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Ichthyology

2/20/2013

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Remember when my little Ben asked for a fish for his 5th birthday?  (You can read about it here.)

We started with a 1 gallon tank and 3 Glo Fish.
I realized very quickly that I had no idea what I was doing.

I thought I knew all about fish keeping because I had kept a Betta alive through college.  It turns out that Bettas have an extra organ that basically help them survive in the most terrible conditions.  Like naive-college-student owner ones.  Who knew.    

The first Glo Fish died within 12 hours.  The other two were gasping for air at the surface the next day.  I knew they wouldn't last much longer.  My son's birthday gift was veering into disaster territory.  I did what every good momma would do.

I consulted Dr. Google.

Holy. Cow.  I read thread after thread about fish keeping, and I left feeling like I was the scum of the earth.  This is what I found over and over again:  "Who would keep THREE fish in a one gallon tank?!?  That is inhumane and oh-so cruel!  What EVIL person buys Glo Fish?  Do you know how they are created?  How COULD YOU add fish before you allowed your tank to go through the nitrogen cycle!?"   (nitrogen what?)  Why weren't these experts of Dr. Google working at my local Petsmart?  The 19 year old who sold me these fish didn't mention anything like this.  She smiled, reassured me they were a great fit for our tank, and sent me on my way.  I had been fooled.

Operation Save the Glo Fish began.  Over the next few days I educated myself on true fish-keeping by reading those message boards.  The best one I found was:   www.myaquariumclub.com  and my favorite poster was Mr. John Arthur.  I upgraded our tank to a 3 gallon one, started following all the "rules," and low and behold.....I saved those two fish.  (High five!  Psh!)

A few months later a family member called.  She had a 35 gallon hexagon tank she was looking to get rid of.  Would we want it?

Heck yes, we would!  

I graduated to the big leagues, baby.  And this time I went in with a game plan.  I cycled the tank before adding any fish.  I tested the levels of ammonia and nitrates.  I added those fish to the aquarium the humane way.  Mr. John Arthur would be so proud.

Yes, we have lost a few fish along the way.  Each time I logged back into the aquarium club and found out why.  I over fed a Sunburst Platy and lost him to Swim Bladder.  (Swim Bladder??  Seriously?  That's a thing?)  
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I lost a pair of Cory Catfish because I didn't have an air stone to oxygenate the bottom of the tank where they like to live.  Apparently it's common with hex tanks.  ::shrugs shoulders::  We are learning along the way.  Our original two Glo Fish now share their tank with a Zebra Danio, a Mickey Mouse Platy, 4 Neon Tetras, 2 different Algae Eaters, and a Ghost Shrimp that hitched a ride with the Tetras.  Boo-ya.  We haven't lost a fish in a few months, so I think it is safe to say we've finally found our niche.

Ichthyology.  My new degree acquired from Dr. Google.          
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Opening Day

2/6/2013

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This past Saturday I woke up, sprung out of bed, and hurried to the window.  As I peered through the dusty mini-blinds my spirit fell.  

Snow.

Again.

On our opening day.  

ARG!  Sooooo much prep work had been done for this chosen day, February 2nd.  (2-2, my lucky number).  I knew opening a shop in February was not ideal, but I had jumped anyway.  I watched the forecast all week hoping that our little weather man would change that ominous snow cloud that hovered over Saturday.  

I sighed and switched out my cute black high heels that I had planned to wear for my furry snow boots.  It was time to go to work.

A few hours later the sidewalks were shoveled, the stage was set, and the coffee was hot.  I hate to admit it, but the pessimist in me was starting to win at 8:55.  I really began to think there was no way anyone was going to come through those swingy doors.  

The first customers started to arrive at 9:00 on the dot.  They kept coming all day long, and they didn't stop until 4:55 that afternoon. 

I didn't hardly sit down the entire day.  I wanted to hug every person who walked in stamping the snow off of their shoes.  By the afternoon I started to realize this was really happening.  People were showing up in the biggest way, and these people really got it.

At one point the snow started to fall again in big, fluffy snowflakes.  With so many beautiful glass windows throughout the Carnegie, it almost felt like we were inside a huge snow globe.  It made me catch my breath, and I silently thanked the Big Guy for working out all the details.  

Even the snowy ones.            
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    Author

    Lori.  Momma.  Noonday Ambassador.  Avid coffee drinker.  Lover of good music and books.  Former seamstress and teacher.  Wife of 13 years to Bart and the mother of Drew, Ben and Lincoln.     

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