I just wanted to say hello and thank you for such an excellent site! I don't know how much I'll actually post but you should be aware you have a new stalker in your forums. Dun, dun, dunnnnn! 
I have always loved being near a big body of water. I've lived on an ocean coast or five minutes from a huge lake all my life. However, pets were prohibited in my family growing up. Once I was on my own, I got a Crowntail Betta in a lush sapphire blue. I did my research and cycled a one gallon tank (which looking back now, I should've gotten a 5 gallon at least). All was well until I went to visit my boyfriend 800 miles away one winter for two weeks and forgot to turn on his heater. He died the week after I came home. I was pretty upset, he was such a ham. I gave up after that. It was devastating that my negligence had destroyed such an innocent, lively, and adorable creature. I sound like such a wimp right now.
: Does anyone else cry over a $3.00 pet?
Years later I now live in a house (with said boyfriend) and we both have space and time to dedicate to this hobby permanently and I think I'm ready to kill again (joke!). We also have three cats. Which I'd like to shave because they shed like January snow in Wisconsin. We also have a kid. Hmm, come to think of it, perhaps I do not need any fish. A boyfriend and a kid are really demanding pets these days. I could not imagine being a female guppy right now. The thought of giving birth several times from just a one night stand blows my mind. I digress!
So here we are. You, probably thinking I should have joined a forum on mental wellness and Me, thinking I will not be owning guppies anytime soon. I joined because I liked the overall feel of the website and the interaction of the forum. Nothing beats first hand experience, right? What better way to learn than to seek, share, and contemplate with both novice and expert alike in a positive and encouraging environment?
So let me wrap this up and tell you where I am at the moment. In front of my computer. Joke! Okay, okay. Currently I have spent the last two weeks contemplating on:
- Choosing between a 10gal and 20gal tank... or maybe both? This would involve baking lots of cookies to persuade the boyfriend pet. Tank must have a secure lid or can I use some velcro tape on the lid and tank to keep the cats out?
- A good sand substrate. I would love gravel but I would like some Cory's or even Pleco's and I think they prefer sand, right? Something I can use for live plants would be bonus.
- How hard is it to keep live plants and which ones to choose for someone who kills even plastic houseplants. I heard Java Moss is very forgiving?
- What are your Go-To Aquarium books when researching? I love to read. Mostly nonsense but occasionally something worthwhile. With pictures.
Those are the biggest concerns right now. I have not purchased anything yet. I'm a big planner. Patience, right? I think this is the right community to find all answers, tips, tidbits, and stuff I'm looking for. I hope I will be able to contribute something worthwhile someday. Which is pretty funny because when I was editing my settings today, I set the threads to show the newest reply first. When I clicked on the Forum Guidelines sticky up top, the first post I saw was "Thanks." I was confused. Ha ha ha ha. Well until then, enjoy my selfish use of your knowledge!! Muwahahahaha!
Oh man, do I babble or what? You're still reading this? Thank you for letting me steal a little bit of your time and thank you for letting me in!
I have always loved being near a big body of water. I've lived on an ocean coast or five minutes from a huge lake all my life. However, pets were prohibited in my family growing up. Once I was on my own, I got a Crowntail Betta in a lush sapphire blue. I did my research and cycled a one gallon tank (which looking back now, I should've gotten a 5 gallon at least). All was well until I went to visit my boyfriend 800 miles away one winter for two weeks and forgot to turn on his heater. He died the week after I came home. I was pretty upset, he was such a ham. I gave up after that. It was devastating that my negligence had destroyed such an innocent, lively, and adorable creature. I sound like such a wimp right now.
: Does anyone else cry over a $3.00 pet?Years later I now live in a house (with said boyfriend) and we both have space and time to dedicate to this hobby permanently and I think I'm ready to kill again (joke!). We also have three cats. Which I'd like to shave because they shed like January snow in Wisconsin. We also have a kid. Hmm, come to think of it, perhaps I do not need any fish. A boyfriend and a kid are really demanding pets these days. I could not imagine being a female guppy right now. The thought of giving birth several times from just a one night stand blows my mind. I digress!
So here we are. You, probably thinking I should have joined a forum on mental wellness and Me, thinking I will not be owning guppies anytime soon. I joined because I liked the overall feel of the website and the interaction of the forum. Nothing beats first hand experience, right? What better way to learn than to seek, share, and contemplate with both novice and expert alike in a positive and encouraging environment?
So let me wrap this up and tell you where I am at the moment. In front of my computer. Joke! Okay, okay. Currently I have spent the last two weeks contemplating on:
- Choosing between a 10gal and 20gal tank... or maybe both? This would involve baking lots of cookies to persuade the boyfriend pet. Tank must have a secure lid or can I use some velcro tape on the lid and tank to keep the cats out?
- A good sand substrate. I would love gravel but I would like some Cory's or even Pleco's and I think they prefer sand, right? Something I can use for live plants would be bonus.
- How hard is it to keep live plants and which ones to choose for someone who kills even plastic houseplants. I heard Java Moss is very forgiving?
- What are your Go-To Aquarium books when researching? I love to read. Mostly nonsense but occasionally something worthwhile. With pictures.
Those are the biggest concerns right now. I have not purchased anything yet. I'm a big planner. Patience, right? I think this is the right community to find all answers, tips, tidbits, and stuff I'm looking for. I hope I will be able to contribute something worthwhile someday. Which is pretty funny because when I was editing my settings today, I set the threads to show the newest reply first. When I clicked on the Forum Guidelines sticky up top, the first post I saw was "Thanks." I was confused. Ha ha ha ha. Well until then, enjoy my selfish use of your knowledge!! Muwahahahaha!
Oh man, do I babble or what? You're still reading this? Thank you for letting me steal a little bit of your time and thank you for letting me in!
