Days with the Dorans

So just like I joined my "Bearded Support Group," I also joined a "Russian Tortoise Support Group" to be a better mom to Morty. I have been worried about his lack of appetite so took him to the vet where he got a beak trim, nail trim and I learned he had pinworms!! YIKES!! They said the worms weren't something to worry about and that they'd go away on their own so now I just wait I guess. In the meantime, I've been trying to take him to the lake (free of chemicals) for him to hang out and get some real rays! You'd be surprised how fast a tortoise can go! I also decided to finally get some new fish. I had a lone bottom feeder left and decided it was time to fill it up again. I love watching our tank so got these beauties!! And then there's Norbert... I had heard bad things about the carpet I put in there and someone said that sand was the way to go- so what did I do? Got plexiglass cut to the dimensions of his crib, made a ...

So sadly all of my fishies died a little after Christmas from the dreaded ICK!  I treated the tank and then my dad came over and helped me clean it further. I was so anxious to get new guys but knew it was important to wait.  I really do love the fish and spend a lot of time watching them. I went to Tropical Fish and told the guy there that I was starting again and he hooked me up with a dozen schoolers (three of four different kinds) and told me to come back in a week and have the water tested. Well... the water was tested and looks great!  I added three black angels two cory cats and one sucker.  I was going to get some loaches but they were hiding.  Maybe next time as one of my cats swam into the coral and I haven't seen him come out just yet.  I do know when I watch my fish now I'm also looking closely at their fins.  No way ICK is going to wipe out any more of my babies!!

 As I type this, ALL of my fish are gone (sob!).  You read that right, my silver dollars, angels, tetras, schoolers, sharks, suckers, mollies... ALL OF THEM.  I'm so upset.  It started when I notice the white spots on my silver dollars (pictured above). I called my dad and casually asked him about it and he said, "Oh no!  You have Ick!"  I didn't know what Ick was at the time, but now sadly I do.  Apparently it is a common disease that fish can get but I'm feeling horrible I didn't catch it earlier (or at least mention something to my dad about it. I tried treating it, but I think it was just too late.  One by one I'd come down in the morning and they were gone.  It was my first fish (My Molly, Snicker) who was the last to die on Christmas day. I know it sounds silly to be sad about fish but I miss looking at them.  My dad is going to help me fix up the tank and get a few new guys.  I feel OK because now I know what Ick loo...

I have wanted a fish tank for some time.  When I was growing up, my dad had a REALLY large salt-water tank. It was the coolest thing ever!  I remember him feeding fish from his fresh water tank to his anemone and this cool Candy-Cane Shrimp he had that would shed it's skin and we'd take the skin in for show and tell.  It was the coolest thing ever.  I loved that tank and I remember spending hours watching it (and drawing pictures of aquariums and fish). My dad still loves fish but no longer has the aquariums.  I told him I was wanting one though and he was very excited.  We went together and he helped me pick one out and set it up.  It was actually really fun and we had some great daddy-daughter bonding time! He's taught me a lot about fish and helped me with my tank.  He brought over Petoskey stones, petrified food, barnicles and plants that he had. One of the things I love most about the tank is where I put it... It's in our kitchen b...

Today Joey learned that his dear fish, Rocky, died. He was very upset and we cried and hugged for a long time. We prayed together and even Ali Jane joined us. As she spoke, she too began to cry (What an amazing sister she is!). I was incredibly moved when Joe said he wanted to write about Rocky. He is unaware that it was my writing that got me (and continues to get me) through the loss of his brother and E. To say that I am proud of this little boy would be the understatement of the century. Here, we remember Rocky, in the words of my favorite first grader. They Story of Rocky I went to the fish store and I looked and looked. I saw a Beta that was blue. "I want him," I said. "I like the fish," I said. "And I love him." When it was night time, I looked in my fish's tank. He was gone. I cried and cried. I was sad. I liked Rocky. Even though you know he died, he is now my brother, Andrew's fish. And I say, "Thank you Rocky for being my fis...

Those of you who have read Fish Tales Parts I and II (see label below if you haven't) know that eventually there would be another chapter to the story. Here it is... Yesterday while the middles were at school, Papa came and got Joe so they could have a fun day- lunch and then- A NEW FISH! I am not going to write about how lunch went- that's another blog in itself- so stay tuned... When they returned from their adventure, I noticed that the all-too-familiar brown bag with fish was missing from their hands. My dad said that again the man at the fish store said that Joe's tank's water was bad. (Papa had brought in a sample.) This time the man said to treat the water and bring a sample back pronto- which is what my dad did- and this time he returned with a new blue fish! A Beta, just like Ali Jane's- and the best part is Joe's new fish is BLUE! (Just like he wanted!) He of course went through names for his fish and he settled on Rocky. Papa and I thought that app...

If you are reading this Fish Tale, please begin first at "Fish Tales (Part I). In between Fish Tales (Part I) and Fish Tales (Part II), there was actually a Fish Tales (Part I 1/2)... Zachy got into Queenie's food and "helped out" by feeding all the fish. The only problem was that he helped a little too much which resulted in me cleaning tanks, treating water, and praying for the best. Thankfully we only had one casualty during Fish Tales (Part I 1/2) and to be honest since it was just one of Zach's guppies (not Big Red) and Queenie survived, it didn't bother me much. But the enormous amount of fish food you see in these pictures is not Queenie's Beta food... (the weapon used in Fish Tales Part I 1/2) it is the food for the guppies- and Zach struck once again- this time only to the boys tanks! (and thankfully Joe's still was empty waiting for the water to be tested once again...) I thought that after Fish Tales (Part I 1/2) that Zach had learned hi...

I may have mentioned this before but growing up, my dad had a HUGE salt water tank (as well as a fresh water one). He decided last Christmas to try once again to get the kids excited about fish, so he got them each their own tank. They were so excited! So much so, that when they went to the fish store with Papa and the fish man told them not to shake the bag that the fish were in, Joey was complaining on the car-ride home that I was "bumping the car too much". Once home, they tip-toed up the stairs and were just the most perfect fish owners ever! (All except Zach that is... he didn't really care-) Ali Jane got a Beta (Queenie) Joey got three tetras (Me-Hardy, the Captain and Hook) and Zach got three guppies. (He didn't really care about them but we affectionately called the male fish "Big Red" because of his color.) The trip to the fish store was extremely exciting because it came after a melancholy day that Joe was having. I wrote about it on my Moments o...