Ask Me Anything REQUEST : ODDBALL !
- Thread starter Podzy
- Start date
A species that's obtainable or a dream. I've always dreamed of maintaining a spawning pair of coelacanths. My favorite livebearers.
OMG!! You're right. Completely missed that one. How could I miss noticing STEAM coming off my FRT's tank!
We have a cat that has a preference of jumping on top of some of the tanks and drinking tank water. She dips her paw in the water and licks the water off from her paw. Apparently, on this occasion, she pulled the thermostat from the W/D and the 1000 watt heater began trying to heat the room up to its 84F temperature setting. FaRT was laying on the bottom when I passed by instead of begging for a treat like he always does. I checked the tank and it was kitchen stove hot to the touch. I pulled him out of the tank but, he wasn't breathing. I checked his skin's capillary response and got a positive reaction of blood refilling surface blood vessels. I also checked pupillary light response and get equal results from both eyes. But, he was still not breathing. I tilted him head-down to clear water from his lungs. Then, attempted emergency breathing through his nostrils (like for a newborn or someone with facial injuries). I kept it up for about 20 minutes then, my wife screamed; "his fin just moved!". I stopped the breaths and ran the same checks on his responses. During the check, FaRT opened his eyes and turned his head towards me (as if saying; "Damn, I need a vacation."). He was breathing on his own. His body was still too warm but, we didn't want him going into temperature shock. So, we covered him with warm wet towels while I adjusted his aquarium back to normal. I don't know just how hot his tank got but, after nearly a half water change, the tank temp was still in the upper nineties.
Needless to say, we dodged a huge bullet that evening. And, I definitely don't want to ever go through something like that again.
*special note*: For anyone interested, I wholly recommend Merck's Veterinary Manual (and actually reading it). What your brain stores away for emergencies may be just the thing you'll need to avoid a devastating loss.
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No really anymore. I went through the reptile thing, including a 50lb red tegu, the mata mata turtles, and more. But, they never held my interest. Of course, my FRT was different. Probably due to being fully aquatic. I had a scarlet macaw, Moluccan cockatoo, and a Finch's amazon parrot. I lost the Finch's to pneumonia and had to sell the other 2 when I received orders to a ship deploying for the Persian Gulf. None of my family or friends wanted the responsibility of keeping these large expensive birds. I wound up making a career in the Navy and just never returned to birds. And, at my age, it wouldn't be fair to any hookbill to get one knowing it will likely outlive me. I'm content with my fish and my cats at this point. Plus, the martin nests, hummingbird feeders, bats, and other fauna around our house (our yard backs up to a bird sanctuary woods) serve to keep us entertained.
I do, occassionally, miss Ruby. She was a cool neighbor to have on the opposite side of my yard.
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Thank you for sharing your stories! I had heard a couple of these in the past but most were new to me, it is amazing what you have been through. You've seen your fair share of ups and downs. Thanks for sticking around through it all to help the rest of us out!
This is an awesome thread. I hope more members would be willing to do an AMA. I'd love to see ones from jlnguyen74 and fugupuff and of course neoprodigy.
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Sent from my LGLS990 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Awesome to learn more about you.
Ruby definitely seems like the kinda neighbour that I would want to have.
Ruby definitely seems like the kinda neighbour that I would want to have.
