'Jades are Crassula, and not cactus at all, All cacti are succulents. If you put a living plant in there is will need good drainage, air circulation,sun, some food at least once a year, just transplant it into fresh mix. with 10% organic matter, the rest inorganic, sand compacts and doesn't let the air in the mix, which is important. I think the lizard would love to eat it. My friends grows theirs in a open pen that they can't get out of in the open on the ground. They live in the high desert. They may bring them into the green house during the winter. Crassula need a cool evening. 90 F and 70F night time temps. as an example. your plant will also need a cool winter. No heat. Little if any summer moisture including high humidy. I've grown these plant since I was a child, and the plant that you are calling 'Agentea' does have the smallest leaves, yet is just a variety of C. Ovata. Some are bush some not depending on how you trim it. Leaves have noting to do with it, it's flowers, bark, nodes etc. Norma

I have been to Galapagos twice - the first time on a cruise ship and the second on a smaller boat of 16 passengers. The first thing that I would say is that choose carefully the month you go - as the islands are on the equator they do not have a traditional summer and winter but at certain times, such as Easter (the first time we went) it is extremely hot and you are walking about on very arid islands with the sun beating down. Our second visit was in June which was much more pleasant weather-wise but still warm. I understand that around August it can be quite cool, overcast and foggy. Although the facilities are somewhat cramped I prefer the smaller vessels,because to visit the various islands you have to go in a small landing craft(panga)and with 100 or so people on a cruise ship, so much more time is spent getting everyone on and off as compared to the smaller vessels. Most of the landings are wet landings so it is a good idea to wear Tevas or other wet-dry type shoes and your bottom half often gets wet so those rapid drying shorts are a good idea. You would not want to walk around the islands in a bathing suit as there would be serious risk of sun burn - you need a shirt, shorts, hat and good sunglasses. Also plenty of sunscreen and perhaps insect repellent although we did not need this. One or two landings are dryish such as at Bartoleme and here you will climb up the mountain for a spectacular view, so sneakers with good grip soles would be useful here, as you are walking in quite deep volcanic ash in places. We did not need any sweaters at all but you will need warm clothes if you are spending time in Quito etc. We think the must see islands are Hood(Espaniola) and Tower(Genovesa) - Red, Blue Footed and Masked Boobies. Waved Albatross also nest on Hood. You will see the Galapagos Penguin from the panga at Bartoleme. Depending on the length of your cruise-if it is longer, you will go to Isobella and Fernandina and on Fernandina will see Flightless Cormorants. On Santa Cruz make sure you visit the Darwin Research Center where you will see all the different types of tortoise and make sure you go on the bus trip to the highlands where you will see the most huge tortoises imaginable in the wild - we also saw a wild one on Isabella. There are sea lions everywhere and they are very unafraid and friendly -these are related to the California sea lions and not the sea lions found in the Falkland Islands which are very unfriendly. Fur seals are not as easy to see.You will see Land Iguanas on Santa Cruz and Plaza and Marine Iguanas on many islands. We are not into diving or snorkeling but those who did said it was fabulous, but remember the water is cold because of the Humboldt Current. I think the diving was quite a pricey affair but all the gear was provided. One girl from Japan had a small underwater camera which was a neat idea. Remember that the Galapagos Islands are very regimented for visitors- each boat is allowed on and must be off the islands at specified times and you must stay on the walking tracks- this obviously is to protect the animals and birds. You will be quite amazed at first at how tame all the creatures are - you can be within inches of birds and they do not fly away' they just look at you - it is a photographer's paradise. If you are interested in photography a 1-400mm zoom lens is quite useful. I would recommend that you see the 2007 DVD "Galapagos- the islands that changed the world" before you go. An excellent book about the wildlife is "Wildlife of the Galapagos" by Julian Fitter et al. A good general guide is "Travelers Guide to the Galapagos Islands" by Barry Boyce 2004. Please ask if you have any further questions. I hope this helps. If you are spending any time in Ecuador and are interested in birds I can suggest a few places. The Botanical(Orchid) Garden in Quito is small but very nice. If you enjoy Galapagos,I would like to suggest the Falkland Islands for a future trip- simply fabulous! Bon Voyage.

