fbwzoo

[fbwzoo]

I meant to do other things after work today 🤔 Now I'm watching the "pimp my filter" video for the fx6 and taking notes so I can order media for it. I just took out the old stuff the guy had in it, gotta take it out back to clean out, maybe tomorrow.

[fbwzoo]

that picture of speedy is genuinely so heartbreaking :( i'm so glad he's coming to you. i hope he gets to live a real life with you for a long time <3 do you have a vet nearby that's qualified for turtles? (sorry if you've spoken about this already and i've missed it!)

I don't think I have yet, so no worries! We live in a city, so we have a multitude of exotic vets in the area, thankfully! I think we'll probably take him to one of the better ones we've used before, they have pretty extensive reptile experience. I'm definitely anxious to get the boy into our hands and to the vet so we can see what we're dealing with.

[fbwzoo]

Looking back at that picture of Speedy and having read more on shell health, I.... am reminded why I was avoiding reading more about shell issues right now. I have a very bad feeling about his shell condition.

[fbwzoo]

It's so biiiiiiig!!!

And I spent the afternoon planning out a nice long basking platform to wrap from the left end all the way behind it like a nice porch, so I'm very excited.

Also bc I found a picture I took some time ago to show a friend, this is what he's currently in. :(

I cannot WAIT to see him in a proper pond with space to move.

[fbwzoo]

Stock taaaaaaank!!!! Second most expensive part of the boy's set up purchased! $180 new, but found at a surplus store for $135 for a 150g! I'm very excited and can't wait to clear the storage room so we can get it down there.

So far I've spent $320 towards setting up for him, with the canister filter, tank, and an LED light. We've got at least $360 still to get for water heater, Python water change system, RV water filter, a tote for the canister filter, a screen door for the room entrance, basking lamp & UVB light, and water leak alarm system. I already have a water testing kit for the crabs, at least.

That doesn't include supplies to build the basking dock (not sure cost yet), rocks & driftwood for the pond, and some live plants. Thinking to set the pool up when we can to get some plants going to see if they last a little bit at least. I figure in a bit we'll set up another small pool to grow aquatic plants for destruction/eating enrichment, but that's a later cost.

[fbwzoo]

Turns out "be attached to & enjoy the mischief more than individual rats" works better as a concept when you don't lose the entire mischief in a 6 month period.

End of an 8 year rat era today. We lost another of the younger girls, Spor, to sudden death last week from presumably the same respiratory infection that has taken most of the mischief with few to no symptoms. With two 2.5 year olds, one with a large mammary tumor, and only one younger girl left..... we decided the kindest thing at this point was euthanasia for all three.

We're taking a break for a couple years now. The last 6-8 months have been VERY hard & we just. Need fewer animals and just longer lived animals for a while. Rats are so very good, and so very hard. We'll miss our girls.

[fbwzoo]

Got a fluval fx6 canister filter for $140 from marketplace!!! Guy used it for a year, then in storage for 2 years. He sent a video showing it working, so while I don't know much about these things, I went with it. They're $370 new & one of the more recommended ones for a turtle tank!

I gotta buy new media for it & give it a good cleaning, then play around with it to learn how it works and all. I think we may still end up needing a second filter tbh, but this should get us started anyway! They're rated for up to 400g, and turtles need 3-4x what the tank size is. So technically we should have at least 450g worth of filter power. But this should give me time to keep looking for good deals or see if anything goes down for Black Friday or something.

[fbwzoo]

Pouting about having to be an adult and buy things slowly for turtle instead of just getting everything Right Now Already so I can set it up and play with it and make sure it all works well and ahhhhhhh.

I need to be focusing on Crab Con, someone put my brain in time out

[fbwzoo]

Listening to the end of The Two Towers and had to make this. Look, I hear the arguments, and I agree! But also. They're gay.

[fbwzoo]

Yesssssss

[fbwzoo]

He didn't want to be taken in & started climbing the hammock, so we tried something new after the dogs went in. He seemed to like it! Still didn't want to go in when time. 😂

Ed got a new harness for adventures!

