12-11-12
In the last couple days, we've lost two of the larger fish we have in two different tanks. Weird.
Tonight I came home and was getting started on the laundry when I decided to turn the light on the tank downstairs, turn on the Xmas music and plug in the tree.
And what to my wandering eyes should appear ? but a blue large cichlid floating nose down - stuck between the log house and the tank. OH NO! not another dead fish?
I quickly sent Terry a text " Dead Fish - downstairs - large blue".
So I rushed upstairs to get a net - and then back down to fish it out of the tank. I took it into the bathroom we have downstairs, and plopped it into the toilet.
OMG...he started splashing! He's still alive! I had to fish him out of the toilet!
Then I grabbed the first bowl I could find and ran some water in it and then plopped him into that. At first he started to swim upside down so then I put a little salt in the water and ran back upstairs to grab the green peas.
By the time Terry got home from his union meeting - he was gone. I probably gave him heart failure dropping him from a warm 72 degree tank - into the icy white waters of the porcelain lake. Well, at least he got to go out with all his fins and eyeballs in tack.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tales from the Tank #29
There are reasons people who work in pet stores are "experts".
If you have been a regular reader, you know that in addition to our tropical fish, we have become caretakers of Matthew's gecko.
The other night I posted on Facebook "@ Matt Schrafel" if your silly lizard dies, it won't be because I haven't tried to feed it.
A few seconds later my phone goes "Whoo Hoo - Somebody sent you a text message" (yep it really says that). Matt was texting "Is he really gonna die???"
Well of course not - you know how Moms react when little ones don't eat...we panic.
A facebook friend posted "have you tried crickets". Well no, I was lead to believe that crickets were the potato chips of the gecko world...and full of fat...fat.. fat.
So tonight I went to the pet store. Low and behold there were two people at the lizard display and I started asking questions. (I'm good at questions).
Q1. I have a gecko that hasn't eaten in four days. Response "Is he thin" "Does he look sickly".
(to myself I say "don't all lizards look sickly?)
Q2. Someone recommended crickets. Response "crickets or worms...he could be getting ready to shed his skin - when the do that they get a little lazy" (to myself I say - yeah and they have to make room in their tummy because apparently they eat their shedded skin - EWE). And people don't think the Internet is educational!
Q3. Do I really need to give him a "bedding" area under his rock? Response = It helps them shed their skin and keep them hydrated.
I also indicated that during my research, (lizard blogs - go figure), I read that if they drink and poop then they are "eating". Well, I told the gals, he's been drinking - but there is no new poop...so I know he's not eating.
THEN I found out - they are not supposed to have "tap water"...too many chemicals, blah blah blah...he's been on tap water for 2 years.
I walked out of the store with the gecko water conditioner, moss for his bedding, and 10 crickets. Then a stop at the grocery store for more "spring water".
I warned him as I stripped the tank....ok Loki, you are getting an "extreme home makeover".
Everything comes out of the tank, I wash the green carpet, tear off some moss, wet it down (to create humidity), put the new "treated" spring water in the pot...and drop in the 10 unsuspecting crickets (and put the top on quickly).
OMG...I just gave Loki has a new nickname...Elmer Fudd. "a huntin cricwets we will go".
( I have video coverage...but due to technical issues...I can't get it to upload). Stay tuned.....
If you have been a regular reader, you know that in addition to our tropical fish, we have become caretakers of Matthew's gecko.
The other night I posted on Facebook "@ Matt Schrafel" if your silly lizard dies, it won't be because I haven't tried to feed it.
A few seconds later my phone goes "Whoo Hoo - Somebody sent you a text message" (yep it really says that). Matt was texting "Is he really gonna die???"
Well of course not - you know how Moms react when little ones don't eat...we panic.
A facebook friend posted "have you tried crickets". Well no, I was lead to believe that crickets were the potato chips of the gecko world...and full of fat...fat.. fat.
So tonight I went to the pet store. Low and behold there were two people at the lizard display and I started asking questions. (I'm good at questions).
Q1. I have a gecko that hasn't eaten in four days. Response "Is he thin" "Does he look sickly".
(to myself I say "don't all lizards look sickly?)
