List of articles:

1. Baby seahorses born in Aquarium (TVN24)

2. Seahorses and tiger pythons born i Aquarium (Dziennik Polski)

3. Rare Crested Geckos born in Aquarium (Gazeta Krakowska)

4. Monsters of the deep in Aquarium (Gazeta Krakowska)

5. Albino Burmese Pythons hathing soon! (Gazeta Krakowska)

6. Amazon in the hearth of Cracow (Gazeta Krakowska)

Baby seahorses born in Aquarium.
(TVN24.pl, 13.07.2009r., Text: nsz.//mat.)

Amazing birth in Aquarium in Krakow. Baby seahorses were born. It’s very unique event because of the fact, that marine fish almost never breed in captivity.

Seahorses’ parents were caught in Sri Lanka, Indo-Pacific. Whole litter was about 100 individuals, but only 15 manage to adapt..

-     Toddlers are feeling great. We’ve prepared them very good, almost perfect close to natural conditions. In such conditions this amazing birth could take place. It’s estimated that in nature only 5 from 1000 individuals is surviving. This fact also distinguishes this event – says Michał Popek from Aquarium.
Little seahorses after a period of adaptation will be moved to 2.000l tank  where they will live together with their parents.

Pregnant male

Seahorses’ pregnancy lasts 2-4 weeks, after that time juveniles are unleash from special pouch. In case of these fish male is taking care of unhatched offspring. Female only lays eggs into the pouch on male’s belly where they are inseminated.  Then they are staying there until they are able to live on their own.

Almost like clones

Baby seahorses are about 3mm long. They eat plankton sucking it via special sucking snout. Because of special anatomy of seahorses one can see how the food is moving in alimentary canal.  Eating by these fish is like a hunting, because they are passive predators. Toddlers hunt plankton and suck it into mouth.

Seahorses and tiger pythons born in Cracow Aquarium.
(Dziennik Polski, 14.07.2009r., Text: nsz.//ma)

There is 15 of them. They are 3 mm long. They are perfect copy of their parents. They eat plankton  by sucking it via special snout. Seahorses,  because we are talking about them, were born on Sunday.

-          Kraków got 15 new citizens – Cheerfully says Michał Popek from Krakow’s Aquarium. – We are very happy, because it is very unique event. Marine fish almost never breed in captivity. Seahorses’ parents were caught in Sri Lanka, Indo-Pacific.

Seahorses’ pregnancy lasts 2-4 weeks. Daddy, because he is taking care of toddlers (Female only lays eggs into the pouch on male’s belly where they are inseminated) from special pouch unleashed 100 babies, 15 of them manage to adapt. - It’s estimated that in nature only 5 from 1000 individuals is surviving. – informs Michal Popek – We manage to prepare them very good, almost perfect close to natural conditions - toddlers are feeling great.

Seahorses started to hunt just after hatching – It is minihunt. Juveniles are looking for plankton, then they are watching it carefully and then they are sucking it  to mount – emphasizes Michał Popek. They are almost transparent, so one can see what is happening with food in alimentary canal.

Little seahorses after a period of adaptation will be moved to 2.000l tank  where they will meet their parents.

Parents were our guests pupils. We hope that their offspring also will fascinate the youngest visitors.

Burmese Pythons

Seahorses are not the only new inhabitants of Aquarium. Last days baby Burmese Pythons hatched. – They are one of the biggest snakes in the world, only Reticulated Pythons are bigger. (…)

Rare crested geckos born in Aquarium.
(Gazeta Krakowska, 9-10.05.2009r., Text: Piotr Rąpalski)

In Aquarium in Krakow six young Crested Geckos were hatched. It is a species that in nature is endangered. Hatching was both breeding success and attraction for visitors.

Gecko-mum laid eggs in February. After 90 days of incubation juvenile reptiles hatched. – Our guests had an opportunity to see this amazing birth live. – says Michał Pope, Aquarium’s spokesman-After birth the young were moved for few weeks to the quarantine in sterile conditions. We are protecting them from bacteria and acarina. We are waiting till they can eat by themselves –he adds.

