FishChannel Forums / Community Forums / Off-Topic Discussion

aquarium abusers

Phishgirl — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:18:43 GMT

One of my classrooms has an aquarium (I don't know the exact gallonage but I would say about 30 gal) with about six guppies, some neon tetras, a red balloon platy, and an algae eater. The teacher never cleans it (only tops it up once in a blue moon) and has an automatic feeder. I do what I can to care for the fish such as fixing equipment and fill the auto-feeder. Unfortunately my peers couldn't care less about the fishes' welfare. Yesterday I was in the classroom with a few of the other students. There is a net that was kept by the aquarium. One student picked it up and poked it into the water and began to chase the algae eater around with it, first saying they were going catch it and treat it for some fish disease (they made up a gibberish name, not a real disease), and then that they were giving it exercise. The fish was obviously stressed and breathing fast. When I told them this they said, "It's a fish, it can't breath! Duh!". Then they started using the net to try and catch one of the guppies. I didn't want to wrench the net away because I was afraid I would hurt the fish. They succeeded and held it out of the water (in the net) for a few seconds and scooped up some water with their other hand, and then put the guppy in their hand. When I told them to stop they dropped the fish back in, and then began scooping up gravel and dumping it on top of one of the floating plants. I succeeded in getting the net (lying on the floor, empty). Another girl took a straw and blew bubbles in the water while her friend poked a pencil in the feeder and then was dunking it and out. I took the pencil away. Meanwhile, another girl was saying that pencil-dunker knew what was best because she was a professor of "fishology" at Harvard (she isn't). I did my hardest to explain to them why they shouldn't be doing that stuff. (in hindsight, that was probably useless as they didn't care anyway).

I'm sorry if this post came off as an ineloquent rant or seemed like I was bystanding and doing squat to stop them torturing the fish. It just made (and makes) me so angry when I think of how many people would not give a second thought to doing something like those girls...but it makes me happier when I think of those who really do care.

Help, I'm confused!

Coryator — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:29:45 GMT

So I got this email saying the following:

"Congratulations! Someone has left you a blog at the FishChannel.com. Click here to see your messages now. Log in to respond to their comments.

Also check out our new Fish eCards and send a free greeting to someone you care about.

Enjoy your day!
FishChannel.com"

Except the links don't work and I can't find this "blog" place. Anyone know how to help me? :unsure: TIA

Favorite Theme Parks and ticket costs

jsmith11618 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:11:34 GMT

Do all of you like theme parks?

I like non-thrill theme parks such as the Disney parks as well as the Sea World parks but haven't been to a Sea World park in some 12 years now.

I may be in San Diego this summer so I was looking at Sea World tickets and holy cow 65 bucks for a 1 day admission. Man am I ever old, I remember going in high school and paying a whopping 30 bucks and I thought that was bad....

You can still go to the zoo for 1/2 the price but they don't have fish.

So whats your favorite?

New Software

math-only aquarium — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:34:11 GMT

Hi,

I recently was given a new mathematics program and have been enjoying some of its 3-D capabilities. It is a fairly finite system, but here is some of the stuff I was able do do with it (I have only designed two figures so far):

The Enterprise

The Enterprise with Gloss Added

A Composite Render of the Enterprise and its Wireframe (Specs: 7 equations total, 2 cylinders, 5 ellipsoids)

A Composite of a French Mirage (Specs: 10 equations total, All modified cylinders)

Mirage in Desert Color from Another Angle

Another Mirage Configuration

All models were made up of parametric surfaces and they really slow down my computer whenever I bring them up. Anywho, I hope you guys are mildly amused.

Bye,

MOA

This is what its all about

jasminehill — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:57:54 GMT

Fish were still asleep and lights out........how adorable........my sweet little grandbabies this morning :D

NEWS

cooltow1 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:01:36 GMT

A 13 year old Sarasota Oscar girl jumped from the top of her home in what is decided as an apparent suicide attempt.The act occurred in plan view of the homeowner as he was doing routine maintenance on the home. Her injures are reported to be minor and she is recuperating at home.

Rick

Peacock Eel Plush

Nikita — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:02:11 GMT

In a little over a week, I'll have my sewing supplies together and I'll be back home. Then, it's plush time! I made a post a while back called Fish Plush and got a lot of great information from it, and I've decided that the first fish plush will be the peacock eel. I have the needed fabrics on hand already and the design is straightforward, at least in theory.

Anyone who wants to throw out input for this project, feel free. This is a prototype plush that's going to undergo a lot of changes, and any and all ideas are welcome - if anyone has something they'd like to see in the peacock eel, send it my way and you might just see it in a snuggly stuffed animal.

So anything is welcome. Painted details on this fish to make it ultra-realistic? Make it super-cute instead? How big should it be? Special touches like sequins, glitter, embroidery? Any photographs or videos that you think I should use in prototyping the pattern? (I use many to get the best product but finding really nice ones are always challenging.)

