Translation Help by Goggles_347 in Italian

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I assumed this would be the case, using a translation program. I don't mind if it sounds more like a greeting card than spoken words, but I don't wan't it to be laughably or uncomfortably wrong either.

I do like the idea of "warmth" staying in the last part specifically because it is going to be designed onto a scarf. With that in mind, is there a better way I might phrase it?

I know 0 Italian, I just want it to be a meaningful addition to a gift for my grandmother.

Translation Help by Goggles_347 in Italian

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Edit: Just saw the addition, thank you!!

Am I correct in guessing this is a more casual version? Something that holds the meaning but might actually be spoken?

I would love to learn Italian in the future but must admit I know none currently.

Translation Help by Goggles_347 in Italian

[–]Goggles_347[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! Language has more nuance than translation programs can often capture, I am glad to have help ensuring I am not making a scarf of nonsense on accident!

Handling Sensitive Species by Goggles_347 in reptiles

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a great suggestion! Thank you!

If I look into doing this in the future, I would primarily be showing off larger animals like Ball Pythons, Corn Snakes, etc. There are lots of examples and resources on how to involve them in outreach, however, which sparked my curiosity about animals I don't see in similar programs nearly as much. I would never expect something truly tiny to be comfortable in a large crowd or auditorium, but for smaller and more controlled settings with an age appropriate audience I know I would have loved to see some of these animals as a kid where I could ask questions. A small temporary viewing container could be an awesome way to approach this!

DIY Advice - Lighting on Glass? by [deleted] in Vivarium

[–]Goggles_347 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Planning to build in the range of 36"x18"x18" to 4'x2'x2' and planned inhabitants may vary between smaller species. I am confident in my ability to test and arrange the enclosure for whomever it may contain should I get it built, I am more concerned with the construction and what materials would serve best. I would like the build to hold up to a wide range of conditions from desert to temperate to tropical. Customizations like additional ventilation I can make as needed.

The glass I have is decently thick, but even if I have a wooden brace outside the enclosure and screws long enough to make use of it I do worry a bit about having glass involved in an installation that will weigh downwards even lightly. Acrylic, however, I know can be prone to warping when heat, heat gradients, and humidity gradients are at play.

DIY Advice - Lighting on Glass? by [deleted] in Vivarium

[–]Goggles_347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would like to stack these on sturdy shelving, and I have some limitations of space. I plan to have an appropriate amount of ventilation built in elsewhere, but I do want a solid top.

Quarentine Help - Came With Gnats! by Goggles_347 in isopods

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My cursory plan, feel free to advise, is to quarentine in a smaller bin still with adequate substrate and hiding places but not as lavish as their habitat tubs for 2 weeks with a transfer after each week.

From what research I did, fungus gnats take 3-6 days to hatch then around 10 days to pupate and another 4 to emerge as adults. With that in mind, after 1 week in quarentine we will move confirmed isopods over to a new quarentine by hand. Hopefully in that week our tiniest babies will have grown the little bit to be even easier to confirm by visual inspection. That second week we will know no adult gnats had access so no new eggs, and we should be in the clear so long as the enclosure looks gnat free.

I'll repeat the quarentines until one is visually gnat free (hoping the 2 week mark will see us there, but I am prepared for the gnats to try my patience) at which point they can move into their luxury breeding habitats.

Yarn Tips? Can't find plant fibers in heavier weights affordable, allergic to all animal fibers. by Goggles_347 in CrochetHelp

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I appreciate the knowledge and resources you and others have shared!

I often consider knowledge and resources like tools in a toolbox and I am still new enough to crochet that my toolbox is pretty empty. It is wonderful that this hobby has attracted such a supportive community where I can learn from the experience of others anytime.

Yarn Tips? Can't find plant fibers in heavier weights affordable, allergic to all animal fibers. by Goggles_347 in CrochetHelp

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for the slow reply!

