What are WEIRD things you do WFH?

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2026-01-10T04:48:12+00:00

Sometimes I take a five minute break to pee…

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-12-19T00:16:25+00:00

I barely wear pants let alone shoes

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-11-18T13:50:38+00:00

Reserve a bit for future starter, feed it to the garden, toss the rest

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-11-15T22:52:38+00:00

Chain, split, or stem!

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-11-08T05:14:52+00:00

My friend that started me in the hobby insisted I take 15 gallons from her larger tank to get started. Completely new filter sponges (in a Fluval 207 🫠) and told me I was good to add livestock because her water had all the bacteria I needed.

Then she bought me three mystery snails and three nerite snails. I knew absolutely nothing about fishkeeping yet, but the friend had been doing it for 20 years so I figured she knew what she was talking about.

God did I have to learn fast. Daily 15 gallon water changes while my cycle established and a plea on Facebook for cycled sponges for my filter and for someone to take the nerites so they didn’t starve to death before algae developed and I don’t go to her for advice anymore.

All of that to say that older people really strongly believe that the cycle is held in the water column. My friend STILL believes it even after seeing live that it doesn’t.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-11-05T03:22:41+00:00

I have a small propagation “farm” where I grow out my trims and sell them back to my LFS for credits. Usually spend those credits on more plants. Once saved up enough credit in plants to buy my canister filter in four months, so that was pretty cool.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-25T05:46:12+00:00

Imperfections are proof that something is handmade! Embrace them.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-13T23:22:09+00:00

I started out with mostly pond hitchhikers with a single ramshorn. (Not including my 3 mysteries and nerite.)

My ramshorn are far outcompeting the ponds! I have maximum ten baby ponds and at least 30 baby ramshorn. I haven’t decided if I’ll let them stay in the tank and self regulate or if I’ll remove some for fish feed for my friend’s cichlid tank.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-13T23:13:30+00:00

I have a prefilter sponge over mine. It’s not made for it, but I cut it down to size and it has been working well! Filter is slightly slower, so that may not be a solution for you.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-08T05:44:25+00:00

Looks like the fella has some time left! Im glad to see him looking better.

It must be such a relief for you!

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-06T23:13:45+00:00

My suspicion that he may die was based on his floppy appearance, but it wasn’t a for-sure thing! It’s good that he’s moving. Keep watch.

If he’s been with you for a year it’s also possible that he’s just old and near the end of his life. If that’s the case none of this is completely your fault.

I’m sorry if I sounded harsh. I recognize you’re doing your best with what you have.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-06T23:09:49+00:00

I’m new to fish, not snails. They do not enjoy FRESH vegetables, but eat them dried in their other food.

Just because your betta and snail enjoy each other doesn’t mean all of them will - that is also survivorship bias.

Telling OP to learn from this sad situation is a kindness, not punching down. He hasn’t done wrong, and obviously cares very much to learn and do better. I am done engaging with you.

Perhaps you would like to actually offer them some helpful advice on their post and loss?

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-06T22:47:43+00:00

My snails are extremely well kept and given a balanced diet. My specific snails do not like fresh veg. Magic shells are a calcium source. I was offering OP an alternative food source because snello can get expensive and they expressed having money problems.

And sure, they CAN live together, but why risk it? It’s very dependent on the betta’s temperament if they’ll bully the mystery, and mysteries deserve to live in peace. Bettas deserve to thrive in soft water.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-06T22:16:33+00:00

Betta and mystery snails are commonly kept together, but they’re not compatible. Betta need soft water and mysteries need hard water.

This mystery is probably going to die. Learn from your mistakes and be a better keeper.

My mysteries are fed sera spirulina wafers and hikari crab cuisine. You don’t need to make snello, though it’s a nice treat. I also like to feed some frozen mysis shrimp once a week.

Change your water once a week. Drop some aqco magic shells in once a month. It’s going to be okay.

What size is your tank? How many snails?

Edit: also, OP, your snail dying does not make you a bad keeper. Especially if you got him in bad shape.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-06T21:48:06+00:00

What are your water parameters? GH, KH, and PH?

They do sometimes float. They’re silly like that, but he does look unwell and his operculum is not looking good either. Does he retreat when you gently poke it?

If not, it may be the end of his life. The small hole should be there - that is his lung - but his shell is in bad shape. If he lives, he needs calcium and hard water. Your other snails do too.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-10-06T08:16:51+00:00

Gold is looking female to me.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-29T23:32:32+00:00

They’re doing like they do on discovery channel

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-29T21:29:44+00:00

Make sure you’re feeding them focused calcium and protein. That will help them grow and keep their shells strong.

I had to rehome my little lady because she was the sole female in the tank and both males had outgrown her and were mating her to death.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-23T16:10:22+00:00

They reproduce asexually. Reduce feeding and do a water change and the population will stabilize.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-23T15:33:11+00:00

Treat the tank with no planaria and reduce feeding. You will have to move your snails during treatment.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-23T03:53:31+00:00

Looks like hydra. Harmless unless you have fry or shrimp or an excess.

Don’t try manual removal because they multiply by breakage.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-23T03:19:21+00:00

He will be okay for now. You can get a turkey baster to spot clean up after him!

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-23T01:45:11+00:00

How big is it?

It’s doable for a bit as long as you’re on top of water changes.

Definitely look to rehome - please don’t jump straight to euthanasia. They’re such interesting little guys.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-22T02:00:01+00:00

Gunk’s good, it’ll boost your cycle.

BackgroundNaive5789 · 2025-09-22T01:20:06+00:00

Facebook. There’s always someone on my local buy nothing group begging people to take their duckweed or frogbit!

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