No prototype plush is going to be sold for profit. They'll either be kept in my collection or given away for free (possibly to one of you if anyone is interested). If any fresh ideas come my way that I would like to implement on a final product that will be sold for money, I intend to ask permission before using them. I'm not out to steal a profit off anyone else's ideas; that's unethical. I do think that by taking the input of anyone who wants to contribute, these aquarium fish plushes will be a lot better than if I were the only one brainstorming.

I look forward to using any tips and ideas. I hope to turn some of them into a really cute stuffed eel, and I'm super-excited! Expect work to start in a week!

happy new year

justin30 — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:48:05 GMT

Hey everyone I just wanted to say happy new year and I look foward to another great year with all of you. More fish and more great experences.

home for my pleco

takhisis — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:27:15 GMT

Well i have a 29 gallon fish tank, and i did oodles and oodles of research, i planned on the fishless cycle, with dropping a flake of food in a day testing levels and so on and so forth, however that was thrown out the window when 24 hours after my tank was set up my sister in law came home with some fish. so i've been cycling with fish, then i was doing more research on who i needed as a bottom feeder, and she came home with 4 snails and a common pleco. i wanted to return the pleco or trade him in for a clown, but no one takes trade ins, and my sister in law doesn't want the hassel of returing him. so here comes my dilema

i know he will get to big for my tank, and i don't know when he'll cross the line into stunting his growth so i want to find a good home for him. (if this is inappropriate i am truely sorry and you can delete the post) i was wondering if anyone with a big tank out there is looking for a new common pleco who's probably 3 or 4 inchs long currently. we can think of a way to get him to you or if your not to far away me and pete can take a road trip ( yes i named my pleco pete) any ideas or suggestions on how to give this guy a good long life with no stunted growth would be greatly appreciated.

Meet my new famly member

fisher_really — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:50:10 GMT

Isn't he a lovey. I love the pillow thing. Thank goodness he's camping out on a couch no one else uses. lol Between my husband, 2 little dogs and me he didn't fit in bed. He didn't mind the "pillow" bed on my bedroom floor too much.

Interesting aquarium designs

jsmith11618 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:35:08 GMT

Found this on another group, the link has 7 interesting aquarium designs.

http://weburbanist.com/2008/12/27/aquariums-fish-tanks/

Local Fish Stores

takhisis — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:34:36 GMT

I am wondering if there is anyone in the harlem, georgia area that knows of a local fish store other then petsmart, petco, superpetz. I called one place but they blew me off so fast that i decided if they can't give me the time over the phone ( no sale) that i wouldn't go into the store they are obviously about the money. Any store with in reasonable driving distance say 45 mins or so would be great

What did you get for christmas?

austin123 — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:35:53 GMT

The best thing I got is a used tank. My older brother got a few small presents and $100. My younger brother got rockband.

BTW: How many gallons do you think this tank is?

Wow Looks like Hailey's back

fisher_really — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:10:08 GMT

Welcome back Hailey. Looks like your back at full strength to help all us mere mortals.

Help

cooltow1 — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:53:32 GMT

Fooled you didn't I !

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE

Rick

How is your weather?

jsmith11618 — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:41:33 GMT

How is your weather today?

Here in British Columbia lower mainland we are having an arctic outflow. Its currently 21 degrees with a windchill of 3 degrees and winds at over 30 mph with gusts over 40 miles per hour.

We are being chilled for the next week.

We are getting slammed with snow.

jsmith11618 — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:10:49 GMT

Its been snowing since last night and we have a couple of feet now. It's creating a lot of chaos and havoc all over, power outages, roads are nearly impossible to drive on since we don't get that much snow so we dont have the plows and salt and equipment needed.

We average less then 20cm in December, so far we have 74cm on the ground. With another 10-15cm tonight.

Then come Saturday back to normal temps in the mid 50's so imagine the mess we are gonna have...

Not looking forward to it at all, but on the up side this is gonna be the first time since 1971 that Canada gets a nationwide white Christmas.

My apartment parking lot isn't plowed and my car got stuck, I just left it where it got stuck til some of the snow melts.

what do ya do for christmas

justin30 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:28:01 GMT

What does everyone do for christmas? Actually I live about 1 min away from my mom and dad in the same neighborhood, My daughter and I and all my family go to my mom and dads on christmas eve and have a big get together. My sister lives in Queens Ny and she comes out for a week or 2.

Santa Please Bring Me a Python so I no longer need 5 Buckets in my shower.

Does anyone have a myspace?

austin123 — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:12:13 GMT

Do any of you have a myspace account? If you want to look for mine search "austin crutchfield". I'm the one without a picture.

who are you

cooltow1 — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:25:40 GMT

In order to learn a bit more about each other, feel free to copy and paste the questionnaire into a post and answer only those questions that you want to or feel comfortable answering. It's kind of long but we look forward to knowing you better!

