Art and Oddballs

[HH Morant]

My lone electric blue acara

[H.K.Luterman]

@HH Morant He's gorgeous! I can't wait till mine gets bigger.

Edited July 13, 2021 by H.K.Luterman
It's early and I haven't had coffee yet and I'm just failing at everything.

[H.K.Luterman]

Today I was able to visit a LFS in my home town of Enfield, CT; Alex's Advanced Aquatics. It was a small store, but packed full of stuff! He had a selection of saltwater and freshwater livestock. The place had a very old school kind of feel.

My hubby thought this shrimp was really cool.

 

I was enamored by these little blood parrots; I've never seen orange and white ones before. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tank full of different floaters. 

 

All the walls were filled with merch like this.

 

I picked up new plant trimming scissors and a telescoping shrimp net. 

 

 

[H.K.Luterman]

Home again! It's so good to be back, it'll be nice to return to my normal routine. 

I'm sad to report that Mister Mojo the betta did not make it, but with the age and condition he was in before I left, this didn't come as a surprise. His 5 gallon will sit empty for a bit, I'm not sure what I'll put in it next. I love bettas but the splendens variety seem so fragile. I might get an alien betta next, or just maybe some nano fish. I don't know.

Everyone else is fine though! I gave everyone some midnight snacks when I got home. 

[Lemon]

On 7/21/2021 at 7:56 AM, H.K.Luterman said:

Home again! It's so good to be back, it'll be nice to return to my normal routine. 

I'm sad to report that Mister Mojo the betta did not make it, but with the age and condition he was in before I left, this didn't come as a surprise. His 5 gallon will sit empty for a bit, I'm not sure what I'll put in it next. I love bettas but the splendens variety seem so fragile. I might get an alien betta next, or just maybe some nano fish. I don't know.

Everyone else is fine though! I gave everyone some midnight snacks when I got home. 

welcome back! I'm sorry about Mister Mojo. a alien betta would be very cool or maybe scarlet badis, or some kind of shrimp 🤷‍♂️ the possibility's are endless

 

[Alesha]

On 7/21/2021 at 8:56 AM, H.K.Luterman said:

Home again! It's so good to be back, it'll be nice to return to my normal routine. 

I'm sad to report that Mister Mojo the betta did not make it, but with the age and condition he was in before I left, this didn't come as a surprise. His 5 gallon will sit empty for a bit, I'm not sure what I'll put in it next. I love bettas but the splendens variety seem so fragile. I might get an alien betta next, or just maybe some nano fish. I don't know.

Everyone else is fine though! I gave everyone some midnight snacks when I got home. 

So sorry about your betta, H.K. I'm glad that it wasn't a total shock to you...hopefully that eases the pain a bit. One of the reasons that I hesitate to get bigger fish is that I know it will be harder to lose them...especially if that have any sort of personality. I know that sounds a little...Idk...weird? Sad? Pessimistic? Whatever. That's just how my brain works. 🙄😏

Welcome back home. Hoping you have a restful day today. 🙂

[H.K.Luterman]

Tesla graduated to the 75 yesterday; he was eating all the baby Limia and harassing my Mystery Snails in the 29. He's reached 3 inches, so I think he's safe from becoming a Dragon snack. So far everyone's getting along great.

 

 

[HH Morant]

On 7/22/2021 at 11:27 AM, H.K.Luterman said:

Tesla graduated to the 75 yesterday; 

Is that the Black Diamond medium substrate? Looks good.

[H.K.Luterman]

On 7/22/2021 at 11:43 AM, HH Morant said:

Is that the Black Diamond medium substrate? Looks good.

It's mostly Black Diamond medium, yeah. I did recently throw in some regular black colored sand I got from PetSmart to add a bit more depth for the giant sword, so there's a bit of that mixed in.

[Patrick_G]

@H.K.Luterman, you still around? We need a pooka fix.

[H.K.Luterman]

On 8/19/2021 at 9:34 PM, Patrick_G said:

@H.K.Luterman, you still around? We need a pooka fix.

Goodness gracious, I haven't  updated in 4 weeks? Sorry about that! But it's just been same ol' same ol' round here. 🙂

A few weeks ago I flipped over one of the driftwood pieces in Pooka's tank just to change the look a little, and so now she has a new favorite spot to sleep. Can you see her?

 

 

 

Here she is!

 

 

 

I turned the light on to take a few pics and woke her up, so I think that's why she looks a bit faded in color.

 

 

 

 

 

To help with the algae in her tank, I moved my super red bristle nose in there with her, and I think he's been doing a good job so far. And miraculously she leaves him alone! I think he's the first fish she completely ignores.

