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Locked on 04/21/2005 6:49:54 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
The Hobbit Hole XXI: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1388121/posts |
Posted on 03/05/2005 11:51:13 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
New verse:
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Upon the hearth the fire is red, |
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Still round the corner there may wait |
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Home is behind, the world ahead, |
The aquarium guys tell me to go directly to a salt water tank. 'Course I'm sure they're just tryin' to make the sale.
YIKES! A croc for sure. Look at that narrow snout. ~shudder~
I don't mind gators since they just want to be left alone, but crocs are another matter entirely.
They ~know~ where they rank in the food chain and aren't afraid to prove it.
Hmmm, like the ones that guard US embassies? I had a cousin that did that in the Marines for a while. Was stationed in Uganda (around the time of the Kenya and Tanzania bombings), then went to Hungary, where he met his wife.
Last I heard he was doing something with the US Marshals Service.
Salt water is a lot prettier and prolly doesn't cost that much more than fresh water.
Sam's got a nice salt water tank at his house, so I'll defer to his opinion and knowledge of the difference.
Hermit crabs have always been sorta funny to me. Critters that live in other critters' recycled houses.
Your comment earlier that they like to have a choice between at least three shells was especially funny. Crabs shopping. Nope... bad fit on that one. That one's OK... but I'm not crazy about the color. Ah... this one... this is the one. I'll take it.
Does this one make my claw look fat?
Holey Moley. Time to cut the line and count your fingers.
You shoulda seen the one that switched shells tonight. He was dead set on getting a new shell and stuck his head waaaay into each shell as if he was looking around inside to see if the fit was right.
When he found the one he wanted, he just dove in head first and turned around lickety-split. Viola! All new look. :-D
Yeah, the funny thing is that, as you probably know, just a few feet to the right of the freeper, there is a boat ramp (from which the dock extends) that the croc could walk up just as easily as you or I!
BWAAHAHAHAHA!!!
I don't know if "funny' is the right word, Sam!
Scary as hell. That's a better way to put it!
I've wanted a salt water tank forever. But I want one with ~local~ stuff in it, not tropical. Apparently this is a nontrivial problem. The water has to be chilled, not heated, and the chemistry is complicated.
But it would be a gas to be able to pick up critters off the beach and have a tank in the house for the collection.
Hah! LOL...
Maybe his name is Zoolander.
Crocs are proof that dragons did in fact exist. As the saying goes... Do not mess in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and good with ketchup.
Hmmm....I have never seen a salt water tank with anything but tropical species in it.
I'm sure it could be done, but you're more than likely right about the cost and energy involved with set-up and upkeep.
I've had both fresh and salt and have to say that fresh is magnitudes easier. Not sure I'd go to salt again if I was just setting up. 'Course, if you can spend lots of time with it, salt would be OK.
One thing I found out was that the water temp in salt needs to be kept cooler than you'd think - somewhere in the mid 70's, I think. Fairy basslets (known to aquarium dealer as royal grammas) are the hardiest as well as being the prettiest fish for me. Purple and yellow. Atlantic natives as well.
It's a no brainer that a salt tank is far the most spectacular and pretty. But I did learn a good fresh water trick: if you can take the time to vacuum your fresh water tank once a week, the water will be so clear, and the fish so bright, that some folks will accuse you of having a salt water tank. It happened to me more than once.
Fish tanks are wonderful, tell you the truth.
Fun story about the adventures of a hermit crab that my children loved when younger, I think your kids are about the right age for it. For that matter, my brothers and I had this book too as kids. Recommended children's book if you haven't seen it.
Ramius, your idea of a local salt aquarium is appealing.
Good night everyone.
I'll look for it at the library, Sam. Thanks for showing it to me.
Sleep well.
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