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tallyollyopia · May 16, 2016

Raina21 said:
@Tallyollyopia

Well, keeping plants in aquariums isn't really for beginners. But it all depends on what kind of lighting you have, and what type of substrate (you know, the stuff on the bottom of the tank- sand, gravel, nutrient rich eco-complete gravel) you have.

I have what is called a walstad setup, where you put about an inch of organic potting soil on the bottom of the tank, and then cover it with an inch of gravel or sand. (I have black sand covering mine). The soil provides my plants that are root-feeders with nutrients so I don't have to spend a fortune on aquarium plant fertilizers.

Certain plants require a certain amount of light in order to be healthy. There are great low-light plants that can grow in tanks that don't have optimal light (some examples are jungle val, water wysteria, anubis and crypts) . Any tank that you buy as a "kit" that comes with a light is not going to work for growing plants (since most come with weak incandescent lights, LED lights that don't provide the correct spectrum of light for plants, or weak florescent lights like T8 bulbs). You really need a T5 florescent fixture with 7000k (7000k light temperature) daylight bulbs or a nice LED fixture that is specialized to grow plants (which is what I have).

It also depends on the depth of your tank, as the taller your tank is, the further your plants will be from the light, and the less light your plants will actually be able to use.

Also, as a general rule, I'd never buy fish or plants from petsmart. I also would never immediately trust any information any petsmart (or any large chain pet store) employee tries to tell you about fish. They generally don't know squat about the fish they're selling, and will give you the wrong information. NEVER LET ANYONE TRY TO CONVINCE YOU THAT PUTTING ANY FISH IN A FISHBOWL IS SAFE OR HUMANE (YES THIS INCLUDES BETTAS!) FISHBOWLS ARE LITERAL DEATH TRAPS FOR FISH. THEY ARE AWFUL AND I TRULY CANNOT FATHOM WHY THEY ARE STILL SOLD IN PET STORES.

Now, hold on a moment. Fishbowls make for awesome decorative accents that you can literally change almost the entire look of with ease (as long as there are no fish in them, of course). As for betas--they're sold that way because they will, quite literally, attack their own reflection until they die. (Some ill-advised person gave a friend of mine in high school a mirrored aquarium--and three starter male beta fish.

) So, I understand why betas are sold the way they are.

Margret said:
I only hand out my number to people I want to call me, or to recognize who it is when I call them, and I always turn it off while driving. Oh, yes, and when I get phone spam, I use caller ID blocking so that I don't have to deal with that person again. (When I was visiting my mother and brother in Oregon a couple of years ago, I got a call on my old clam shell cell phone from some interior decorator in Wyoming, asking for "Mark." My brother's name is Mark, and I couldn't figure out why he would have given my cell phone number to an interior decorator in Wyoming, of all places. Eventually it came out that the guy was trying to call a client in Colorado [same area code as my phone] who happened to be named Mark. Then he called again. It appears that my number was just one digit off from his client's number, and he kept mis-dialing, so I put a block on his number. Then he called again, from a different phone! Sigh. I hope he got as tired of talking to me as I got of talking to him.)

I've been incredibly indolent today. I fed the cat and myself (Roger handles his own meals), I dealt with most of my email, and I played computer games and watched television. And now I'm about to get dressed and go to the grocery store for some more cashew milk.

Good night, everyone. Margret

Sometimes, just handing your number out to people you want to have it isn't enough. I've been job searching, which means my number has been going everywhere, and I occasionally get crank calls. (And for some reason, I keep getting calls from a 212 area code that speak Spanish when I call them back.)

raina21 · May 16, 2016

Tallyollyopia said:
Now, hold on a moment. Fishbowls make for awesome decorative accents that you can literally change almost the entire look of with ease (as long as there are no fish in them, of course). As for betas--they're sold that way because they will, quite literally, attack their own reflection until they die. (Some ill-advised person gave a friend of mine in high school a mirrored aquarium--and three starter male beta fish. ) So, I understand why betas are sold the way they are.

Your friend put three Male bettas together?!?! That's a disaster waiting to happen! The bettas most likely killed each other in that case. Males cannot be housed with other males (or females for that matter)!

