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Mild-mannered and merely an inch (2.5 cm) in length, a glittery little tropical fish is being credited with protecting an area of rainforest the size of the state of Pennsylvania, nearly 50,000 square miles (120,000 sq km).

If there is one Poster-Child-Species to inspire fishkeepers to help save tropical ecosystems, it is the Cardinal Tetra, Paracheirodon axelrodi, so named for its vivid scarlet belly coloration, suggestive of a cardinal’s robes.

A glimmering beauty when well-fed and kept in schools of five or more, the Cardinal Tetra has for the past 50 years defied easy breeding in captivity, and its wild harvest has been supporting a vibrant community of fisherfolk living along the tributaries to the Amazon River, notably the Rio Negro and Orinoco Rivers.

There are many reasons for beginning a new hobby. Maybe you’re looking for a way to fill up free time due to retirement or you have some other reason for an increase of more available free time. And there are so many different hobbies to choose from.

Some people take up building racecars, knitting, collecting baseball cards and others raise chickens. Yes chicken raising is an actual hobby, and it’s becoming increasingly more popular with everyday families.

It’s actually pretty amazing how easy it can be to raise chickens in your own backyard, and there are many people raising chickens that live in a city setting offering them minimal space for the coop and free ranging.

Receiving about two million visits per year ranks Cades Cove in the top ten for annual visitation among National Parks, and it is not even a park in and of itself. Cades Cove lies within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles Tennessee and North Carolina.

The reasons Cades Cove is so very worthwhile to visit include the abundant wildlife, you-can-touch-it history, bucolic fields, and breathtaking vistas. To avoid the crowds, I have these suggestions:

Fall is a great time to get out and hike in New England where I live. The landscape is gorgeous, the air is crisp and scenic views are now revealed through leafless branches.

No matter where or when you hike, there are some basic necessities you should always carry. Before you hit the trail, make sure your daypack is stocked with these essential items for your comfort and safety:

1-Water. Keeping yourself hydrated is essential. You sweat and lose precious water no matter what season or location you choose to hike. Obviously, an ambitious hike in hot, sunny regions would require more water than on a leisurely stroll in the cool New England fall. Take water breaks even if you don’t feel thirsty.