https://www.posetteforever.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=3180
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guiltypleasures
Thursday, 13 March 2008, 11:50 PM

Men can only lead to trouble
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As most of you know I have many fish tanks and fish. My two biggest fish tanks are: 55 gal and a 135 gal. My 55 gal is home to a number of different types of cichlids. My big 135 tank is  home to a number of fish big and small of assorted kinds. First some background:
55 gal tank, 2 convict cichlids (male and female) all is good for sometime, they have many babies (none which survive to adults), this comes to an end when I find that the big male convict has been beaten up by another cichlid (I have my thoughts on which one) so he's hiding and looking pretty badly. I decide to move him and his mate to my 135 tank. Well I'm able to net him and move him but the little female doesn't seem to want to be netted so I give up on her. (She needs a break in having babies anyways) Okay if you are with me so far, here is a little background on the 135 tank. In that tank I've had a female convict cichlid that was born to another pair of convicts I had awhile back. She was the only baby that actually survived and grew to a pretty little girl. Well she's been in the 135 tank for most of her life without a mate. Now enter the male I just moved from the 55. All is good in her world I'm assuming, she seems happy to have a man and they get busy setting up the house and nursery. About 2 weeks ago I see that maybe there is eggs in their new home. Yes, eggs and a few days later I see a zillion babies in there. All is good in the Convict home it seems. Mommy and Daddy are busy rearing the young ones and running off any other fish that comes into their area. Such is the life of Convict cichlids :)
Well about a week ago I see Daddy convict away from his happy family laying on the bottom of the tank not looking well at all. His coloring is all faded out and he seems very distressed. I have no clue what has happened to him, has he been in a fight? Has he not taken care of his kids enough and Mommy has put him in his place? I really don't know, but I feel his end is near. Next night I'm saddened that his end is here and he's dead. I am very sad by this and even feel terrible that now Mommy has all these babies to watch over without her man. I see that she is trying her hardest to keep an eye on those "zillion" babies while trying to fend off any "intruder fish".  All is going okay so far, but now I'll go into the rest of the story.
Next day I'm not feeling well, so I am lazy on feeding the fish (they are very spoiled fish, I feed them many good things and more than they need almost daily) but this day I only give them some fish flakes and not all their special foods. (I'm a bad fish mommy I know  :sad: ) Next night I decide I have to get all my fish fed good so I start into feed the 135 tank and see my 12 inch African Clown Knife (Mac the Knife) over by where my female convict and babies are. (Female convict is named "Mikie") Well on closer inspection to my horror I now see Mikie's butt and tail end sticking out of Mac the Knifes mouth. Oh my goodness he's eating my convict! I yell to let her go, I tap on the glass...(Mac does not let her go or even seem to care about my tapping or yelling) I am now worried that Mac may have tried to eat more than he could swallow and may end up choking on the convict. Mac the Knife is my pride and joy (I do love the convict too but not as much as the knife lol) Now I'm worried and a bit scared but also having a hard time from laughing about the whole situation. I go out and find my boyfriend in his shop and tell him what's happened. He says "time to get rid of the fish that is eating other fish" I give him a good glare and say "Oh no, I love Mac the Knife and he shall never leave me" I go back to the house to see what has happened in the tank. Mac is now swimming very fast to the top of the tank (mikie still in his mouth) and jumping out of the water and hitting the glass top of the tank. He does this several times as well as slamming himself into the glass sides of the tank. I'm not sure now if he's trying to smash the poor convict down his throat or trying to push it out of his mouth. My fear that he's going to die with this convict stuck in his mouth is now getting stronger. I can wait no longer, I pull out my step stool and proceed to grab my big net while gaining access to the tank. Lucky for me Mac is near the top of the tank so I'm able to net him on the first try. Okay now that I have him in the net I have to try and get Mikie out of his mouth. I grab mikies tail and try and pull but its slippery so nothing happens. I try once again and wow, mikie is free of the knifes mouth!! Yeah, that's good news (At least for me) Mikie falls into the tank and I don't see where she lands (figure tomorrow I'll net her floating carcus) I put Mac back into the tank and watch as he swims to the back of the tank. He opens and closes his mouth a few times. I figure he's nursing a soar mouth and thorat and his pride. Still no sign of Mikies body. Figure all Mikies babies have been eaten by the other fish while all this has been going on. Well at least Mac seems to be okay so far. I get out some frozen shrimp and start tossing pieces into the tank. Yes! Mac goes after a piece and eats it. All should be good with Mac the knife. I go to bed.
Next morning, I head to get my coffee and look into the big tank. To my surprise Mikie is in her house and seems to be garding babies!!! Well I'll be, she's alive! Mac's doing fine as well. All is right with the fish world! :) 
Okay, later that day I check them again, well Mac is still fine but I see that Mikie has now moved over to the center of the tank near the bottom, that only could mean one thing, all her babies are gone (eaten )   :crying: 
Moral of the story: 
Men (convict men that is) are nothing but trouble! (She was better off without one) lol 

Female convict gets man, has family with man, man runs off and dies, female has to take care of all the kids alone, taking care of babies leaves her vulnerable to big fish which leads to her being almost eaten alive, lives to swim another day, but finds all her kids  have now been eaten. 