1. First name as it appears on your birth certificate:
2. Nickname(s):
3. Number of candles on your last birthday cake:
4. Hair color:
5. Eye color:
6. Piercings/tattoos?
7. Do you like your job?
8. Birthplace:
9. Where do you live now?
10. Ever toilet papered?
11. Favorite flower:
12. Favorite drink:
13. Ever been in a car accident?
14. Favorite day of the week?
15. Favorite word, phrase or quote:
16. Favorite food:
17. Favorite fast food:
18. Disney or Warner Bros.?:
19. Favorite sport to watch?
20. Favorite sport to play?
21. Favorite ice cream:
22. What color is your bedroom carpet?
23. How many times did you fail your drivers test?
24. Your favorite kind of music:
25. Favorite artist or group:
26. Do you sing in the shower?
27. Where do you like to shop?
28. What do you do when you are bored?
29. Most annoying thing people ask?
30. What time do you go to bed at night?
31. What time do you get up in the AM on the weekends?
32. Favorite TV show(s):
33. Ford or Chevy?
34. Do you have pets (other than the aquatic type )? If so, what kind and how many?
35. What time do you get up in the morning(during the week)?
36. What is your favorite color?
37. What is your favorite channel on T.V?
38. Favorite movie(s)?
39. Favorite actor/actress?
40. What was the last book you read?
41. Favorite author(s)?
42. Favorite computer (or console) game?
43. Favorite season?
44. Favorite perfume/cologne?
45. Do you prefer yellow gold, white gold or platinum watches/jewelry?
46. Favorite vacation destination?
47. Favorite national holiday?
48. What is your favorite feature of the opposite sex?
49. Which is more important- strong in mind or strong in body?
50. Favorite kitchen appliance?
51. Do you prefer a sports car, a family sedan or an SUV (sports utility vehicle)?
52. Do you believe in the paranormal?
53. Do you believe that there is other intelligent life in the universe?
54. What really makes you angry?
55. Least favorite household chore?
56. What is your dream job?
57. Can you put your fist in your mouth?
58. Do you actually like filling these out?!

We should add more questions like...

59. Do you like reading others' responses?
60. Favorite animal (besides fish)?
61. Is global warming a big issue to you?
62. Do you prefer hot or cold?

Rick

Snake!!!

math-only aquarium — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:00:04 GMT

Hello,

This is Petra, my half-year-old amelanistic (sp?) corn snake:

whats your fav drink

justin30 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:38:47 GMT

Just wondered what kind of drinks do fish lovers like?:D

Uploading personal picture on profile

debbie02civiclx — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:02:07 GMT

I have been trying for the passed few days uploading my own picture, and I keep getting errors. Any help?

Goat Kid!!!

pufferrocks — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:16:19 GMT

Our goat Darcy had her kid this morning! We are so excited. There was only one (a little dissapointing) but its a boy and he is so small and adorable! He is only 12 inches tall at the most. I don't have much time to write this but I'll try to get some pictures real fast. Anyone have a good name suggestion?

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate this picture.

Jas-those dogs are too cute

fisher_really — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:32:24 GMT

Okay okay, I agree. You do have the cutest little doggies in town.

My first swim meet!

plecodiscus — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:00:42 GMT

Okay, tonight I had my first swim meet of the year, and my first year swimming.

For the 50 free (50 yards freestyle) i came in 5th out of 6.... 36 seconds.

For the 100 free I came in 2nd out of 6 people! When I dove in, my goggles came off and were all messed up on my face, (just my luck). I had to stop, pull them down to my neck, and keep going! I was so proud of myself, and my teammates were proud of me too. It felt great to finish and see that I came in 2nd. My time for that event was 1:32.07. (1 min.,32.07 sec.)

Then for the 200 free relay, I got 33.44 sec.s when it was my turn, but i didn't touch the sensor on the wall hard enough when i finished, so we came in last on that relay!:angry: we would have come in 3rd out of 6.

Anyway, I think I did really well.

Fish Plush?

Nikita — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:34:20 GMT

For some time I've been sewing and making stuffed animals and whatnot. I really enjoy it, and for many plushes there is quite a market! The "custom plush" endeavor has a real following, typically among fans of teen shows, Japanese anime, and video games.

So after having made plushes for friends and such (can dig up pics later depending on interest), I find myself wondering about fish. Well, any animal I'm interested in, really, but there's a great deal of variety to work wtih in tropical fish. There are plenty of marine plushes already being made - you can go to any online toy store and find clownfish, sharks, octopus, you name it. But what about freshwater?

So what do you guys think? Are stuffed versions of your favorite fish something you would like to see? Any hints or tips?

