The almost great escape Almost had an absolute 'mare when I got home yesterday. Noticed the pump was struggling cos the filter inlet grill was blocked with leaves. Took the lid off so I could get at the blockage. Grabbed the leaves and turned the top bit of the filter round. Pump starts spurting out a proper amount of water. Then I realise I'd inadvertently knocked the sieve containing the ickle babby fishes and they were now roaming around in the main tank, being pursued by the bigger fish who have a bit of an appetite for them. Quickly grabbed a scoopy spoon from the kitchen and started trying to retrieve them. Managed to get the first 3 but there was no sign of the other 2. Was thinking how to explain the loss to the missus. Would have been a pleasant experience, no doubt. Finally managed to spot another one and fended off the other fish until I could scoop it up. After about another ten minutes the last one appeared and eventually they were all back in. Job well done but quite fortunate that the other fish didn't scoff any of them. Due to do another water change tomorrow. Got to put more in than we take out as there's been quite a bit of evaporation over the last week or so.

21.5.04 15:08 Permalink / 2 Comments / comment

The Famous Five Or should that be the fortunate five? Confused? Read on.. Glanced at the tank last night and noticed one of the clown loaches was chasing something. Looked a bit closer and realised it was a little babby fish! At first it went and hid around the back of the pump but eventually it reappeared so I could show the missus. Over the next hour or so a few more appeared at random. Not sure whether it was Patty or Selma (as we've named the female mollies) who gave birth as the fry just kept appearing and lurking in the gravel or resting on leaves. Eventually had to start separating them as Albert was getting a taste for them. I know he scoffed at least one and there were a few others unaccounted for besides those we resuced. Managed to scoop five out and put them in a sieve resting in the water. Will get a proper net at the weekend. Hopefully they will survive until then. Apparently the mollies give birth about once a month. Don't really want too many more mollies so in future we might leave the fry to fend for themselves. Bit of Darwinism in action.

11.5.04 19:30 Permalink / 3 Comments / comment

Spot the difference Went to the garden centre again and got the green light to get some fish. Bought 3 clown loach and 2 black and one silver molly. Also bought a bridge to keep the missus happy. There were some random yellow fish that she wanted but the bloke at the garden centre told us they were psychos from an African lake and wouldn't get on with the other fish so decided against them. The silver molly is a male and has been named Albert as promised. "Albert" Have to wait 2 weeks before we can add any more fish, and then we have to get another sample tested to see if the water is still ok. Just read that the clown loaches should eat any snails in the tank so hopefully that should solve that problem.

9.5.04 18:28 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

There's life Jim, but not as we know it Or expected it. There are several random snail-like creatures in our fishtank. Think they are slowly munching away at the plants. Not sure if they should be there or not or whether they are doing any harm. Got to take a water sample to the garden centre on Sunday. Hopefully we can then buy some fish. Want to get a few different types if possible - as long as they don't eat each other. Decided at least one of my fish will be of a decent size and called Albert. Fine name for a fish if you ask me.

7.5.04 20:50 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment

Humble-ish beginnings This is our new fishtank. It contains no fish. Yet. Thought we could just stroll along to a garden centre on a wet Bank Holiday Monday, buy a goldfish or two and whack them in a bowl. But life's never that simple. Had to buy a tank with a heater, light, filter and pump, 3 different additives, a syphon, a magnetic scum cleaning thingy and a bag of gravel. Couldn't buy any fish cos you have to wait for the filter to get full of bacteria. Going to get the water tested on Sunday. Then maybe, just maybe, we can get a couple of fish to get us going.

5.5.04 22:03 Permalink / 1 Comment / comment