I swear, this reef is gonna kill me before anything else has a chance. Loves to just about give me a heart attack >.<
I got to go to my favorite fish store today (Deep Sea Creations) for a special Christmas present and lo and behold, they were just getting in a new shipment. After looking around a bit, I was peering into the bags of new fish and saw first a chalk basslet. Hey, I'll get that, I thought. Then I spied pink and yellow. Ohhh, my gosh. I asked about it and lo and behold - a Bartlett's anthias. $50. I WANT. Then I find out they got in a trio. Okay, I was informed by the Holder of The Money that we couldn't do three. Okay. A pair, then. I could always find a new home for one if they weren't getting along, right?
So by the time we got to checkout I was shaking. Literally shaking, I was so excited. Got them home, slapped together a second QT (the first having been taken by the gramma) and started acclimating. Then the fun started. I put my hand near them and they freaked. Both vaulted about 2.5 feet straight up in the air out of the bucket (no joke) and landed on the tile. Cue anxiety attack. Not only might they have both been hurt, but suddenly my QT tank isn't an option. My lid is not good enough. It's too late to get a new lid and the car's in bad shape anyway. At the rate they were going, they were going to kill themselves. Wish someone had warned me! Jumpers and Evil-Knieval-style suicide leapers are two completely different things.
So into the DT they went. No choice - praying nothing bad happens. Just after release I suddenly could not find the female. Anxiety turned into near panic and I searched the floor and tank thoroughly at least three times and for about twenty terrifying minutes before she popped out of hiding, unhappy but apparently unhurt.
Holy cow. I should have gotten into a hobby that's easier on my nerves. Like juggling knives, perhaps.
I got to go to my favorite fish store today (Deep Sea Creations) for a special Christmas present and lo and behold, they were just getting in a new shipment. After looking around a bit, I was peering into the bags of new fish and saw first a chalk basslet. Hey, I'll get that, I thought. Then I spied pink and yellow. Ohhh, my gosh. I asked about it and lo and behold - a Bartlett's anthias. $50. I WANT. Then I find out they got in a trio. Okay, I was informed by the Holder of The Money that we couldn't do three. Okay. A pair, then. I could always find a new home for one if they weren't getting along, right?
So by the time we got to checkout I was shaking. Literally shaking, I was so excited. Got them home, slapped together a second QT (the first having been taken by the gramma) and started acclimating. Then the fun started. I put my hand near them and they freaked. Both vaulted about 2.5 feet straight up in the air out of the bucket (no joke) and landed on the tile. Cue anxiety attack. Not only might they have both been hurt, but suddenly my QT tank isn't an option. My lid is not good enough. It's too late to get a new lid and the car's in bad shape anyway. At the rate they were going, they were going to kill themselves. Wish someone had warned me! Jumpers and Evil-Knieval-style suicide leapers are two completely different things.
So into the DT they went. No choice - praying nothing bad happens. Just after release I suddenly could not find the female. Anxiety turned into near panic and I searched the floor and tank thoroughly at least three times and for about twenty terrifying minutes before she popped out of hiding, unhappy but apparently unhurt.
Holy cow. I should have gotten into a hobby that's easier on my nerves. Like juggling knives, perhaps.
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