Lizzyduff

Usually the pond waterfall does the trick but last week it froze the top 3 inches solid regardless and poured water out on top of the ice and eventually the porch. Took hours and a hammer, and lots of whisky to open a small hole for gas exchange. Looking at buying a pond or birdbath deicer for the next short deep freeze but most seem to have mixed reviews. From overheating the actual water instead of just a small ring, to electric shocks. My goldfish and i are both too old to deal with 3 inches of ice next time so I thought I'd ask you all. In the winter the goldies do their hibernation thing in a 45gallon tub on the patio- got tired of hungry critters eating them every winter- so once the water temperature is in the low 30's I move them to their winter tub. Still outside but protected on the porch from birds and raccoons. I keep the waterfall filter going but that wasn't enough this time. Thoughts?

I suppose I could train my chickens to eat the snakes...🤔 there is no way that could possibly go wrong. I'll try the garlic first though... thanks!

Anyone else have this issue? The net keeps out the birds but garter snakes keep getting in and eating my white cloud minnows. I pulled a 3 foot long one out of there last night and it was almost too full to move. I'm tired of feeding the local wildlife. Anyone have tips or suggestions to keep snakes out?

That is a really good explanation of a very complicated situation, thank you, that makes a lot of sense.

Oooh that sounds interesting... blue and green... huh. I guess I don't need any more arm twisting... time for another tank! LMAO 🤣 Oh! How have I not seen this graphic before?!? This is brilliant, thank you!!

I've been told orange and yellow shrimp can't inter-breed, is this accurate? I currently have 1 blue dream tank, 1 red cherry tank, and a yellow tank. Would it be safe to add some of the gorgeous orange shrimp from ACoOp into the yellow tank without risking them mating and producing wild types? I've spent a long time culling and improving my colors so the last thing I need is some genetic roulette game screwing it up. I guess I could just get another tank for the oranges... 🤔

Excellent! Are you local to the Snohomish area? Private message me the details ($$, location, etc) and we can set up a date and time for me to drop by, if so! I only need a few, around 4-5. Thank you!

Thank you! Last I checked they only had orange, blue, and red. But it can't hurt to peek since it's been a month or so since I've been. Thanks!

Hello, I'm looking to add some genetic diversity to my group of yellows but I'd like to find someone local to the Snohomish area who'd sell me 5 or 6. I've had so so luck in the past with shipping so if possible I'd prefer to buy local, but haven't found them anywhere. Any help appreciated.

Well I'll be... huh. Learned something new today. That's really neat!

Oh! I just put in a new light... I'll turn that down. Last thing I need is algae.

There's a steady stream of bubbles coming out... WTF

Plus, eventually they will eat all the bladder snails. I also recommend breeding ramshorn snails for food. My puffers ate the entirety of my bladder snail collection in a matter of weeks. I'm dangerously low on ramshorn snails now too, but my next order should be arriving any day. I also supplement with blood worms, brine shrimp, and neocaridina shrimps. They love picking through the Java moss for critters too. Never in my life did I imagine I'd actually be paying for bladder snails. Yet, here we are. This month, approximately 50% of their diet is some sort of snail, followed by various frozen worms 30%, and the rest make up the remaining 20%. I figure the more variety the better but honestly, good luck getting one to try something new once it has a boner for whatever its decided is it's favorite 😆 🤣

Anyone in the Snohomish WA area have bladder snails they want to get rid of? My puffers are going through mine faster than I can breed them. Just set up a new tank for snail breeding but that will take a while to get going. They will eat the ramshorns but seem to prefer the bladder snails.

Are any of yall in the Seattle area? I could use some bladder snails, or anything small enough to be puffer food. They're going through mine faster than they can reproduce.