Yes, bettas will SOMETIMES flare at or try to attack their own reflections, but not all of them will. Plus, not all proper aquariums are mirrored. Also, Bettas are tropical fish, they NEED heated water and the water has to be at least 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish bowls (or anything smaller than 2.5 gallons) cannot be safely or consistently heated, therefore they are not safe for bettas. Also, contrary to the popular belief, bettas (and every other aquarium fish) DO need filters.

Putting a Betta in a bowl will only sentence it to a slow, painful death. Bettas are very hardy fish and can survive being kept in terrible conditions, but some people who keep bettas don't seem to realize that, just because the fish is alive, doesn't mean he's thriving. Bettas that go without heat are lethargic and sickly. And toxic ammonia and nitrites build up SO quickly in bowls that it burns/causes damage to the fish's gills and eventually may kill them!

But put a Betta in a proper 5 or 10 gallon tank with a heater and filter and they will be extremely active and have their own little personalities and they will thrive.

Bowls are not safe for ANY fish. Period.

rhondalee · May 16, 2016

Raina21 said:
rhondalee

How big is your tank? I only ask because Zebra Danios are schooling fish and you need to have at least 6 of them so they don't get stressed out (the more the better though). And can you elaborate on the orange and clear fish?

Also most species of catfish are much too agressive to be kept with guppies!!!

I have autism and Freshwater fish are one of my obsessions. I actually have a 125 gallon aquarium in my room. Haha.

You're tank is beautiful. Thanks for the info on the zebras. It's been so long since I've had fish that I've forgotten almost everything I knew before. I'll get some more this evening. The employees at the pet store didn't know much about fish.

After many tries, I finally got a picture of the orange fish. View media item 348853
The cat fish and guppies are getting along good. I'll try to get a picture of it when it comes toward the front of the tank. It's the same cat fish that was in the tank with them at the pet store.

Would you mind if I ask for advice now and then?

grizzlysapien · May 16, 2016

Come on guys.. Don't make me wanting to have fish as well! I mean.. Come oooon! Why are you doing this to me?? I don't have any room left! I'll kick my mother out..

rhondalee · May 16, 2016

GrizzlySapien said:
Come on guys.. Don't make me wanting to have fish as well! I mean.. Come oooon! Why are you doing this to me?? I don't have any room left! I'll kick my mother out.. :eyebrows:

Oh no! Don't kick out your mommy! Who will feed your new fish while you're gone? Lol

NewYork1303 · May 16, 2016

Guppies make me shutter just a bit. When we had guppies when I was growing up they bred out of control. It was a huge challenge keeping the water in the tank clean since there were too many and they just kept reproducing.

DreamerRose · May 16, 2016

Get some angel fish. They will take care of the excess guppies in no time.

rhondalee · May 16, 2016

I've never had guppies long enough to breed. Maybe that's because I also had angel fish!:dk: Oopsies!!!!

jcat · May 16, 2016

LTS3 said:
I'm thinking of one day getting guinea pigs or a hedgehog. I wonder how the cats would react to a bigger small furry

Rhondalee said:
I want a hedgehog too. They are soooo cute. The pet store had one and I got to hold it. I had to wear a special glove though, so I don't know how it felt. It was so adorable when it rolled into a ball and then opened up and stared at me. I fell in love with and have wanted one since. Maybe some day.

LTS3 said:
Hedgehog quills are pretty soft, not prickly at all.

If I ever get another small animal, I'm going to the shelter to adopt. I know the local shelter always has guinea pigs and the more common furries and occasionally hedgehogs. There is local hedgehog breeder, too. I'm not sure if the breeder just sells babies or also retired adult breeders.

They're adorable, but a hedgehog is probably one of the last things I'd get as a pet! :lol3: We had one for several years, but a fox got him. They're a protected species here in Germany, so people are obliged to pick up the ones that are too small to hibernate and turn them over to shelters, etc.. They're fine while they're hibernating in winter - usually they wake up once or twice a week and eat. Once they're done hibernating, they make an awful mess. Food goes in one end and out the other, in huge quantities. We're having a cold spell right now and can't release the hedgies yet, although they've been awake for 2 - 3 weeks. Their stalls have to be completely cleaned at least once a day; figure at least half a newspaper per hedgehog every day. Once they're released, we'll have to use a pressure cleaner on the stalls.