[fbwzoo]

Ed got a new harness for adventures!

[fbwzoo]

Have more of a review now on that stroller we got for Addy!

We took the dogs around the block today & took the stroller to try for part of the distance. Went halfway with Addy walking, then stopped to coax her into it. Didn't take much coaxing! She mostly was just kinda going "but.... why?"

She started out standing and uncertain, but not at all panicking or anything. I kept up giving her treats every 5 seconds or so through the top opening. By the time we reached the corner, she was sitting, using the corner & side for support! By the time we got back to our driveway, she actually laid down!!! I actually had to coax her out a bit, she was pretty pleased to be getting hand fed lots of treats just chilling in it. 😂

She seemed pretty comfortable in it as she got used to it - not getting too jolted, it felt sturdy enough that she didn't seem concerned about support.

Jack pushed it for the walk & said the stroller moves really well, turns easily, very easy to handle. He was able to lean on it some for support, which helped him out too.

Construction wise, the wheels are really nice & seem pretty tough. I think they'll do okay over grass in one of the parks. Lots of mesh for good air flow, nice big openings on front, back, and top. It's rated for up to 160lbs, Addy is 55-60lbs, but needs the extra space to lay comfortably. I climbed in it a couple times to show Emma 😂, so can confirm sturdiness on weight, I'm 150lbs.

It does have some pockets on the back, but not very big - we're going to add a bag between the pockets & stroller box for a bigger storage spot.

Main complaints so far are the pockets, & the floor of the stroller is very slick material - I'm sure it's easy to clean, but no purchase for Addy. We placed a yoga mat in for that, which seems to work well (going to probably tape it in later).

We folded it down to place in the back of my car (SUV style), it is definitely a bit wide, but it went in upside down, it was mostly the big back wheels that got in the way. Jack said those can pop off though, if needed. I picked it up to put in, not terrible on weight, just a bit bulky bc I'm small & small arm span.

So far, highly recommended for a big dog!! Really feels like it's worth the money so far, and really looking forward to taking it out to some parks this summer.

[fbwzoo]

Also just in case anyone needs a reminder that turtles are not easy pets, after 3 hours of going back to grab exact products and such, this boy is gonna cost roughly $1000 to set up pretty basically - no rocks or branches, etc included in that yet. The filter is nearly half that cost at $420. I'm not at all confident enough with water related stuff to try and DIY build a filter, sigh.

We want to do an outdoor summer pond eventually as well, but that'll be its own project. And he may have to wait a couple years lol. At least I should be able to figure out a cheaper filter set up for that anyway.

Jack: So apparently my sister didn't know we've been trying to get my parents to give us the turtle early, so they're going to try and help with that idea. So we might need to actually look at stuff for him instead of dreaming lol

Me: SAY NO MORE *opens 10 tabs immediately*

Any favorite equipment suggestions or tips are welcome!

[fbwzoo]

Jack: So apparently my sister didn't know we've been trying to get my parents to give us the turtle early, so they're going to try and help with that idea. So we might need to actually look at stuff for him instead of dreaming lol

Me: SAY NO MORE *opens 10 tabs immediately*

Any favorite equipment suggestions or tips are welcome!

[fbwzoo]

He had such a nice time after I picked him up! He even climbed further up to look through the hammock ropes. 🥰

Apparently I should start sitting in Ed's playpen with him on me when we try it outside - I didn't get a great picture of him in it today but he was dark bearded and unhappy, despite my sitting next to it and talking to him. Took him out to sit with me instead & he's MUCH happier - light & orange beard, looking all over the place.

[fbwzoo]

Apparently I should start sitting in Ed's playpen with him on me when we try it outside - I didn't get a great picture of him in it today but he was dark bearded and unhappy, despite my sitting next to it and talking to him. Took him out to sit with me instead & he's MUCH happier - light & orange beard, looking all over the place.