated in their
own tank I'm guessin
g?  That way one won't eat the other's food & corrupt the
experiment.  Also be careful, they will jump out of tanks if the opportunity is
there!  If I do think of something in the meantime, I will post back to you.  

Sorry I can't help you any more then that, but sounds great and a lot of fun!  
Good luck with it, and come back and let me know what you find out.  Should
be real interesting!!

Christy

-----Answer-----
Hi Meighan
Oh no, I've become part of the experiment :)  
Now, I'm more of a fish hobbyist, not frogs or amphibians. So, it's really
geared more towards that, I think I mentioned I do have one of the African
dwarf frogs though, and have had a few in the past, for the most part it's the
same care and requirements as fish, so hopefully it'll still count.  But here
goes...

1.  Haven't taken any classes, everything I've learned is self taught through
mistakes, experiences, and good old trial and errors, and reading online and
a few books/magazines.

2.  I don't work in this hobby/field.  I used to be a police officer, and the only
thing I could probably relate from that job for this hobby would be the
patience and determination I learned, and to not give up when I had major
disasters with my fish tanks, like when I first started out and had a lot of fish
die, and leaking tanks :)

3.  For me, keeping fish tanks is very relaxing and rewarding.  I love just to sit
and watch them swimming around.  They're so beautiful and graceful.  And
they're a lot quieter then my parrot and dogs :)  The frog's a riot to watch as
well, when he's eating, trying to find the food, or swimming to the top for air.  
I just love the way they shoot up to the top, and the way they swim or just
hang out at the bottom.
 
Dislikes about the hobby, once you know what you're doing it's not a lot of
work to maintain and care for them, but it is still time consuming.  I have 7
tanks, and it takes me a good 2 hours to clean them and refill the water,
scrub some algae on a few tanks.  It also can be kind of expensive, you need
dechlorinators for the tap water, any medicines, food, on top of the initial
costs of buying an aquarium and filters, and other accessories needed.  It
adds up pretty quick!  But to me it's worth it!!

4.  The only thing I do on a daily basis is feed them.  And I do skip a day or
two during the week.  My tanks are all well established, and I do weekly water
changes, so my water parameters stay in check well.  For a newer set up tank,
you'll want to watch those parameters closely(ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) to
make sure they're in check to avoid problems that can arise real quick.

5.  Really no skills are needed.  You're best bet is to do a lot of research
before starting to make sure you'll be able to understand the responsibilites
that are needed with it, and to make sure you can provide the proper care
and housing.  It's really just like any other pet, you're always best off knowing
before hand what's involved.  Education is the best skill I'd have to say.

6.  This is a tough one for me to answer, but I would say definitely an
aquarium type of set up with a filtration system (either mechanical, chemical,
or biological or all) or pond, a water source, any chemicals needed for
dechlorination of the water,  a stand for the aquarium something sturdy to
hold it, something to clean the tank like a syphon or gravel vacuum.  

7.  Types of jobs can vary greatly.  An ichthyologist one who studies fish, a
herpetologist one who studies amphibians and reptiles, a marine biologist, a
veterinarian(kind of a stretch with fish and frogs, but still an option), working
for your local/state wildlife commission as a law enforcement officer(we used
to call them the "Grouper Troopers" back home :), park ranger, working at a
local aquarium/zoo/aquatic lab(Mote Marine Lab in Florida is one I know off
hand), working at/owning a fish/amphibian/pet store, cleaning aquariums for
a living, I'm sure there's more, that's all I can think of off hand that could be
related to that.

Hope that helps, and again let me know how you do!!
Thanks for the confidence in me :)  And good luck!!

Christy

Answer
Hi Meighan
No problem, I don't mind!

1.  Type of degree would depend on what job/field you go into.  You can do a search on those listed on the first response for #7-the jobs I listed, they should have the degree requirements.

2.  I don't have a degree, I have some college, completely unrelated to this field.  I'm just self taught in this.

3.  Frogs I've had a few, 1 currently of the African Dwarf Frogs, the frog that hangs out in my pond in the summer, and a few golden and black mystery snails.  As far as fish, I currently have goldfish, several different South American cichlids, 1 African cichlid(left over from my old African tank), tetras, livebearers, currently brackish puffer, loaches, catfish & plecos, labyrinth(gourami & a few female bettas), a red tailed shark, and I think that's it.  I've in the past also had fresh water puffers(dwarfs), & various African cichlids.

Hope that helps, and again good luck!!

Christy