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Normal Activities Freely: Both adult water beetles and their larvae may be maintained in an aquarium. Both will carry on their normal activities freely. As they are vicious and voracious, they cannot be maintained with other aquarium inhabitants.
Beetles need "balanced" aquarium (see Part II); use 2- to 5-gallon aquarium or aquarium jar. Cover bottom with 2 inches of clean aquarium sand; anchor 6 strands of common aquarium plants with a few clean rocks. Let water stand 24 hours; then drop adult beetle or larvae or both in habitat.
Black widows must be housed alone; otherwise, they kill each other. Quart jar sufficient, as spider needs little space for movement. Keep top screwed on, but punch air holes. Spider adjusts itself to captive quarters and carries on normal activities; spins web from sides of jar to lid; rests on undersurface of lid.
All these activities are carried on in an awkward, intent way. The child manages to get where he wants to go by whatever mode of locomotion seems most effective. Walking, even in his jerky, trotting way, gives the child a new perspective on the world. It broadens his horizons. When the active explorer begins to get into everything, he is not being naughty but normal. This is his way of learning. |
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