My Story as a Newbie

[Gary Stanton]

Living on a narrowboat would be right up my alley. The lifestyle grows on you and it's definitely difficult to give up.
The bike ride was non eventful and normal for me. I flew to Minneapolis and rode it home. All my mates were certain I couldn't do it straight through, I guess they were wrong. I've broken out the tools once since and jury-rigged a repair to get home.
Tell your Dad I'm envious of his environs.

[betta blue]

Helen, if you ever get a chance, join your Dad on his boat. It will be a life setting adventure that will give you something that nothing else can. If you get the chance, please do it.

Yes, I agree with Helen...you must have had "sea legs" after you came back from your 2000 mi. trek on the bike! Good for you! It's good to tell your friends "you can do it and did"

I don't know where I'm at right now. I love the ocean. I love the time on the sailboat...roughly two years...been overseas to southeast asia for two 6 month trips before importing from there for the past 15 years this Feb. Cause I import from Indonesia, guess I have a certain bond with the clown loaches. Also think with the time I spent in Thailand, also feel close to the Betta's that I struggle to tell people that they do not live in mud holes (or at least not for any kind of duration). Interesting cause I have a plec from South America that I bought my 90 gal. for. Though someday I would like to go to the Amazon...these days, I would like to go to Africa before it. In the interim, there is so much in SouthEast Asia and it still has my heart. Don't know if I will go anywhere else in my life...life is too short...and if you love what you do and where you are at...stick to it!

[Gary Stanton]

My friends have given up betting me about ANYTHING. It's kinda like playing poker, if every time you are called you win you get to bluff more often. LOL

[betta blue]

Hi Gary! Not sure if you've read my delemma of a 90 gal. tank. I would certainly appreciate any advise you can give me. I think you can appreciate that when I do something, I do it with a passion. But aquariums are so new to me and the time I spend trying to learn on the internet, doesn't do as well as wonderful forums like this one. But the learning curve can be frustrating. Good advise is priceless! I appreciate your passion and would never bet on what you can't do if you put your mind to it! I really enjoy your posts!

Shar

[betta blue]

Thx Gary for your advise. Back in the eighties, we spent a couple of extended holidays in SE Asia. In 1993, we started importing from there. We've spent "years" overthere either Gord or I. It's product I love...all hand done, etc...but even more...knowing the carver that did it. Since '93, everyone and his dog (just joking about the dog...) has imported at least one container. The market is quite saturated by Indonesian wood carvings. But I still love it and still sell it the best I can cause I know what I'm selling. It's employment...maybe quasi employment listening to what some friends meke...but it's what I like to do. I don't believe in doing anything unless "you want to" and are willing to give it your all! Guess that's where I'm in with aquariums. Learning curve like everything else...but I want to learn...difference! I do question the number of clown loaches you have. What happens when they grow up to their "proper size"? Do you get another tank? Excuse my ignorance in all of this. I appreciate the note about the tetras but honestly, I find them little, quite boring but worse, they don't get along with bettas...reason why I am into this "new hobby" cause of one betta in a bowl I got for Christmas...guess that's why I was asking about the black skirted tetras. You've been with aquariums for 50 years and with that, I have so much respect for any info you can give me. For me, it's only been a year and a half. I count on people like you for info as I try to learn. Buy as I think you can appreciate, I have distinct tastes and with something I like, I will do everything in my power to make it happen...including my little clowns. I now have full dedication to getting my 90 gal. working properly as a community fish tank.

Thank you so much for the memories. I need to know why I am who I am today and it's cause of those memories that help me realize why I am an opinionized bitch sometimes....in my business, I listen to everyone...though I may not say anything, I've never lost my opinion while doing it. I question governments, media and the lack of information public..or should I just say the public that don't question. I love my experiencea that give me freedom that a lot of people haven't dealt with. I look at my aquariums and want to get fish that can interact without being bullied...can swim free and love their space! It's what I'm thriving for as well.

Shar

[Gary Stanton]

Living on a boat give you a different outlook on interior design. My house is small and full of "stuff", but I still can go up!
When the clowns get too big I will get a 3-400 gallon tank and raise it so that there will be seating underneath. I already raised a bed so that there is a four foot "room underneath. Wait and see how much more"stuff" I can cram in here and still maintain some semblance of style.
Angels tend to nip at each other, its a cichlid thing. You just have to get the right group and be sure to pay attention so you can remove any major aggressor before something sad happens. When I was in high school I raised them and was able to get "free" supplies from all the local fish stores. I like the tetras because when you get a school of 10-20 they look so cool.
Bottom line, have fun of course!

[betta blue]

Thanks Gary! Totally respect you, what you've done. I'm quite frustrated right now with my 90 gal. and my clowns. I did buy 4 platys (5 initially but one died overnight). I did transfer my two clowns from the 10 gal. to the 90 gal. a few weeks prior. They, Sumatran ones (my other two came from another fish place and are Borneo ones) I see out at dusk. I get to see the four out at dawn for about a couple of minutes. One of the Borneo ones spends some time with the Sumatrans but then hides in it's wood with the other one. The other Borneo one rarely comes out and worried about it. Did the dither but not sure about a larger clown...guess I can do as many dithers as I'd like cause their lifespan will be less that the slow growth of the clowns. In addition, just starting to try to learn about plants. My plants in the 2 - 5gal. tanks and the 2 - 10 gal. tanks are close to 1.5 years old...but the 90 gal without C02...makes it into a natural tank with fish waste, etc. Just learning about it now...yeah, maybe I'm lazy and I'm petrified about CO2 when I don't trust myself with it...But I think ecosystems do work. Really appreciate your opinion...not sure why I wasn't alerted to your response on this site...guess it's too old!

Shar