Just trying to gauge interest on the matter. :)

Buffalo buffalo

princessotfu — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo.

(The buffalo from Buffalo that the buffalo from Buffalo intimidate in turn intimidate the buffalo from Buffalo that the buffalo from Buffalo intimidate.)

It's a grammatically correct English sentence, no wonder people have problems learning this language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo

Snow

pufferrocks — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:41:15 GMT

I am excited today. It snowed 4 or 5 inches this morning! If you live up north you probaly think whoohoo snow........ But done south here it only snows like every 4 or 5 years and I can't ever remember it being this deep. I have been outside all afternoon making snowmen! I even made a snowpuppy! The snowmen are after it started to melt some.

Anyone want to help with photos/pictures of fish

math-only aquarium — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:02:12 GMT

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone wanted to help me out by allowing me to use their non-copyrighted fish photos or drawings in my documents and/or spreadsheets. It would be nice for people to see what I am talking about.

MOA

Migraines

jasminehill — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:27:03 GMT

Ugghhh well I finally went to the dr this afternoon only to be sent to the ER for a migraine that I have been battling since yesterday........yuck!!!! But im feeling much better now and it seems I have quite a nasty sinus infection that they could see on the cat scan but I didnt even know I had on top of my migraine. They wanted me to stay and do a spinal tap as I had menegitis once and I told them I would take a pass on that one being that the med they gave me helped me alot.

Does anyone else suffer from these? Any tips on how to avoid them or what to do when or if another one pops up?...........thx Jas

Snowman Village 2007

jasminehill — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:36:30 GMT

Dug out my snowman village pics from last year although each year it gets bigger and bigger lol.........theres also a pic of my snowman tree and my Disney tree too...........gonna try to start decorating tomorrow before work Im running behind this year argggghhh:w00t:

Christmas List!

FattFishy — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:49:40 GMT

To get the Christmasy feeling going around, what's on your wish list? Anything, from fish-related to something completely irrelevant!

I'd like a Rubbermaid box (about 10 gallons), a heater, filter, and lid. Just as a fry raising tank. Maybe a quarantine.

Definitely subscriptions to AFI.

Hm... maybe plants from aquabotanics? That'd be great; I could finally get that Marimo Ball.

Or, cold hard $$$.

Who is the bigest pet manic

10 acre woods — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:42:58 GMT

I have

2 salt water tanks one 36 gal one 75 gal

2 fresh water tanks one 29 one 10 gal.

2 dogs one boxer mix (dutch) one dachound (cohiba its a cuban cigar) ( and yes I do love my weinner and my wife does too:D)

9 orange cats If you want one come and get one. sally, hershy squirts, tiger, hitler, chooch, and the rest are just damn cats.

1 cockateil named (sammy) wich loves my wife.

1 north american red haired angel doll. o wait that is my daughter.

Fish Art

Nikita — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:15:24 GMT

I create a lot of art when I get the chance, but only rarely do I get the chance to do fish. It's pretty hard to do nice fish using graphite, my usual media, because of the unique way that light and shadow play on their bodies and in the water. But fish and other aquatic creatures are really cool art subjects, so I decided to fix up a post that folks can used to display and view their art. :)

I recently did a betta using markers and charcoal/graphite shading for an interesting look. I hope to do move fish like this - what do y'all think?

On the dry-erase board outside my door, I usually draw a freshwater fish and fill out a profile (depending on how much room I have). People can walk by and see the fish and it changes each week or so. I've done the betta, vampire pleco, butterfly fish, dwarf gourami, and guppy, but I never photographed them. I figured I should start. :) So here is the dwarf puffer that is on the door right now:

And here is last week's Clown Loach:

That's all I have for now. I hope to see other pieces of aquatic art that members put up!

Does anyone like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra?

plecodiscus — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:11:58 GMT

I went to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Concert last night! For anyone who doesn't know much aboutthem, they play a lot of metal versions of christmas carols and metal versions of some stuff by beethoven as well as making their own songs. The concert was a laser light show too, and the light effects were spectacular.

the other Hobby

cooltow1 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:23:50 GMT

Rick

MY HAND

JCHAMPAGNE — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:14:55 GMT

THE PALM OF MY HAND.

THE TOP OF MY HAND.

MY HAND SIDE WAYS.

THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS......

Does anyone watch The Big Bang Theory?

jsmith11618 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:28:58 GMT

I discovered this show a few weeks ago, and I really like it and find it funny which is odd as I generally don't like sitcoms and stick to dramas, but this one I think has potential.

I am thankful for

fisher_really — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:23:51 GMT

I am thankful I have: clarity of what is important

I am thankful I have: healthy, very very happy family to be with every night.

I am thankful I have: friends that like me because I'm me.

I am thankful I have: the ability to change hundreds of children's lives for the better, just by smiling and saying good morning to them every day.

I am thankful I have: all of you.