My New Hobby

Well for my first blog  entry i guess i should start with how i got into fish.It started last summer in late August when the family was at a annual chicken BBQ for the local fire dept.They had a booth set up like we have all seen in fairs and carnivals,the throw the ping pong ball into the glass and win a Beta.Well my daughter,the animal lover she is,had to try this.About 15 dollars later out of dads pocket she finally won.After putting the guy threw u know what haveing to look at each fish,she picked a nice dark blue Beta.So it began,next day we rush to Walmart to find a small home for her new friend.We find a nice little gallon tank which i think is suitable for him,had the filter the whole nine yards.We get home and set up his sanctuary.Great,hes happy,daughters happy,im happy.

Well time goes on and before Xmas it starts.Daughter wants to expand her fish realm.”I need a bigger tank so i can have some more fish dad.”So for Xmas i get her a 5 gallon.Perfect,shes happy as a clam.And we get a couple little mollies and all great.Few more months and Wife and daughter come home with neons and a cory catfish.Im thinking great,i can see the writeing on the wall.Me knowing nothing about fish at the time just had a clue this wasnt gonna work.Well fish start dieing.Jamaica,the Beta gets ick,things are falling apart quick in the fish world.So the dad that i am take over and try to get things normal again. Well things get better and a out of noplace baby mollies appear.A few die and i blame it on Jamaica,so we moved him to his old 1 gallon tank.All doing well,theres one baby left  and everyones doing great.Well mother descides to change jamaicas water who is used to distilled water,because at that time i didnt know it wasnt good fish water.Well we didnt have any so mom puts tap water in and within a hour Jamaica is DOA.This is not good,not good at all.

Well now i have began to like the fish stuff and find myself in daughters room all the time watching them,yes,i got the bug.Well i descide that she needs bigger,5 gallon just isnt gonna house to many fish.So off i go,I pick her out a 15 gallon cause it fits nicely on her dresser where it cant get bumped into easily and i eyeball up a 20 gallon long.Done deal,wifes gonna love me.Got home she was pleasantly happy.

At this time both are up and running and everyone is doing pretty good.Mine has 2 mollies,2 platties and 2 color skirted tetras.Lastninght i noticed 2 tiny salty looking specals on one tetra,my heart leaped .one of my kids is sick.All i had was some Jungle tank buddies ick tablets.I really didnt think it was gonna help him after reading about it.Happy to report this morning at about 11:00 the spots are just blurry blemish so it must be helping.

Next step is live plants.After reading alot im excited to try this.The fish have to be more comfortable than with plastic plants.I hope to order some tonight and will keep updates here.

Well enough rambling on for one day.Oh ya,thats my 20 gallon up top.Its not supre but hopefully in a month or 2 it will be alot better.