Okay this is a true story, a long story, but alas a true one. I couldn't make this up even if I tried, it's just too weird. I hope you enjoyed it :)

 :D


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Posy
Thursday, 13 March 2008, 11:50 PM


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If the life of Convict cichlids smile
 Well about a week ago he or she see Daddy convict away from his happy family laying on the bottom of the tank not looking well at all is, then I'll be very surprised. What's the connection between "by this and even feel terrible that now Mommy has all these babies to watch over without her man " and sadness? Yes, I count my blessings every day. I'm not sure if I would like to try once again and wow mikie is free of the knifes mouth.  What's it like? And? Hmm, are you serious?


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Tormie
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 02:27 AM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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:mmmh: Poor baby fishes :roll: I don't know Rene, maybe you should have move the little zillion family alone in another tank ... However I can't have a clear opinion :ninja2: , so... We need a poll :whistle:


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JanReinar
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 02:26 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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My mother ornamental fish died one day after she lefth him under my father care for a short trip. My father thought that my mother was not  feeding the poor fish sufficiently and double the stander ration!

In the same day I read Rene this topic and couldn't with a very close story.

My sorry for not explain it early but I had some little troubles in the office!


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guiltypleasures
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 02:54 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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:sad:  Sorry for your mom's fish loss Johnny, I'm sure your dad didn't mean to cause it to die. I hope it's in tropical fish Heven :)

Tormie, I would have taken the zillion babies out but I couldn't reach them, the tank is too tall to reach the bottom without my scuba gear and I think Posy was using it that day to clean your bathroom  :whistle:  :liar:  :badairday:  :D 

I guess we should have a poll though to see what others think  :uuh:


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Posy
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 02:54 PM


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Why do you hope for it is in tropical fish Heven smile
 
 Tormie he or she would have taken the zillion babies out but he or she could not reach them the tank is too tall to reach the bottom without his or her scuba gear and he or she think you was using it that day to clean your bathroom whistle liar badairday D he or she guess we should have a poll though to see what others think uuh


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Tormie
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 04:24 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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We have one already :D :whistle:

http://www.posetteforever.com/viewtopic.php?t=3183


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TdaC
Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 07:52 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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i would have removed Mac the Knife :ninja:


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guiltypleasures
Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 08:21 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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Oh but how could you resist this beautiful sweet fish?  :heartbeat:  :heartbeat:  Mac The Knife is such a cool fish I couldn't remove him from my tank.... Well until he's out grown the tank and then maybe I will have to find a new home for him or buy bigger tank  :crying: 


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I LOVE MY Big Mac  :heartbeat:


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Tormie
Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 08:33 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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it looks dangerous :uuh: Whit those Riddick's eyes ... :uuh:


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guiltypleasures
Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 08:39 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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:mmmh:  Well he does like meaty foods and his mouth is quite big but for now you and your cat are safe from harm Tormie  :uuh:  :whistle:  :D 
His eyes are cool, they kind of glow in the dark  :)


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leahman
Friday, 28 March 2008, 08:52 PM

Re: Men Can Only Lead To Trouble
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I do not see how you can clean a tank that you can't reach the bottom.

I have to clean my fish havens very often.

I do not think that Poor Posey 
should  have to clean Davide's bathroom.   (maybe  -get someone off death-row ?)
I clean my bathroom my Girls clean theirs, I clean the fish and turtle tanks
they clean Kitty litter boxes.

I think  you need to isolate Mommy and baby fish in seperate  aquarium.
Avoid feeding Mac, any  expensive  boney suprise snacks...
Are these Salt Water Fish ?  I don't know any of them.
I had to give up Scuba due to heart problems back in my 20s.
I clean Goldfish tank every 3 weeks and use distilled water for him.

Rene if you use a round   SPHRICAL   goldfish bowl place in front of a window
you won't believe what the light coming in or the magnification effect of the round
bowl will do on your fish ! ! !  You'll be amazed at the show that occur on your floor !
 :koo:


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Posy
Friday, 28 March 2008, 08:52 PM


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Would you like to get to know some of them ?


