I've mentioned before that I'm a tad obsessive. Yes, I'm sure I did...I'll just check. Anyway, my friends are laughing wryly because I've got a new one. Fish.
Corbin had a goldfish called Thomas, who lived in a fishtank at his dad's girlfriend's house. Corbin's dad always intended to bring Thomas home, and had bought a goldfish bowl in anticipation. In the meantime, the fishminder had to move house, and none of the fish (Thomas included) survived the move. To soften the blow, I suggested we take Corby up the road to the new aquarium shop (owned, coincidentally, by my brother-in-law's brother) and let him choose another goldfish. So, in late August 2004, home we came with "Nemo" (what else?), a young 4 or 5 cm gold comet. And so began the obsession.
Corbin quickly got over the novelty of having his own fish. Meanwhile Nana fussed and worried about keeping the water and bowl clean, how much to feed, whether the water was well enough aerated etc etc. One of my forays to the lfs (local fish shop) sparked an idea for Father's Day gifts for Corbin's dad and Grandad. Why not get them each one of those pretty Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), in a cute little duo hex bowl? After all, people said that fighters in the wild live in muddy puddles, and the lfs displayed their fighters in small round takeaway containers, so they shouldn't need much looking after, right? Corbin helped me pick two fish, a blue-turquoise crowntail we christened Johnno, and a mauve and red veil-tail he named Bruce. The fellers were vaguely interested in their gift, but that's about all.
Sadly, Bruce was only with us for a couple of days, so of course I had to get a replacement for him. Home came Sammy (Samurai), a big red veil-tail. I started to get fascinated with the idea of setting up a proper fishtank at home, and Ian, the lfs owner, happened to have a very attractive package deal going on 2 ft tank set-ups. I began to research on the web about starting your first aquarium. I also began to acquire more bettas, along with an assortment of large jars, bowls and vases to house them in.
Anyway, over a six week period, with me obsessively spending day after day scanning we sites for more and more information about fish species, nitrification cycles, water testing, tank sizes and stocking capacity, individual species requirements etc etc, I rapidly expanded my horizons. I also learnt that Nemo's bowl and the cute little duo hex for Sammy and Johnno simply wouldn't do. I located and visited every aquarium and pet shop in the area, not to mention the discount shops that stocked cheap small tanks and paraphernalia. It was also rapidly apparent that even the 12 litre filtered tank I'd got for Nemo and his new little shubunkin chum (called Chum!) was inadequate. Grandad refused to countenance the idea of sending the rapidly-growing Nemo and Chum to board in my sister's pond, so I told him it was up to him to provide a larger tank. He nobly ante'd up the cash, but not before poor Chum expired. Nemo and another new pal (chosen by Grandad this time), a strikingly homely calico fantail called Eddie, were duly ensconced in their own 2 ft tank with all mod cons.
Meanwhile I laid plans for a betta condominium, a 2 ft with removeable perspex dividers to house my growing assortment of pet shop boys. A friend gave me a battered 20 litre square tank, complete with big patched crack, which successively served duty as a quarantine tank then as shared quarters for my female bettas. One good thing -- need for more space served as a long-overdue prompt to sort out and tidy up my computer-cum-work room so it could also be the fish room. Necessity is the mother, and all that.
As of today, 7 November 2004, the far from spacious Matriarchal residence accommodates an assortment of freshwater fishies in:
AND a growing number of "Siamese fighting fish" (Betta splendens), in:
- 55 litre (2 ft) betta condominium, with housing for 8 fish
- 20 litre square tank for female bettas
- 2 x el cheapo HETO brand 12 litre tanks, one divided to house two bettas, and one as a back-up and quarantine tank
It's an obsession and an addiction. Goodness only knows where it will lead -- probably with me on my face in the gutter, with a net in one hand and a jar of freeze-dried bloodworms in the other. WATCH THIS SPACE.
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