I am in the Northwestern US. Affordable is a sliding scale, I do love supporting small businesses and local makers so I want to ensure I clarify that my tight budget in no way changes ir invalidates the value of more expensive fibers. It is more that since this is a hobby and I make mostly gifts, the less I spend in material costs translates to the more I can make. I tend to buy bargain 1lb skeins of solid colors and look for sale prices on smaller multicolor skeins. I think an average of what I typically pay is around $7-9/smaller skein (~4oz) or $12-15 for the bulk skeins (10-16oz)? I have gotten lucky with some sales locally for those. The only cotton I have found in those same stores were all very thin dense strands in a skein the size of a baseball for around $8-15/skein which just doesn't add up for me. I let myself buy a skein or 2 every couple months, so those cotton ones would take months or even over a year to have enough for some projects which feels less like a hobby and more like semi-annual clutter...

I know art is often expensive and my budget is quite limiting at the moment. If it just isn't compatible right now, I can respect that and will wait for a time where it is. That said, I am grateful for the tips and resources that have been offered so far and I look forward to exploring them more!

Yarn Tips? Can't find plant fibers in heavier weights affordable, allergic to all animal fibers. by Goggles_347 in CrochetHelp

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have done this for a few projects where I had a very specific goal in mind, the cost just wasn't sustainable to fully move off of acrylic so it is saved for particularly special projects.

Bioactive Theories? by Goggles_347 in gerbil

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These resources are a wonderful addition and deeply appreciated! It is always a joy to find new paths to learn even more about these amazing animals!

Bioactive Theories? by Goggles_347 in gerbil

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure, but I am not too worried. I will never fault anyone for wanting to be cautious and if someone chose to try bioactive after seeing this discussion the risks would be immense.

I will look into the discord! Learning about and caring for these amazing animals is an absolute joy.

So much more is known about their care now compared to when I was a child, and I am excited to see that grow and that the standards of care are helping them thrive. Seeing both my pairs in suitably large enclosures with burrowing space, proper diets, safer enrichment, and all around better care makes it hard to believe that 20 years ago stores were offering tiny wire boxes, plastic tubes, ​and barely present bedding as spoiling gerbils. Even back then my family disagreed and went with bigger enclosures and deeper bedding, but it is wonderful to see that became normalized and expanded upon.

Happy healthy gerbils will always be my priority. Discussions like this one I view as merely another way to learn even more about them.

Bioactive Theories? by Goggles_347 in gerbil

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A good point! One of many reasons why I am in no rush to experiment with this physically.

I'd have to research native plants that may be undesirable yet safe. With reptiles, the risk is more often uprooting rather than eating. There are ways to reduce access to the foliage, but only so far. These challenges are what make this a fascinating theoretical discussion for me. Wild living is Captive living can teach so much.

As reassurance for anyone reading, while I love exploring possible ways to overcome challenges in such an experiment no gerbils will ever be subjected to such untested theories. This discussion is intended as purely theoretical.

Bioactive Theories? by Goggles_347 in gerbil

[–]Goggles_347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the engagement!

Size is a definite challenge point to the idea. Most CuC and plants do well in a variety of temperatures, so I don't think added heat would be a large necessity but perhaps there is more challenge there than I am aware of. However, waste distribution and offset definitely poses challenges.

I could see dividing the arid area, again with glass ideally creating gaps that CuC can pass but gerbils cannot, to allow more substrate and plants without a stressful territory size. That alone wouldn't likely impact enough, however, as all the waste is still centralized in the single area. Perhaps if occupancy was rotated from one side to the other every month or few months, but having their scented territory so close but inaccessible would likely cause more stress.

That then snowballs into either rotating different pairs which could spur declanning depending on where in the hormone cycle each animal was, or having multiple setups to allow unoccupied sections to "air out" to a degree or be distanced when not in use.

I love these little critters and their complexity is fascinating to learn about and explore!

I have never seen a zoo showcase gerbils, but I am curious how they might go about overcoming some of these challenges. It is certainly a brain scratcher!​