It's probably best not to mention ticks and lung worms.

dorimon · May 16, 2016

I've actually always wanted a hedgehog! I was living in California for almost three years, though, and it is illegal to keep them as pets there. After my husband and I moved back to Maryland, I wanted to get one, but we ended up adopting a second kitty (Callie) instead.

You're supposed to be able to train hedgies to use litter boxes like cats do, right?

I would just love to have Coco and Callie meet a cute little hedgehog. But that's probably not going to ever happen.

rhondalee · May 16, 2016

jcat said:
They're adorable, but a hedgehog is probably one of the last things I'd get as a pet! :lol3: We had one for several years, but a fox got him. They're a protected species here in Germany, so people are obliged to pick up the ones that are too small to hibernate and turn them over to shelters, etc.. They're fine while they're hibernating in winter - usually they wake up once or twice a week and eat. Once they're done hibernating, they make an awful mess. Food goes in one end and out the other, in huge quantities. We're having a cold spell right now and can't release the hedgies yet, although they've been awake for 2 - 3 weeks. Their stalls have to be completely cleaned at least once a day; figure at least half a newspaper per hedgehog every day. Once they're released, we'll have to use a pressure cleaner on the stalls.

It's probably best not to mention ticks and lung worms.

Thanks for talking me out of wanting one. The last thing I need right now is a high maintenance pet. The cats and now my new fish give me plenty to do.

raina21 · May 16, 2016

Rhondalee said:
You're tank is beautiful. Thanks for the info on the zebras. It's been so long since I've had fish that I've forgotten almost everything I knew before. I'll get some more this evening. The employees at the pet store didn't know much about fish.

After many tries, I finally got a picture of the orange fish. View media item 348853
The cat fish and guppies are getting along good. I'll try to get a picture of it when it comes toward the front of the tank. It's the same cat fish that was in the tank with them at the pet store.

Would you mind if I ask for advice now and then?

Ahhh those are surpae tetras, also schooling fish and do also need to be in groups of 6 or more.

Would the catfish you are talking about be called a Cory catfish? Those aree very peaceful.

How big is your tank?

rhondalee · May 16, 2016

Raina21 said:
Ahhh those are surpae tetras, also schooling fish and do also need to be in groups of 6 or more.

Would the catfish you are talking about be called a Cory catfish? Those aree very peaceful.

How big is your tank?

My tank is only 10 gallons. Looks like I may not have a big enough tank for the amount of fish I'll need, to keep what I have, happy. Maybe I'll leave the guppies and cat fish in the smaller tank. I did read that 4-6 zebras are sufficient. What are your thoughts on that? And yes, it's a Cory catfish. The cute, little fat ones!

foxxycat · May 16, 2016

This is a very interesting thread-thank you for the fun facts about turtles and eating their eggs. I have no issues with creepy crawlies but only like to see them in pictures. I come across a garden snake once in awhile.

Somewhere in storage are photos of Floey playing with a snack..back in 2001? She was an outdoor kitty before I got her but she loves to play in the yard-we lived in the city with a postage stamp size yard and off a deadend road. She was having a blast smacking it around until it lurched at her and she took off like the hounds of hell were after her-she doesn't mess with snacks anymore!

Anyone have a snake? Jon is petrified of snakes but loves the woods. I told him don't go down south otherwise he will see them everywhere.

Honeybee probably would try to bite the garden snack. She bites anything that moves except for people-or sometimes she bites me if she has had enough getting petted. She just nips but if you don't back off-she will bite down and scratch you.

LTS3 · May 16, 2016

jcat said:
They're adorable, but a hedgehog is probably one of the last things I'd get as a pet!

We had one for several years, but a fox got him. They're a protected species here in Germany, so people are obliged to pick up the ones that are too small to hibernate and turn them over to shelters, etc.. They're fine while they're hibernating in winter - usually they wake up once or twice a week and eat. Once they're done hibernating, they make an awful mess. Food goes in one end and out the other, in huge quantities. We're having a cold spell right now and can't release the hedgies yet, although they've been awake for 2 - 3 weeks. Their stalls have to be completely cleaned at least once a day; figure at least half a newspaper per hedgehog every day. Once they're released, we'll have to use a pressure cleaner on the stalls.

It's probably best not to mention ticks and lung worms.