Everyone else is doing great. I couldn't get more pics because of the awful glare in the day time, but I'll take some soon when I have a free evening. Tesla the electric blue acara has gotten huge! And Igor has gotten even fatter. XD 

 

 

 

 

That's it for now. I need to get back in the habit of checking in on here again. Final Fantasy XIV has been eating all my free time.

Edited September 21, 2021 by H.K.Luterman
Pictures broke!

[Hobbit]

*sees notif from H.K. Luterman* *immediately clicks*

Oh my, Igor’s got some chub! 😄 Pookah looks as cute as ever.

[Patrick_G]

Thanks for the update my catfish withdraw symptoms have subsided! 😀

Edited August 27, 2021 by Patrick_G

[H.K.Luterman]

Some goofy, (and maybe a little bit naughty) fish. Getting ready for some Sunday maintenance. 

 

 

[Hobbit]

Aww! Igor’s such a big girl now!!

The pecking order’s pretty clear in this tank. 😄 

[H.K.Luterman]

Speaking of naughty fish, woke up this morning to a plant casualty. I can bet money on who the culprit is (that's right, the big orange butthole smiling at me).

 

[H.K.Luterman]

Well you know the old story; went into Petco to pick up miscellaneous supplies, and made the mistake of looking at the bettas. They all looked pretty sad, the remaining few left over from the weekend sales. Typically this store is pretty good at maintaining the little cups, but this guy's water was cloudy, and he was sitting somewhat on his side. He perked up when I wiggled a finger at him. 

Knowing full well what I was getting myself into, I brought him home. 

At first, he absolutely struggled to swim, holding himself nearly vertical as he tried to get around, and taking lots and lots of rests. Obviously, something's up with his swim bladder. I suspect it may be an infection from being too cold coupled with sitting in nasty water, so I gave him his first dose of Erythromycin yesterday. Before bed last night there was a marked improvement, and I could see him having the zoomies.

This morning he seems even more improved. He still bottom sits, but when he's swimming he almost nearly looks bouyant; his tail end doesn't look as heavy. And he's definitely active! 

He only eats a little, swallowing the first few flakes and then spitting out the rest. It could be from just not feeling well. Tonight I'll try a treat of blood worms and see if he takes those better. 

Here he is. I didn't record anything from yesterday as I just was leaving him be. Keep your fingers crossed for him (and for me! I'm definitely asking myself why I bought a sick fish, but well... it's complicated).

 

 

[Lemon]

good luck with the betta, also beautiful tank what size is it?

[H.K.Luterman]

On 9/21/2021 at 10:15 AM, quirkylemon103 said:

good luck with the betta, also beautiful tank what size is it?

It's a 5 gallon. My oldest tank. :3

[Patrick_G]

Wow, he’s a handsome guy and it looks like he’s responding well to his beautiful new home. 

[Hobbit]

Aww what a cutie. He definitely has some spunk!

You’re a better person than me. I saw a betta over the weekend that was laying on the bottom of his cup, gasping. 😞 I didn’t bring him home. I wanted to, but I didn’t want to reward the store by buying it. Not that it was necessarily their fault… Aww I hate leaving sick animals behind.

[Guppysnail]

You have such a kind heart. I avoid looking at the bettas for just this reason. I hope you are rewarded with a wonderful companion 

[H.K.Luterman]

On 9/21/2021 at 10:34 PM, Hobbit said:

Aww what a cutie. He definitely has some spunk!

You’re a better person than me. I saw a betta over the weekend that was laying on the bottom of his cup, gasping. 😞 I didn’t bring him home. I wanted to, but I didn’t want to reward the store by buying it. Not that it was necessarily their fault… Aww I hate leaving sick animals behind.

I can usually resist, not wanting to support crappy care of animals. But I had a slip. I know it's not the best thing to do, but well, things are complicated.

[H.K.Luterman]

I think the new kid is actually a female. I don't see an egg spot, but she's definitely got short fins and a small beard (I can't even see it). Her ventral fins are very thin as well.

 

She certainly is cute.

Today's the last treatment of erythromycin. She still seems to sink whenever she stops swimming, and when she does swim, she has this tail down, angled posture.

 

I put in a hammock for her, and she loves hanging out on it, taking breaks from her nearly constant zoomies.

 

Wondering if that "blush" on her gill is normal. 

Who knows if her swimming well ever improve. For now I'm just seeing what foods she likes (still hasn't really taken to Bug Bite flakes, but she LOVED the little cichlid pellets I have. Blood worms were happily taken too, unsurprisingly. I might go get a few more food options next time I'm out, maybe pick up a "betta pellet" type of thing.)

Edited September 23, 2021 by H.K.Luterman

[Patrick_G]

The translucent parts of her fins are interesting. You do a good job with the camera!