Q2. Someone recommended crickets. Response "crickets or worms...he could be getting ready to shed his skin - when the do that they get a little lazy" (to myself I say - yeah and they have to make room in their tummy because apparently they eat their shedded skin - EWE). And people don't think the Internet is educational!
Q3. Do I really need to give him a "bedding" area under his rock? Response = It helps them shed their skin and keep them hydrated.
I also indicated that during my research, (lizard blogs - go figure), I read that if they drink and poop then they are "eating". Well, I told the gals, he's been drinking - but there is no new poop...so I know he's not eating.
THEN I found out - they are not supposed to have "tap water"...too many chemicals, blah blah blah...he's been on tap water for 2 years.
I walked out of the store with the gecko water conditioner, moss for his bedding, and 10 crickets. Then a stop at the grocery store for more "spring water".
I warned him as I stripped the tank....ok Loki, you are getting an "extreme home makeover".
Everything comes out of the tank, I wash the green carpet, tear off some moss, wet it down (to create humidity), put the new "treated" spring water in the pot...and drop in the 10 unsuspecting crickets (and put the top on quickly).
OMG...I just gave Loki has a new nickname...Elmer Fudd. "a huntin cricwets we will go".
( I have video coverage...but due to technical issues...I can't get it to upload). Stay tuned.....
Tales from the Tank #28
Wiggler Update 12-06-2012
There aren't any.
By the time we decided to "separate" the babies from the parents - there were just a few left. They were so small they could get past the tank divider.
A little past the "caviar" stage for the other fish in the tank, but they were probably still a scrumptious snack!
It was still an amazing thing to watch.
There aren't any.
By the time we decided to "separate" the babies from the parents - there were just a few left. They were so small they could get past the tank divider.
A little past the "caviar" stage for the other fish in the tank, but they were probably still a scrumptious snack!
It was still an amazing thing to watch.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tales from the Tank #27
Date: Nov 19, 2012.
Subject: Wigglers
Yep. Houston...we have wigglers. Lots of wigglers. Itsty Bitsy Teeny Tiny Wigglers.
They were on the side of the glass, and as I was watching them, the parents began to move them to a log we have in the tank that has a slight flat spot. According to our source...the parents will move them back and forth until they are free swimming to keep them away from predators. These parents are definitely working overtime.
When I got home from work, I checked the tank - THEY WERE GONE. No longer on the log, no longer on the tank...OMG did they get eaten? Bad Parents...really BAD parents.
Wait! What's that fuzzy stuff on the heater? It's the babies! In about 12 hours they went from little clearish nothings to little grey fuzzy things hanging on the top of the heater.
Now you need to understand that during the last few days, Terry and I have been having the conversation about "letting nature takes it course" because I was not setting up a separate tank and raising brine shrimp and making paste in order to feed them. So we now have a "gentleman's" agreement to "No heroic measures".
Then Kathi stopped by to see the little miracles. During the course of the conversation I mentioned about the whole nature taking its course - and what did my most devote animal lover friend say? "You've come this far - it would be a shame not to watch them grow". Ok, so $16.00 later...so much for "no heroic measures".
So off to Petsmart I went... to get a tank divider. After the divider was in, we put the filter net over the intake valve - so the little suckers don't get sucked into the filter.
Yes Virginia, you can baby proof a fish tank.LOL
By the time we went to bed, they were back on the log. It's so funny to watch. One parent was moving them to the glass and one parent was taking them from the glass and putting them back on the log.
I guess that's how you argue over the kids when you're underwater.
Tuesday they were even a little bit bigger - and a little more thinned out. Hum...some of them must not have survived the tug of war their parents were having.
I must say that I thought Angel fish were very peaceful fish, gliding around, barely moving a fin...but to watch these two continually hound, pound and force the other fish - even the pleco - to stay on the opposite side of the tank - my opinion of these first time parents has steadily risen (except of course when they eat their tank mates).
The tank is more peaceful, but the parents are still moving them back and forth - last night to the air tubing. This morning to the log and tonight back to the heater.
I wonder where the little buggers...opps I mean wigglers will be tomorrow.
Tales from the Tank #26
Hello November 2012.
It's has been approximately one year and eight months since we began our adventure with Angel fish.
