Only The Strongest....

When my baby fish hatched at the end of August, There was around 75-100. When they all swam together it looked like a little dust cloud. I thought what in the heck am I going to do with all those babies? My tank is big..but not that big.
One by one, in some way and some how the little ones got picked off. Senior told me it was a game of survival and only the strongest and smartest would make it.
A month ago, there was only one left. It darted around the rocks, and I was trying to catch it. In doing so a large rock tumbled and I thought it crushed the last baby. There was no sign of it any where in the tank

Until...tonight, when we are eating dinner...I squinted at first, then got a better look... I be darn! It was still alive, and grown a lot. You can see his coloring and how much he looks like mom and dad.
Senior was right...this little guy was the strongest, and was the smartest...and some how, and in some way he managed to stay undetected and survived.

Now he is out of whatever crevice he had been hiding in, swimming and darting around the tank. His appetite is healthy- and he looks happy.
It is always so amazing that in nature-that life will always finds a way..... 



So, we appropriately named him "Nemo" of course..and here he is with one of his parents looking on:

Welcome and Tuesday Tidbits

I first would like to give a big Clothesline Welcome to some new followers PIONEER PREPPY, ROXIE, DAVENDARCY, and KELLY. Some of them have blogs of their own, so click on the links and go over and check them out.
Thanks to all of you for clicking my Follower button, I look forward to reading any comments you leave, and will try my best to respond to them all.
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UPDATE ON THE BABY FRYE: 
I put most of the new babies in a holding pen, well that did not work out as well as I thought Because they did not make it  : (   So, I have decided to let nature take its course with the remaining 11 that are still in the tank with mom and dad. They are now a week old and doing okay.
Yesterday ND and I were looking in to the tank, and did not see them, then along comes dad and spits them out...I forget that Cichlids will carry the babies in their mouths. It was another aspect of nature I have never seen. It is amazing watching these wonderful parents and the lengths they are going to in order to protect their young.

 

I know this is not a very good picture, but that is one in front of the white rock. They dart around so fast , that its hard to get a good shot.

 

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First presidential debate is tomorrow night, to say that I am worried over this election would be an understatement, I am terrified of 4 more years. I hope Romney comes out swinging, and hammers BO. Please, if you are one of the undecided, then please watch..maybe it will help you make up your mind.  We live in a community with a HOA, we were told at the last meeting that no one is allowed to put up political signs, and those who have all ready done so will get sent a letter and told to take them down. I was happy to hear this because I know how it would tick off all the BO supporters around here.



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Got chores to do around the house today, would have liked to hang clothes out to dry, but mother nature had other plans, more rain off and on today for us. A front is suppose to stall out..just what we need! more rain..in addition to the over 70 inches we have had this summer. Wish I could send it to those folks who really need it.

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I've been dealing with a headache for nearly two days now, I think it is my eyes. I am putting off the inevitable and must get them checked. It has been a while since the last time I went to a eye doctor and even then he told me to start using a pair of reading glasses..which I pretty much ignored.

You know, it really sucks getting old...    : (

 



I'm a Grannie!...

Gotcha!  No, its not what you think...ha ha.  Some of you know I am an aquarium hobbyist. I am especially fond of a breed of fish known as the "African Cichlids". Very easy to keep, and fun to watch.
I have a female "Jeweled Cichlid" and she laid eggs once all ready, but I got to them in enough time so the male would not fertilize. Well, she got smart, and this time laid her eggs in the decorative log I have in my tank..then daddy came along. Saturday I looked in my tank as to what I thought was debris floating around..no not debris...BABIES !!!!..about 50-100. Holy cow! In all the years I have kept an aquarium, not once has the eggs ever hatched....well there is a first time for everything.

Here is mom with her small Frye, Cichlid parents are notoriously awesome, and display amazing parenting skills. And personally I think there are a lot of human parents out there that can learn a lesson about parenting from a fish.
 At night she pushes them all back in the log, and brings them out in the mornings. I do have three other fish in the tank, 2 are a different breed.Both the mom and dad have been on the defensive, and like any good parent they guard the little ones. I have to stand back to even snap a picture because she tries to charge me from inside the tank.

 

 

Sunday, We scooped up as many babies as we could and moved them to a "nursery basket". Here, they can be safe from the other fish, and dine on shrimp brine.

 

Yesterday, mom finally discovered the basket and is now standing guard..while dad watches the other ones I could not catch.

 





I know, they are so cute when they are babies...but, I can't keep all these. NW and ND are guilting me. I have agreed to keep a few and try to raise..but not 100 ! And I have a friend who would like a couple for his tank. So now, starts my problem, I must become a fish killer and clean them out. 
: ( 
Then, to avoid this again, I must separate mom and dad. I am trying to convince ND to let me give him the mom and move her in to his tank on his dresser. He has three Danios ( aka Minnows) and doesn't  want them gone. Africans can only live with other Africans, and she will nip the fins of the danios and torture them.
My only salvation is to take charge today while they are at school.

This will be an ongoing series, as I look forward to updating you all on the progress of the babies we do keep.