In the US, African Pygmy hedgehodgs are the particular species kept as pets. I'm not sure which hedgeohog species is in Germany.

dorimon said:
I've actually always wanted a hedgehog! I was living in California for almost three years, though, and it is illegal to keep them as pets there. After my husband and I moved back to Maryland, I wanted to get one, but we ended up adopting a second kitty (Callie) instead.

You're supposed to be able to train hedgies to use litter boxes like cats do, right?

Yes, some US states prohibit keeping hedgehogs and other exotic animals as pets. Other states have restrictions and a certificate from the state Wildlife and Fisheries department may be required before you get get a hedgehog.

I think hedgehogs can be trained to use a litter box. This web site has great information: http://www.hedgehogworld.com/content.php You'll need an exotic vet to provide treatment to a hedgehog. Regular cat / dog vets often don't know much about exotic animals and their particular needs.

tallyollyopia · May 16, 2016

Raina21 said:
Your friend put three Male bettas together?!?! That's a disaster waiting to happen! The bettas most likely killed each other in that case. Males cannot be housed with other males (or females for that matter)!

Yes, bettas will SOMETIMES flare at or try to attack their own reflections, but not all of them will. Plus, not all proper aquariums are mirrored. Also, Bettas are tropical fish, they NEED heated water and the water has to be at least 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish bowls (or anything smaller than 2.5 gallons) cannot be safely or consistently heated, therefore they are not safe for bettas. Also, contrary to the popular belief, bettas (and every other aquarium fish) DO need filters.

Putting a Betta in a bowl will only sentence it to a slow, painful death. Bettas are very hardy fish and can survive being kept in terrible conditions, but some people who keep bettas don't seem to realize that, just because the fish is alive, doesn't mean he's thriving. Bettas that go without heat are lethargic and sickly. And toxic ammonia and nitrites build up SO quickly in bowls that it burns/causes damage to the fish's gills and eventually may kill them!

But put a Betta in a proper 5 or 10 gallon tank with a heater and filter and they will be extremely active and have their own little personalities and they will thrive.

Bowls are not safe for ANY fish. Period.

First of all: the person who gave my friend three beta fish (not me!!!), had no idea what he was doing. (His mother was a dog breeder with ichnyphobia (I think I spelled that right), and couldn't stand the sight of any fish. (Naturally, he'd wanted an aquarium his entire life.) The mirrored aquarium was (supposedly) heat efficient, as the mirrored sides helped keep the heat in. (He was easily scammed. Did I mention that?) And he didn't know anything about beta fish (not even that they're saltwater fish); he just thought they were pretty. (Personally, I think the person at the pet store should have mentioned something when he wanted three of them. Given that the internet was nowhere near as easily accessible as it is now, I find that the fault lies with the pet store attendant for not telling him anything even after he told them he'd never had fish before and was trying to set up a starter aquarium for his girlfriend. The store has since gone out of business.) And yes, they did indeed kill each other. My friend was horrified (which is how I know about beta fish).

Lastly, I never said put fish in the fish bowl. They make good decorative accents, not pet homes.

rhondalee · May 16, 2016

Why, oh why, does 2 of my cats become super vocal everytime I want to take a nap? Is it because they don't see me moving around the house? They know where I am, as they watched me lay down. They sound like they're crying. It's so pitiful yet obnoxious. I just wanted a cat nap.

DreamerRose · May 16, 2016

Legends about black cats:

Scotland; a black cat appearing on your doorstep is a sign of prosperity
England; in the Midlands, a black cat as a wedding present is thought to bring good luck to the bride
France: In the south of France, black cats are referred to as ‘matagots’ or ‘magician cats’ and according to local superstition, feeding and treating them well will bring good luck to the owner.
Northern Europe; it is believed that taking in and caring for a black cat can ensure fair weather and safe passage during voyages on the sea
Asia; owning a black cat is considered lucky
Italy; if you hear a black cat sneeze, you are in for a streak of good luck

Sarthur2 · May 16, 2016

And unfortunately, in the U.S., black cats are all too often pictured with witches, and considered bad luck if one should cross your path. It's a really bad rap for black cats, and totally unfair. But the American public must have bought into the myth, since so many shelters have black cats that go for months unadopted. [emoji]128533[/emoji]

rhondalee · May 16, 2016

View media item 348930 I love black cats. I think they are the most beautiful of all. This is my Loki. He's is as sleek and regal as a black panther. Not a very clear picture, sorry, but I have all my pictures on my phone.

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