Mosquitofish or Gambusia affinis is a tiny silver-colored fish. It is a freshwater species belonging to family Poeciliidae and order Cyprinodontiformes. The name is derived from a Cuban Spanish term gambusino which means useless. Even though its name means useless, this tiny fish has proved its utility. These tiny fish feed on larvae of insects and their primary source of food is mosquito larva. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in ponds which grow into larvae and become a great source of diet for mosquitofish. They also feed on algae, thus helping in maintaining a balance in the pond's ecosystem. In case, natural resource of food is not available, a good quality flaked fish food can be used to feed them.

The plumed basilisk's Genus: Basiliscus was taken from a legendary reptilian creature of European mythology which could turn a man to stone by its gaze: the Basilisk. Furthermore, their name was also derived from the Greek word "basiliskos," meaning "little king," in reference to the animal's crownlike head adornment. Plumed basilisks, along with other basilisks, are able to use their feet and tail to run short distances on top of the water. Their back toes are lined with small, downward facing scales. These scales increase the surface area of the toe against the water, and it is because of these toe scales that they are able to "walk" on water. Among locals, this unique ability of the plumed basilisk has earned the lizard the nickname the "Jesus Christ Lizard".

The dead are believed to persist in the waters of the Black Sea. Remains of ships and humans and other decomposable materials like ropes, wood etc. can still be found at the seabed, hundreds of years after their entry into the waters of the Black Sea. The scientific explanation for it is that due to the anoxic nature of the lower water layers of this sea, the process of decomposition is negligibly slow, hence, the persistence of remains of the dead inside the sea's water.

Shrimps are cannibals. They eat anything and everything they find in the pond. If you find a group of shrimps crowded around a dead fellow mate, chances are they might actually be relishing it! There is no need to be alarmed since feeding on a dead shrimp improves its own exoskeleton. One or two dead shrimps here and there is fine. One should be worried if there is a group shrimps lying around dead.

Skeleton shrimp look like, and are sometimes called, "praying mantises of the sea." They have two pairs of legs attached to the front end of their bodies, with three pairs of legs at the back end. The front legs form powerful "claws" for defense, grooming and capturing food. The rear legs have strong claws that grasp and hold on to algae or other surfaces. They use their antennae for filter feeding and swimming. To move, they grasp first with those front legs and then with their back legs, in inchworm fashion. They swim by rapidly bending and straightening their bodies.

Shrimp do not have the same immune system as vertebrates. This characteristic has a significant impact on shrimp farm management: it prevents these crustaceans from becoming immune to disease through vaccination. Since shrimp lack an adaptive immune system, innate immunity is their essential form of defense. This immunity acts as first-line protection from the disease and mortality threats. As with all livestock species, the best way to reduce these impacts on farmed shrimp is by erecting a number of barriers so as to prevent the development of pathogens. In this respect, physical and sanitary barriers are the most effective means of prevention. (I googled sick shrimp art and found this so I'm using it)

Tadpole shrimp, any member of a small group of crustaceans composed of the genera Triops and Lepidurus. The approximately 10 known species are strictly freshwater forms, inhabiting lakes, ponds, and temporary pools, chiefly in Europe and North America. The common name tadpole shrimp derives from the animal's distinctive body shape—a large, oval shell-like carapace and a slender, flexible abdomen with a long, forked tail. Extending up to 100 mm(4 inches) in length, the body may have as many as 40 segments, some with several pairs of leaflike appendages. Certain species have up to 70 pairs of limbs. Tadpole shrimp typically dwell at the bottom of bodies of water, feeding on organic debris or preying on small aquatic animals and larvae. Their eggs, which are highly resistant to desiccation may survive in the soil for many years after temporary pools have dried up; they hatch when the pools have refilled with water.

The fairy shrimp is one of many species specialized for a short life cycle in seasonal ponds called vernal pools. Each winter, during the rainy season, dry depressions fill up with water and the fairy shrimp hatch. They grow to maturity over several weeks, eating algae and plankton. Before the vernal pool dries up again, the females produce hardy resting eggs, called cysts, which survive the dry season and hatch when the rains come again. This strategy allows them to avoid predators that can't survive in such a temporary habitat. It takes 41 days for a shrimp to reach maturity, after which point it must reproduce before dying at the end of the rainy season. Typically the young hatch in December and live until May, unless temperatures become too warm.

Two shrimp nutritional standouts are selenium and astaxanthin. Three ounces of shrimp provides 48% of recommended selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps neutralize damaging free radicals. This, in turn, reduces risk for cancer and heart disease. Selenium is an essential nutrient for production of glutathione peroxidase, which is another powerful inflammation-reducing antioxidant. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment that gives fish and shrimp a pink color. Also an antioxidant, it contributes to heart health and reduced risk of cancer. (picture unrelated I just think it's cool)

The rock shrimp (Sicyonia brevirostris) is a deep-water cousin of pink, brown, and white shrimps. The similarity among these shrimp stops there, because rock shrimp have a tough, hard exoskeleton or shell that prevented widespread marketing until a machine was invented to split and devein the headed shrimp. Now, rock shrimp are widely available as fresh or frozen,whole, headless, shell-on, peeled, round, split, or deveined products. rock shrimp live, spawn, and are harvested in 120 feet to 240 feet of water. Harvesting is accomplished with reinforced trawl nets throughout the year. Properly handled rock shrimp will have transparent or clear white flesh with no discoloration. The odor of fresh rock shrimp will be mild and ocean-like. Rock shrimp are sold by "count" (number of shrimp per pound) and the largest size generally available is 21-25 per pound.