You need to be VERY careful and take your time when choosing and using the epoxy. Basically, you want a decent quality 2 part epoxy kit composed of a base and a curing agent. It is a good idea to purchase an epoxy that does not blush, meaning that you don't have to clean off a byproduct residue between each coat. A decent 1.5 gal kit will cost between $70 - $100. It might sound expensive at first, but this stuff is AMAZING. I bought my epoxy from Progressive Epoxy Polymers Inc. Their website is quite complicated, but it's loaded with info: www.epoxyproducts.com Their actual online ordering form is linked on the bottom of this post. I ordered the "Basic No Blush 2 Epoxy 1.5 gallon kit" for $72.00 plus shipping. It worked great!! A few tips for using the epoxy: Use it in a VERY well ventilated area. Wear a gas mask (available at lowes or home depot) if possible. Apply multiple coats (I did 4). Mix each batch (the life of each batch is about 30 minutes) VERY well. I used a mixing device that attatched to my powerdrill. One you mess up, there's no going back! After this stuff cures (in about 30 mins), it is rock hard. Sand and clean the plywood very well. Remember to take advantage of the fact that you're using plywood. Drill bulkheads before applying epoxy. When applying the epoxy to vertical surfaces (the walls of the cage), add some epoxy thickener so that the coat doesn't drip or sag. Good luck. Danny Here is a link that might be useful: Online order page

Here is our itinerary... I have never wanted to do a tour-based, prescribed sort of trip, but I am kind of happy about not having to think too much! Just show up! Seems like we'll have some down time later in each day, though. GUAYAQUIL __ _ June 2014 (1 Night) DAY 1: GUAYAQUIL: Upon arrival, private transfer to Oro Verde Hotel. DAY 2: GUAYAQUIL: Breakfast. At appropriate time, private transfer to the airport. BALTRA __ _ DAY 2: BALTRA: Upon arrival, connection flight to Isabela Island. ISABELA ISLAND __ _ (4 Nights) DAY 2: ISABELA ISLAND: Upon arrival, private transfer to Iguana Crossing Hotel. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant in town. After lunch we will walk to the Flamingo Lagoon. DAY 3: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. The Tunnels of Cape Rosa Prepare yourself for one of the best days of this trip! After sailing for 45 minutes from Puerto Villamil, we will reach Cape Rosa on the western side of the island. This is one of the most beautiful and amazing places nature has bestowed upon humankind. Here we can walk over the connected lava tunnels surrounded by the crystal sea waters. From the surface, you will be able to see dozens of sea turtles, penguins and rays. You can also snorkel or simply swim along this rich marine fauna. As we sail to and from Isabela, we might be able to see manta rays of different sizes - a truly unique experience. And if it is their mating season, we will watch them floating upside-down on the surface, waiting to have their pictures taken. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. In the afternoon you can enjoy the beach by your own. DAY 4: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. Sierra Negra Volcano Today our guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world - Sierra Negra. Its crater is approximately 7 kilometers wide. We will take a 4h trekking tour to enjoy this wonderful and unique scenery. Lunch in a local farm called Campo Duro (or the Housers) where we will also watch Isabela Giant Tortoises. DAY 5: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. Seven paths - Wall of Tears - Tintoreras This day we will visit the “Wall of Tears”. This historical place was built by the prisoners of the Ecuador’s first jail. On our way back we will stop at the Orchilla viewpoint. From the top you can see the entire coastal wetland system including Poza de los Diablos, Puerto Villamil, the beaches, the volcanoes and the islets to the south-east of Isabela. Love Beach, has a rocky sea Access and Tunel del Estero, a path with adequate lava plates ending in a staircase inside a lava tunnel. Above the tunnel you can see the intertidal landscape that offers a tapestry of Galapagos Sesuvium between "El Tunel del Estero" and Love Beach. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. Back to Puerto Villamil town, we will visit Tintoreras Islets. Herds of white tip sharks can often be seen here, resting around the lava canals. You can also observe hundreds of marine iguanas, as "Las Tintoreras" are one of their main breeding sites. On the nearby sandy beaches, sea lions play and relax in the sun. Afterwards we will have an opportunity to snorkel. Return to the hotel and lodging. DAY 6: ISABELA ISLAND: Breakfast. At appropriate time, private transfer to the Baltra airport. BALTRA __ _ DAY 6: BALTRA: Upon arrival, connection flight to Guayaquil. GUAYAQUIL __ _ (1 Night) DAY 6: GUAYAQUIL: Upon arrival, private transfer to Oro Verde Hotel. DAY 7: GUAYAQUIL: Breakfast. At appropriate time, private transfer to the airport.