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guiltypleasures
Friday, 28 March 2008, 11:37 PM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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Leahman my big tank (the one these fish are in) is 135 gals. The tank is about 6 feet long, 2 feet deep and 18 inches wide. It's sitting on a bit wooden stand and I have to climb up on a folding step stool to reach inside the tank to clean it. When I clean it, I use a gravel vacume that attaches to my kitchen sink (Python brand) which sucks water and junk into it and down to the sink drain. I also use it to refil the water I take out (I only take out about 25 to 50 percent of the water during normal cleanings and never take out all the water and fish to clean it) It's not an easy job and I can reach the bottom in some places, but I have to be careful not to fall in or pull the whole thing down on top of me ending in a huge flood lol 
As for my mommy convict, well catching her is not an easy task, esp in that size of a tank. But that's not a problem any more since she doesn't have a mate so no more babies to worry about with her. Without having to worry about her babies she is good about staying away from the jaws of the knife fish now as she did in the past before I gave her a man to complicate her life heheh
All of my fish tanks are tropical freshwater fish, except for my 29 gal tank which is a brackish tank (part sea salt and part fresh water) which is home to my brackish fish and mollies. 
I did have a very large clear glass vase that had a male betta fish in it, but due to my neglect at getting the water changed soon enough the fish died. It was my fault as I'm so used to having filters in my other tanks and not having to worry as often about doing water changes, so next time I try for a betta or goldfish in a bowl I'll make sure to do water changes often. As for placing them in front of a window, that sounds cool but don't you get a lot of the green algee on the glass of the bowl from the sunlight? I have one tank that gets the algee due to this and I have to clean it off more often to be able to see my fish. 
I would love to suba dive, that would be so cool and living on the Oregon coast it would be easy if I was able to afford the lessons and the stuff needed to enjoy it. Of course my health issues would surely make it hard as well.

Now about Tormies toilet, yes I agree, a convict would be a good choice to make his amends to socicity by cleaning Tormies bathrooms hehehe

Have a great day!
GP


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Posy
Friday, 28 March 2008, 11:37 PM


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Huh.  Please correct my mistake.  What is a problem any more since she does not have a mate so no more babies to worry about with her ? Do you want another one?


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Tormie
Saturday, 29 March 2008, 12:26 AM

Re: Men can only lead to trouble
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Damn ...   :sorry:  My toilet "unplugged"  :uuh:


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leahman
Saturday, 29 March 2008, 09:40 PM

Re: Men Can Only Lead To Trouble
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GP 
I just this minuite cleaned my Bowl.  It's round like a ball and holds 7 gallons, and one fish. It's in my living room, in front of curved bay window.
The Bowl showes no sign  of algie.   the  big  Blue/Gree/Clear  glass marbles in the bottom don't either.  The white "castle"  (looks like Walt Disney Castle)
showed a a small amount of green on the back side, facing the window.
I clean the bowl every 3 weeks, and add distilled water inbetween cleaning.

When you have preditor fish   and prey fish  in the same tank you just must expect some to be eaten !  
My grandmother was tropical fish expert
but  I don't remember that much  but   Big tanks and big fish  -are a lot of trouble. We had Salt Water  and Fresh water aquariums when I grew up
in the 50s. I helped  -as best I could ( I was real afraid of the crabs ).

I still say that a   spherical Bowl    in front of a window will get  all the attention, and everyone will stand and stare, not because  -so much of the fish
but the things that a  water-filled  Sphere does    -with magnification and Sun light  -coming in from behind.   
Fish  in the back side look 4 times larger and sun-beams   go THROUGH the fish  to enlarge an image on the floor 6 times his real size... 
-dancing images of the Trees outside   the window...  project into  the room...

But the larger the bowl the better it works,  and sadly  finding a BIG  one is hard.  
Remember the  Witches   "Crystal Ball" in the wizard of Oz?
it was a  35 gallon water filled  Gold Fish bowl !      But 7 gallon one  -is the biggest I can find.

Even finding   LARGE   glass bottle  is very hard these days. They just don't make them anymore.
I remember  15 gallon  round "lab" bottles  but can't find one anywhere...

Scuba is probally less expensive than you think.
I developed  P.A.T. heart condition in my late twenties and   had to give it up
Guys play 3-Demention   Football underwater !

You'd soon have all salt-water fish !

I think that you should go   and inspect and report on the situation  -of Tormie's bathrooms...
Just think  what Poor Posey   must  suffer  through !
Isn't    Making  her clean  'his  bathroom  an afront to women.... ?
I clean my bathroom and my girls still   do not enter it...
I DO ALL THE DISH WASHING and wash  all the cars, and empty the trash every time.
I bring in   -all groceries, and tend to all matter concerning the cars.     :dance:


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Posy
Saturday, 29 March 2008, 09:40 PM


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Are there any other ones someplace else? As a species fish are more successful than mammals.