In Tales from the Tank #15, you got to hear about how we ended up with our... oh, i don't know...third tank filled with five itty bitty little marble angel fish about the size of a dime.
Besides a couple cases of "swim bladder disease" it's been a pretty healthy happy tank.
That is -- until now.
During the first week of the month, one of the Angels, (we'll call him Junior for this story), was discovered one morning floating on his side....again. So in goes the "baby net" in order to quarantine him from the others and out come the frozen peas and blood worms.
After about a week or so, he was swimming fine and Terry said, "When are you going to put him back in the "general population?". Oh...soon I said. So on November 11th, 2012, as I was getting things ready to have a few friends over (can you say Mary Kay?), I found half a fish.
Crap. If you are faint of heart - skip this part. When I say half a fish, I literally mean half a fish. There was just one side of his "skin" left even with the empty spot where his eye would go. Sick right? I've decided that all fish are carnivorous - especially when you're weak or sick.
I quick grab the net and "fish" it out (pun intended) and of course - flush it, all the while I'm ticked off for putting Junior back in "general population".
Then last Sunday Jared came over and I dont' exactly remember why we were looking at the tank, but Jared noticed this white spots on the glass. He said "those look like eggs". To which I replied "no way"....it's probably some kind of weird disease thing knowing my luck."
Then Terry gets down on his knees at eye level and starts really looking at the stuff. Then he says, "Junior isn't gone....it's the Smokey one that's gone". Low and behold, he was right. I assumed it was Junior that was eaten - but some how the pretty smoke colored angel we had gotten at the last auction (a "breeding" pair), had been eaten and I didn't even miss him. Geez.
So right away we ran to the computer and googled "what do angel fish fry look like" and low and behold there popped up about a gazillion videos of Angels and their fry.
After watching a few videos, we diagnosed the little white spots as actual Angel fish eggs. Yep. We have entered into the twilight zone of Tales from the Tank #15, where I said I did not want to become an Angel fish breeder. So for the last few days we've been watching this amazing miracle take place.
When the eggs are clear, those are "viable". When they are white - they are not. At about day five they start to develop "wigglers" where as the fish grow, they eat part of the egg sack and they begin to look like a little tadpole stuck to the side of whatever and wherever the parents put them.
Since we hadn't noticed when the fish laid the eggs, I told Terry, according to the video - worst case scenario is that we are day four and they will begin to hatch soon.
I hate it when I'm right.
It's has been approximately one year and eight months since we began our adventure with Angel fish.
In Tales from the Tank #15, you got to hear about how we ended up with our... oh, i don't know...third tank filled with five itty bitty little marble angel fish about the size of a dime.
Besides a couple cases of "swim bladder disease" it's been a pretty healthy happy tank.
That is -- until now.
During the first week of the month, one of the Angels, (we'll call him Junior for this story), was discovered one morning floating on his side....again. So in goes the "baby net" in order to quarantine him from the others and out come the frozen peas and blood worms.
After about a week or so, he was swimming fine and Terry said, "When are you going to put him back in the "general population?". Oh...soon I said. So on November 11th, 2012, as I was getting things ready to have a few friends over (can you say Mary Kay?), I found half a fish.
Crap. If you are faint of heart - skip this part. When I say half a fish, I literally mean half a fish. There was just one side of his "skin" left even with the empty spot where his eye would go. Sick right? I've decided that all fish are carnivorous - especially when you're weak or sick.
I quick grab the net and "fish" it out (pun intended) and of course - flush it, all the while I'm ticked off for putting Junior back in "general population".
Then last Sunday Jared came over and I dont' exactly remember why we were looking at the tank, but Jared noticed this white spots on the glass. He said "those look like eggs". To which I replied "no way"....it's probably some kind of weird disease thing knowing my luck."
Then Terry gets down on his knees at eye level and starts really looking at the stuff. Then he says, "Junior isn't gone....it's the Smokey one that's gone". Low and behold, he was right. I assumed it was Junior that was eaten - but some how the pretty smoke colored angel we had gotten at the last auction (a "breeding" pair), had been eaten and I didn't even miss him. Geez.