Small geckos are 3-4 cm long and are very lively.  Thanks to special cilia on their fingertips they can move without problems on any surface, even glass. Adult individuals grow up to 22 cm length and 65 g weight. Their additional trump is prehensile tail with cilia similar to these on fingertips.

Crested Geckos up to 1994 were thought to be extinct. They were rediscovered quite by chance on the Isle of Pines, New Caledonia. In nature they are still endangered so breeders are trying to breed them as much as possible and recreate the population.

Monsters of the deep in Aquarium.
(Gazeta Krakowska, 7.07.2009r., Text: Piotr Rąpalski)

Since October the new attraction in Aquarium In Krakow will be bioluminescence animals. They will live in huge 2.000 liters tank with imitation of sea bottom and coral reef. Thanks to this in Aquarium new strange creatures from the depth will appear. – We are about to show big murrains, highlighted jellyfish, pufferfish and frogfish. Everything in scenery of dark depth. – says Michal Popek, Aquarium’s spokesman – We guarantee dry-foot walk on the mysterious bottom of the Indian Ocean – announces.

Today in aquarium we can see beautiful scorpionfish: species with beautiful , light yellow colours that lives on the coral reef of Indo-Pacific. This predator lives in a profundal zone of ten digs itselfin the sand and waits for the victims attracting them with colorful outgrowths. Scorpionfish eats etiher small fish  or even individuals of its own species.  Because of this fact it lives a solitary life.

The characteristics of the scorpionfish are almost transparent eyes. These fish are venomous – their dorsal fins hide few dangerous spines  with a venom. 

Bioluminescence is a phenomenon that occurs among deep-sea fish and it allows them to see in the dark. Fish shine because of production of particular chemical substances. Some animals, in addition, have specialized light organs used to attract the victim.

Albino Burmese Pythons hatching soon!
(Gazeta Krakowska, 09.05.2009r., Text: Piotr Rąpalski)

Workers of Aquarium in Krakow are preparing to amazing birth. Female Burmese Python, huge yellow snake, is going to lay eggs. They are building a special nest. Juvenile pythons to hatch need special, close to natural conditions. Temperature must be around 29-31°C  and the humidity around 90%. – says Michal Popek, Aquarium’s spokesman. – The snake will have conditions like in the best hospital. Our workers will take care of laying eggs.

Eggs incubation lasts 80 days. Then few dozens of juvenile snakes can be hatched from them. Young pythons will have about 60 cm length. Just after hatching they behave almost like predators – they attack everything that is moving. But they are getting used to human presence instantly. Adult snakes usually reach 3.5 up to 8m length. They live up to 35 years – it depends on breeding contidions.

Burmese Pythons in wild lives in tropical forests. They hunt nearby water reservoirs. They can swim and dive – they can spend even more than 10 minutes underwater . They swim close to the victim and attack drinking animal. In aquarium they are fed with chickens, rats, rabbits. Little pythons will start with mice. 

Burmese pythons are not the only hissing animals in Aquarium. One can find there also exotic cobras and vipers like Gaboon Viper, which is so venomous that after one bite man dies in 15 minutes. Fortunately reptiles are securely separated from the visitors.

Amazon in the hearth of Cracow
(Gazeta Krakowska, 27.08.2008r., Text: Anna Agaciak)

First time in Poland. Over 300 species of fish, crustaceans and corals, 65 species of reptiles and amphibians will be shown soon in aquarium in Krakow. It’s going to be located in an old 19^th century house. Company “Nathans Villa Hostel” rented rooms from Polish Academy of Science Natural History Museum, 9 Sebastiana str. to create inside unique, as for Polish conditions, exhibition.

Visitors going into this building simultaneously are moving to the tropical forest of Amazonia, Lake Tanganika or coral reef. They will see dangerous anacondas, caimans, 3m long monitors and terrifying sharks.

