(no subject)

[austin_tycho]

I got some more fishies for my tanks. I've been bad and not checked the chemicals, but I figure it's been awhile and if not they're cheap fish.

I got an albino pleco algae eater. Apparently 'albino' in this particular case has nothing to do with pigment- he is plenty pigmented. It means he's small, and will stay fairly small. I got a standard pleco awhile back for the 10 gallon, and he's gotten huge- like almost 6 inches. So I rassled the regular pleco into the 55g and put the albino pleco in the 10g. I also took the rocks and shells (which screw up the water chemistry) out of the 10g and got a small bit of driftwood... it's already turning the water a faint yellow, but I'm told it's not bad for the fish at all, and in fact makes the water softer which is happy.

That big pleco didn't want to go though. Fish nerd at the store said it'd be better for him if I could grab him with my hands (the pleco, I mean) rather than use a net since he has spiky fins. But after sloshing half of the 10g onto the table trying to chase him down, I had to just use the net. He's a wily one, and I don't have the fish-zen the nerd did- it was like 'snatch the pebble from my hand.' I failed. *hangs head*

I also got some scissortail rasboras. They're sort of minnow-shaped, but they're clear, with silvery bits on their head and tail, with black stripes on the tail that twitches in a scissor-like fashion when they swim, thus the name. I always though clear fish were really cool looking. I asked the nerd to give me five, but when I put them in the tank and they were able to spread out, there were actually six of them. The mollies started picking on them, but they asserted themselves. Those mollies were looking too smug anyway. Now, since they haven't learned that human standing in front of the tank equals food, they run over to the far side of the tank, passing the mollies who run towards where the food comes from. It's amusing to watch. The rasboras school more than the mollies do, to- hub says it looks like the Sharks and the Jets in there. Or maybe he said the Bloods and the Crips. Something like that.

I went to the Honda place (a different one) and checked out the CR-V. Too small. The 4-runner was also too small, and I'm not getting a Passport. He said they had no wagons. So I'm almost 100% certain now that the car I want does indeed not exist. *sigh*

We played more D&D last night. It was kind of fun, but there was some serious rules-lawyering and bad sportsmanship going on, which gets really irritating. I hope this was a fluke.

Now, I am in quest mode for coffee cake. I haven't had coffee cake in a zillion years, so I don't know why I want it now. Maybe it's the weather. Hub's sister and her husband are coming over for dinner tonight; that should be fun.

Comments

[takarosa.livejournal.com]

That big pleco didn't want to go though. Fish nerd at the store said it'd be better for him if I could grab him with my hands (the pleco, I mean) rather than use a net since he has spiky fins.

That had, I assume, the desired effect upon me as the reader. Snarfed loudly. I'd even go so far as to say that my upstairs neighbor heard me cackling after reading that line. Nice! *wink*

[mielikki.livejournal.com]

heh heh heh! Thanks :)

[scorpionis.livejournal.com]

Did fish-nerd boi also mention that the same spikes that make netting plecos difficult will also poke holes in your human hands?? Very painful, but I've seen it done without pokes (usually by said fish-nerds). Rasboras rock: they school so nice!! Dunno how many fish you've got in there already, but schools work best in groups of at least 7-10. Glad your new tank is going well. Hope you know Mr. Pleco will grow as large as you let him: mine got 12" long, and then I had to sell them or give them away to whatever fishstore would take them. They got so messy!!