So right away we ran to the computer and googled "what do angel fish fry look like" and low and behold there popped up about a gazillion videos of Angels and their fry.
After watching a few videos, we diagnosed the little white spots as actual Angel fish eggs. Yep. We have entered into the twilight zone of Tales from the Tank #15, where I said I did not want to become an Angel fish breeder. So for the last few days we've been watching this amazing miracle take place.
When the eggs are clear, those are "viable". When they are white - they are not. At about day five they start to develop "wigglers" where as the fish grow, they eat part of the egg sack and they begin to look like a little tadpole stuck to the side of whatever and wherever the parents put them.
Since we hadn't noticed when the fish laid the eggs, I told Terry, according to the video - worst case scenario is that we are day four and they will begin to hatch soon.
I hate it when I'm right.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Tales From the Tank #25
As I sit here playing my gazillioth game of Bejeweled Blitz, and people are liking the post I just put on Facebook, I realize I haven't posted any new "Tales From the Tank".
To be philisophical, one could think my posts are about life within the five fish tanks we have, or it's about life within the "Tank" that keeps us warm and dry during the rain and cold weather....(ie: our house) LOL.
But little did you know that a year ago (during Christmas break) Matt decided to buy a "spottled gecko" (two actually). I tried to talk him out of it, I really did - but as a parent you know this just might be one of those "lessons"you have to let happen.
Afer break, Matt took my two new "grand-geckos" back to school with him. This last spring I got a panicked phone call at work. "MOM! - I think there's an egg in the tank". (oh wait - I forgot to tell you they live in a 10 gallon FISH tank).
Apparently it's just as difficult to "sex" geckos as it is fish - so you never really know what you're getting. So I ask "How's it feel to be a parent".....? He replied, "I don't have time for this, I can't take care of three! What am I going to do?"
I told him, find the pet store in Oskaloosa, they'll take her or him (deciding which one you keep) in -and her/him a new home as an adoptable pet. "Will they buy him"? he asked. "No Matt, they can only buy from reputable pet breeders. You will just giving her/him up for adoption".
"Well, what do I do with the egg"? he asked. Being the ever-thoughtful Mom, I said "Flush it down the toilet. That's what we do with the dead fish".
So when summer was over, and I went to Pella to move him from the rental house back to the dorms, he said, "With football camp starting, I need help with Loki (the name of the gecko). Can you bring him home and take care of him for a couple weeks"?
Being the ever-thoughtful and considerate Mom I said "Sure".
So for the last few months, we've been taking care of our grand-gecko. Switching the daylight and nightlight, filling his water dish, cleaning up his poop (just like the dang dog), filling his water dish and giving him worms. Geez....he eats a lot of worms for such a little guy.
I am thankful though...at least it's not diapers and formula. I think DHS would have a word or two with me if I kept a baby in a fish tank.
To be philisophical, one could think my posts are about life within the five fish tanks we have, or it's about life within the "Tank" that keeps us warm and dry during the rain and cold weather....(ie: our house) LOL.
But little did you know that a year ago (during Christmas break) Matt decided to buy a "spottled gecko" (two actually). I tried to talk him out of it, I really did - but as a parent you know this just might be one of those "lessons"you have to let happen.
Afer break, Matt took my two new "grand-geckos" back to school with him. This last spring I got a panicked phone call at work. "MOM! - I think there's an egg in the tank". (oh wait - I forgot to tell you they live in a 10 gallon FISH tank).
Apparently it's just as difficult to "sex" geckos as it is fish - so you never really know what you're getting. So I ask "How's it feel to be a parent".....? He replied, "I don't have time for this, I can't take care of three! What am I going to do?"
I told him, find the pet store in Oskaloosa, they'll take her or him (deciding which one you keep) in -and her/him a new home as an adoptable pet. "Will they buy him"? he asked. "No Matt, they can only buy from reputable pet breeders. You will just giving her/him up for adoption".
"Well, what do I do with the egg"? he asked. Being the ever-thoughtful Mom, I said "Flush it down the toilet. That's what we do with the dead fish".
So when summer was over, and I went to Pella to move him from the rental house back to the dorms, he said, "With football camp starting, I need help with Loki (the name of the gecko). Can you bring him home and take care of him for a couple weeks"?
