My Olympus SP 550UZ.

Photography is also my favourite hobby and bought a Olympus SP 550UZ. Went to the Singapore Zoo to have some animals photography.







18x wide optical zoom (equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm camera) 1:2.8-4.5

• Dual Image Stabilization
• 7.1 Megapixels
• 6.4cm/2.5” LCD with 230,000 pixels
• High burst rate (up to 15fps in 1.2 Megapixel mode )
• Super Macro mode (from as close as 1cm)
• P/A/S/M exposure modes
• RAW mode
• Bright Capture Technology for better low light photography – also available in movie mode
• 23 scene modes (including Portrait, Sports, Night Scene)
• 25 languages on board
• Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
• Supplied with Olympus Master software and four AA batteries

I have taken some animal pictures in the Zoo.


This is a medium size camera, the Olympus SP-550UZ is very similar in size and weight to the Canon S3 IS, Panasonic Lumix FZ8 and the Sony H2/H5. I bought this camera to try out shooting pictures using zoom telephoto lens which was 18x wide optical zoom. Practically this was the first time for me to try out shooting at the zoo. Anyway, this hobby kept me with interest and going to invest more in the equipments.

A pair of German Blue Ram.

The aquarium of mine was setup in the natural plant’s environment for the German blue ram. This German rams are normally kept where there are plenty of covering area consisting of aquatic plants or submerged driftwood with Java ferns, and including such elements in the aquarium set up. Densely grown groups of plants separated by open swimming space is best. The fish will also need some caves to seek shelter in. If we want the fish to breed, provide them with flat stones in the aquarium.

German blue rams should not be kept in aquariums smaller than 20 gallons tank. The larger the aquarium, the easier it will be to keep the water quality high enough. The German blue ram is sensitive to organic waste products such as nitrate and is therefore not a suitable choice unless you know how to keep the levels of organic waste down.

The female fish is smaller than the male and have more pink pigmentation on her ventral region. The dorsal fin of a male looks more longer and the body doesn’t have blue coloration on the black spot. The back of the dorsal and anal fins have a more pointy edge in the male ram, and the tail fin is also more sharply edged. It is also common for females to have a plumper body shape and have blue coloration on the black spot. The male ram can be recognized on his V-shaped tail fin and the elongated second ray that is present in the dorsal fin.

The German blue ram will do much better if you combine it will peaceful species that will leave some food for the rams. Keeping rams on their own is not recommended; they feel safer when combined with braver fish.

Many aquarists believe that the German blue ram is really difficult to rear. They need excellent water quality, and should have nitrates around 5ppm...no higher than 10ppm. Pay close attention to their diet, and make sure they get all the vitamins they need. I hope to succeed in keeping them than to breed them. Cheers.

Macro shot GBRam.

Nano tank for tropical fishes.

I have rescaped my old nano tank with a new look. A rockscape on new plants design for easy maintenance and to keep my Cherry barbs and Tetra fishes. Tank size is 30cm x 18cm x 24cm H. with capacity of 3.5 gal.

Plants: Glossostigma, Dwarf Hairgrass, Crypt Wendtii and Ruffle plant.

Fuana: Cherry Barbs and Neon Tetras.

This tank is now 4 weeks old and hopefully that the Hairgrass will

spread evenly over the foreground. The Glosso are not doing well

and was in submerged form, may be lighting was weak. The Crypt Wendtii

were doing well after 4 weeks, does not melt at all and has new leave shooting

out. The Sword Ruffle ( Echinodorus Martii) was growing fine and roots

grounded firmly. Will see how it goes with more time and will keep

update on the growth of Glosso and Hairgrass.