We've Lost Another One :(

Last night we lost another fish- this time it was Akhenaten. We shall miss him dearly. Zeus has found a new home in the colluseum.

BEHOLD!

Yes folks, the day has arrived! The Roman Colosseum have arrived in my tank! I had to take out the coral to make room for it, but a small price to pay, right? My sister was saying that it looks chaotic when I have both the Pantheon and the Colosseum in there at the same time because they don't match in color, but I think it's okay........ please tell me what you (yes, YOU) think in the comments. I'll probably change it around every once in awhile, taking things in and out, but this is how it is for now. I also attached a nice picture of Zeus, because I realize you guys haven't seen him in awhile. He's getting big, pushing 8 1/2 inches by now. (See the last photo in the tab 'tank arrangements through the ages to see how small Zeus was when I first got him! He's hiding behind the filter in the back.) Enjoy!

Fear

Over the past few weeks, I've noticed small black spots all over Akhenaten's body and one of Messala's fins. I dismissed this as part of their coloring, but still looked for weird behavior. I didn't see any... Until now. Akenaten was rubbing up against a plant, hiding, and surface resting- all the warning signs of a parasite! Panicked, I started doing some research and it seems my tank has been attacked by 'black ick'! Ahhhhhh!!! I put in some ick treatment and his behavior is back to normal... But I dont think it will last long... every website has suggested a 'freshwater dip' but I am completely clueless about them. I'll look into it for my fish's sake. Well, we'll see how this goes...

Mission Accomplished!

Socrates finally woke up from his three day nap, look at them-'father and son'!! (I guess I could say 'Brothers' but Socrates is so big and Hippocrates is so small....)

A Mystery Solved!!

At last I have solved the mystery of my snail's tentacle! I was just  doing some research when I came upon an article about it. It's called a siphon. Their purpose is to allow the snail to breathe air when submerged underwater. ...And I quote....
"Many species, particularly of the South-American genus Pomacea, have another another remarkable anatomical feathure: a breathing siphon. This organ, formed by a fold of the mantle cavity at the left side of the head, is barely visible when not in use. At times the snail needs to refresh the air inside the lung, the muscles in this fold contract and the fold changes into a flexible tube-like structure (siphon), which enables the snail to breathe air while staying submerged. Staying submerged provides the apple snail with a great advantage because they are very vulnerable to snail-eating birds at the surface." 
(Courtesy of http://www.applesnail.net/content/multi_languages/english.htm ) 
Fascinating, huh? Well, now I finally know what all this madness has been.

While we're talking about snails, I'd thought I'd mention how they're doing. Hippocrates and Socrates have hardly been interacting at all :(. Hippocrates has been very active, but Socrates has been VERY inactive. In fact, I would say he's dead, but he moves every once in a while. I looked it up to make sure he's not sick, and learned that it's completely normal for older snails to be inactive. So all is well.

Just so you know what I'm talking about...

Just to give you the memo...

Augustus and Hippocrates are doing great! Hippocrates went missing for a while and I got a little worried, but turns out he was just hiding. Augustus is fitting in well! :) I took some pictures with my phone...none of them turned out good, but the result is below. I know, I know, they're really blurry and not very exciting, but hey... At least now you have some idea as to what they look like. One of them is of Hippocrate's little tentacle/psuedopod thing.. he has one too! Weird... I'm still welcome to ideas.... (see post 'What the Heck?') I only wish I could take pictures of them that did justice to Augustus' beauty and Hippocrates' size. Augustus is a light pink with a goldish, whitish, silverish, greenish tail that shimmers in the light. And man, Hippocrates is outragously tiny!!!! Enjoy!

( I'm getting really excited about some upcoming decor changes... So stay tuned, folks! ;)

He has one too! (he's so small!!)

Augustus

Just to give you an idea about his size....

Augustus

Exciting news!!!

It is my pleasure to announce that I have gotten two new fish today! Their names are Augustus and Hippocrates. Augustus is a pinky-orangey guppy with white streaks on his tail, and Hippocrates is a itty-bitty baby yellow apple snail. The reason why I got another snail is because Socrates' shell is growing algae, and I saw at the fish store that the little snails were cleaning the bigger snail's shells. So I'm hoping they'll be dearest buddies. :)  (I even made their names rhyme!!) I'll add some pictures to this post soon!

Goodness me! How could I forget!!??

I have just had the realization that I have forgotten to celebrate this blog's one year anniversary! I'm terribly upset with myself, because I was really excited to have a party on Februrary 22nd. Well, it's too late now (I know, I know, I should say something like 'it's never too late' but in this case, I'm feeling pessimistic...) but anyways, yes. It happened on Feb. 22nd. It was also the anniversary of Aphrodite and Caligula's arrival. (got them same day I made blog) Caligula is now living happily in a 250 gallon tank (much more fitting to his size..) and Aphrodite continues to zoom around my tank. Yep. Happy birthday blog!