RIP Lancelot

My poor, beautiful Lancie died. I found him on the bottom of his fish bowl on tuesday evening. I didn't think he had much longer to live, but I am still saddened. He was quite old for a siamese fighting fish, and was quite the battler, having survived several falls to the hard floor and jaunts outside the fishbowl, one near squish when I practically stood on him, and multiple 100% water changes (before I knew better). I am glad I put his bowl next to me when I studied last weekend so I could spend a bit of time with him.
*sigh*

Ickle Fishies, and Axolotls

At the moment I have .... *thinks* nine surviving fishies in the tank. After a number of deaths, there has been no fatalities in.... *thinks* 9 days. After having the water tested, (no probelms there) it was deduced as being a pH problem, and I was advised to use this keeps-water-at-neutral-don't-look-at-the-price buffering stuff. I have my own ph kit, so have been able to monitor it, and even with the extra buffering stuff, plus the 'ph down' stuff I haven't been able to bring the ph down much at all (hmmm great purchase). Besides, it is only about 7.4-7.6. but even that is a little high for cardinals apparently for they are wild caught and are fussy about water conditions. But I really don't know why my second silver shark died quite suddenly last friday. Was fine when I got home from work, walked past the tank a little bit later and was floating on its side, I though it was dead then but it kicked a little and swam and i went into the kitchen and came straight back and it was lying on the bottom of the tank, dead. It looked fine, no marks on it at all. In fact I thought they might breed because the two of them did this amazing dance thing one evening, swimming side by side, and crossing each other, and wriggling against each other for ages......

So I've lost 2 cardinals, 1 silver shark and a pepper cory (which was also sad cos he was a really cute little thing) who died 2 days after getting him. I ended up taking a 3-spot gourami back to the fish place because it was causing troubles and going after the other gourami, then took on the silver shark as well.

After having the fish for *thinks*......3 weeks? now and tank operating for 4 weeks there should be some indication of cycling happening but last week there was no ammonia in the water and no nitrite? or nitrate? (they tested for the worse one), and the fishies look good atm so either the worse is yet to come or it is clear sailing from here. After a few (successful) weeks I'll get a few more fishies.

And I am concerned for Lancie as he is looking really ill and I do not think he'll survive this winter (but i did think that last winter...). I have had him for two years and he was about 6months old when I got him so for a siamese fighting fish he is doing really well. But he has major swim bladder problems and now he has this weird growth? on the side of his face and it looks like one side is cracking or caving in?? And it makes his mouth wonky. It is really weird. But he still eats and swims around kinda and looks around (i can see his eyes moving or rather one eye moves better cos the other one is on the funny growth/sunken weird side). I hope he is not in pain.

And Arthur's gills have not grown back yet but he loves his beef heart. It has really brought out his personality, and has attempted to eat my fingers, and even snap at my mere passing his tank, and will swim to the surface when one goes over to his tank.
I don't think I relayed the drama's relating to him, but a while ago i put a couple of danios in the tank with him (after i put arthur in another bigger tank, so he could have more room to swim). Two went missing, i presume arthur ate them, and i tried to catch the other 2 to save them from becoming a meal. I caught one, but the other was too clever. After 2 days, i noticed arthur was really sad and not moving or eating an to my absolute horror i realised the fish had eaten arthurs gills. I was mortified and grieved that i had caused this maiming and pain of my baby. So After being unsuccessful at catching this little shit of a fish i put arthur back in his old tank.
I am happy to report that Arthur is now thriving, and functioning well even with only 1 gill left. Axolotls have regenerative abilities, so can regrow limbs if needed but it works better in younger axolotls. He is not that old *thinks*.... i have had him one year, but so far no regrowth, Then again, it may take a while, but it has been about *thinks*... 6-8 weeks since this happened..... There is a few buds/knobs, where the gills were they haven't grown more. I started feeding him beef heart after this, and he absolutely loves it, from the very first feed of it. And he seems happy in the small tank, even though it is rather small.

BTW, that shit of a danio is now in the big tank with the other fishies, thriving and growing big. I was able to catch him after number of weeks of no attempts and he forgot what the net looked like. The danio I rescued(to save his life) previousley from the tank commited suicide by jumping out of the fish bowel I put him into.
So I also have a spare tank now, with nothing in it except a whole heap of pest snails.... Hmmm what can I put in that tank......????.......*ponders*.

Pangur the Little Tiger

Well, we had to do the Vet thing the other day for Pangur's vaccinations.
Next time I am taking Valium and thick leather gardening gloves along.

No not really, although the gloves may come in handy.

The vet said typical of Bengals they are quite fiesty and are just like little Tigers! (Appropriate really). It took 3 attempts to give her the vaccination, and he had to call on extra help from the vet nurse to hold her down.

He also said while they are lovely cats make sure they are socialised. So I need people to come over and get her used to other people as there is no one else here. She tends to hiss at people and/or hide, but then comes out to play if you bribe her with toys. She gave one friend some nasty scratches after his ill-fated and misguided attempt to pick her up.

Well, since I really wanted a Tiger or Lion, (and got a Bengal as the closest thing I could get to a Big Cat) I suppose I shouldn't complain.

The Scholar and His Cat

I and Pangur Ban my cat,
'Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill-will,
He too plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

* * * * * * * * * *

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into night.

(translated by Robin Flower, in AnamCara. Abridged)