For ones who needs stronger sensations there is prepared a chamber of venomous  reptiles. Inside it one can see the most venomous snakes – Gaboon Viper, Cobra and Mexican Beaded  Lizard – the only venomous lizard.

Visitors will be safe. Investors declare that they ensured the best security and the highest quality serum bank.

Additional attraction in Aquarium will be exotic plants, authentic smell of tropical forest and a possibility to touch a ray.  For the most brave ones there will be a possibility to walk over the tank with sharks. The biggest tank for these fish is going to be 90.000 l of water. Sa far investment took ca. 3 mld €. The Aquarium is going to be opened this September.

First time in Poland. Company Nathans Villa Hostel is preparing unique attraction both for denizens of the city and the tourists. In the place of famous Natural History Museum of Polish Academy of Science, in old 19^th cent. House, 9 Sebastiana str. there will be huge aquariums for marine creatures and the biggest terrarium for reptiles and amphibians in whole Poland.

-          Exhibition will show beauty, wealth and diversity of the nature. – encourages Nathan Gendreau, owner of the company. - Our exhibition will give an opportunity to move to another continent without a plane.

In the biggest room, in the heart of Aquarium one will be simultaneously in Amazonia, by Lake Tanganika and coral reef.

In three huge showcases visitors will have an opportunity to admire wildlife from three regions of the world – huge tortoises, exotic lizards and predatory fish. In the waters of Amazon river there will be anacondas that will be separated from the guest by 6 cm thick glass made of clear plastic. Either whole room or aquariums will be filled with exotic plants.

On the ground floor of the house there is created kingdom of marine predators. In huge, 90.000 liters tank, will swim four huge sharks and threatening murrains. One will be able to see them not only from the side, but also from the top of the tank walking on it.

After meeting with sharks visitor will dive into mysterious depth. In the dark room one will see fish that can produce light. It enables them to live in the dark without problems.

The next attraction on our tour will be collection of minerals and fossils belonging to Natural History Museum of Polish Academy of Science.

In the cave labyrinth investors want to put aquariums with dozens of colorful fish. By the exit from the cave there will be a tank with jellyfish.

Farther we will see caimans indolentny laying under the waterfall. Walking by Capitan Nemo’s Submarine like aquarium we will go to the room with the most amazing marine animals” octopus, rays, seahorses, lobsters. Here also will be created a discovery room where the youth can catch some information about wildlife and even touch a ray or an octopus. After marine adventure on the ground floor there is another one waiting for us. This time it is a tropical forest on the first floor.

Nathan Gendreau ensures that here also are some surprises.

-          Special lamps will create a climate like in jungle. Visitors will smell a real smell of the rainforest.

This floor will be a kingdom of 65 species of amphibians and reptiles living on the deserts, in jungles and forest all over the world. Here one can meet 4m long pythons and boa constrictor. In the middle there will be huge showcase with up to 3m monitors, tortoises and iguanas.

There won’t be lack of spiders, scorpions and insects. The chamber of the venomous, room with the most venomous animals like Gaboon Viper, Cobras and the only venomous lizard – Mexican Beaded Lizard,  will freeze blood in the veins.

Visitors will be absolutely safe. Reptiles are protected by the best security system with 6 cameras.  Moreover it was decided to establish the highest quality serum bank. It’s going to be created together with toxicologists form Rydgier’s Hospital.

Investment by Sebastiana str. took so far ca. 3 mld €. In aquarium there will be spaced touchable infokiosks with information about shown animals.  Under the ceiling one will find huge LCDs showing animals in the wild.

Nathans Villa Hostel’s Initiative is supported by local authorities. Mainly because it is built without public money.

-          We are very glad of any works that are going to make our city more attractive for tourists. – says katarzyna Gądek from Department of Touristic in City Hall.

Daria Michajłowa form Nathans Villa Hostel ensure that whole investment is going to be finished soon. It is possible that opening will be held even in September. Last preparations are being made.