Fish Mom

I think we tried a Beta fish when my son was super young. It didn’t last long. I remember getting rid of the ‘kit’ years and years ago in a donation run.

Well, a few months ago a certain someone got a beautiful large tank, and my daughter was fascinated enough that the same sweet someone got her TWO tanks for her birthday. I quickly made it known these were NOT MY FISH!!! But that doesn’t really work with kids who aren’t around half of the time…

Well, one tank was a used one, it had a past life - apparently as a snail breeding ground. It didn’t get off to the right start; there were issues that weren’t fully resolved. One snail turned into 5, turned into 20, turned into 75 with egg jelly on every surface! Those little problems multiplied, and despite adding 3 assassin snails (yes, it’s a thing.. super cool), it became an infestation!

So… what to do when a small problem gets to the point of feeling out of control? Throw it out? Give up? Or take the time to meticulously clean every part of the tank: the filters, the gravel, the plants, the pump, the heater, the glass? I used my stubbornness for good and went with option 2.   It took me almost 4 hours. I had two fun spills along the way (thank goodness it wasn’t quite a flood), but the work was worth it. The whole thing has a beautiful new clarity and brings me joy without the stress of the past. 

Here is the happy tank (bubbles will release from the wall by tomorrow) and the ALMOST INVISIBLE RICE-SIZED babies I had to scoop out of a 15 gallon tank so I didn’t suck them up with the water pump… tedious, but they’re so dang cute!!! OH, and the 3 striped snails in green are my assassins, who breed very slowly (one egg at a time)… and I maybe did a deep dive on assassin snail breeding -  they lay a SQUARE egg *mind blown*!  

I’m really glad I put in the work. It was something new to tackle, and I’m feeling accomplished!

Hugs ~Langley