Being the ever-thoughtful and considerate Mom I said "Sure".
So for the last few months, we've been taking care of our grand-gecko. Switching the daylight and nightlight, filling his water dish, cleaning up his poop (just like the dang dog), filling his water dish and giving him worms. Geez....he eats a lot of worms for such a little guy.
I am thankful though...at least it's not diapers and formula. I think DHS would have a word or two with me if I kept a baby in a fish tank.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Tales from the Tank #24
Today's post contains material that may not be suitable for all readers.
We will begin with the definition of the word FISHKILL. From Answers.com: Mass death of many fish, usually in a restricted area.
Well, the restricted area is a 40 gallon fish tank positioned in the corner of our living room. I can't say that it's been a "mass" death although we've lost about six or seven fish total.
Apparently, when you don't stay on track with regular water changes (ie: become LAZY) - your tank may become "unbalanced" where the nitrates are too high and the Ph is too low. This can cause the death of your fish. We've lost about six of our Kenyi African cichlids (see photo), one electric yellow and we're pretty sure an Auratus, because we can't find her.
Last Sunday we finally cleaned the tanks (yes all the tanks), and then Tuesday we found another dead Kenyi. Then on the morning of the 4th, we found a dead electric yellow cichlid - and a carcass (you know part head with a little bit of skin left). So I called the pet store and they were open (for a little bit) - so we hopped on the motorcycle and took a water sample out to the pet store (which is how we found out about the unbalanced tank). It was recommended to us to do another 50% water change and add some organic coral (which is a natural Ph balancer) to the rock bed.
We were told to rinse it really good, because no matter what it will turn your water milky. (Which is a complete understatement). When we got home we emptied the tank of all the decor, and then Terry added the coral. We then had to work in the dark (I mean milk) to place the decor back in the tank and then wait for the filter to do it's job in clearing the excess stuff.
So far so good....no more dead fish.
Oh I forgot - we have a pleco in the tank but you can never see him. So when we emptied the tank we shook all the decor to see if he would come out and he never did. When we got back from the pet store- he was in the bottom of a the 5 gallon bucket (in about a 1/2 of water) - so at least he didn't die. I have figured out that even though the fish are fun to look at (peaceful and serene) - there is just not the same emotional attachment to them like you have with a cat or dog.
After all, you can't flush your dog.
We will begin with the definition of the word FISHKILL. From Answers.com: Mass death of many fish, usually in a restricted area.
Well, the restricted area is a 40 gallon fish tank positioned in the corner of our living room. I can't say that it's been a "mass" death although we've lost about six or seven fish total.
Apparently, when you don't stay on track with regular water changes (ie: become LAZY) - your tank may become "unbalanced" where the nitrates are too high and the Ph is too low. This can cause the death of your fish. We've lost about six of our Kenyi African cichlids (see photo), one electric yellow and we're pretty sure an Auratus, because we can't find her. Last Sunday we finally cleaned the tanks (yes all the tanks), and then Tuesday we found another dead Kenyi. Then on the morning of the 4th, we found a dead electric yellow cichlid - and a carcass (you know part head with a little bit of skin left). So I called the pet store and they were open (for a little bit) - so we hopped on the motorcycle and took a water sample out to the pet store (which is how we found out about the unbalanced tank). It was recommended to us to do another 50% water change and add some organic coral (which is a natural Ph balancer) to the rock bed.
We were told to rinse it really good, because no matter what it will turn your water milky. (Which is a complete understatement). When we got home we emptied the tank of all the decor, and then Terry added the coral. We then had to work in the dark (I mean milk) to place the decor back in the tank and then wait for the filter to do it's job in clearing the excess stuff.
So far so good....no more dead fish.
Oh I forgot - we have a pleco in the tank but you can never see him. So when we emptied the tank we shook all the decor to see if he would come out and he never did. When we got back from the pet store- he was in the bottom of a the 5 gallon bucket (in about a 1/2 of water) - so at least he didn't die. I have figured out that even though the fish are fun to look at (peaceful and serene) - there is just not the same emotional attachment to them like you have with a cat or dog.
After all, you can't flush your dog.
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