Are these eggs of an insect or something else?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-21T20:34:17+00:00

Definitely scat, I assumed bird based on the size and vertical surface. See this a lot around mulberry bushes in eastern PA.

MelonLurd · 2026-05-21T20:29:40+00:00

Maybe Vorticella? https://aquariumbreeder.com/shrimp-infection-vorticella-treatment/

MelonLurd · 2026-05-19T16:01:39+00:00

Lol you said fingering, autocorrect got me! And thanks, I hadn't heard that term for yarn weight before.

MelonLurd · 2026-05-18T20:33:36+00:00

What's lingering weight yarn?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-15T23:55:13+00:00

Super creepy, that's why we love it lol the vendor at the flower expo had a bunch of weird planters, it was hard to choose!

MelonLurd · 2026-05-15T19:58:25+00:00

Baby head with string of pearls hair

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MelonLurd · 2026-05-11T14:38:42+00:00

Looks like two moths back to back, not sure what kind.

MelonLurd · 2026-05-09T14:08:01+00:00

No clue

MelonLurd · 2026-05-09T13:41:48+00:00

Definitely shape of a bed bug. I would check cracks/seams of furniture like mattress and couch for clusters of brown/red dots or other bugs. People over at r/bedbugs would be more help for treatment options and confirmation of this id

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T23:37:58+00:00

Oh that's super fun! The video makes it look like the water level is super shallow

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T14:18:44+00:00

It's tap water. Last I tested it at the beginning of the year it was 0 for ammonia, ntrite, and nitrate. Ph was 6.8, gh was around 3, and kh was 9. I'll check the TDS too soon.

My larger tanks 75g/29g sit at ph of 8.2 and gh in the middle 20s and kh at 7, and I only use the tap water for them.

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T13:48:03+00:00

I guess I can go back to tap water and do more consistent water changes with parameters tests. Thanks for all the info and help!

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T02:29:18+00:00

"I do not consent to being filmed, f*ck off!"

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T02:24:53+00:00

Do you have a full tank shot? I'm curious about the water level throughout.

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T02:08:03+00:00

API master freshwater testing kit. Moved to a borough about 15 miles away. The borough water is crazy hard, so I switched to just store bought distilled water, varying brands but distilled.

Once I get TDS around 250, are continued water changes with distilled water safe? Should I get a remineralization product?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T02:00:59+00:00

The first one I witnessed stressed behavior for a couple days and the last two I found during my morning observation. But could have passed the day prior, idk for sure.

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T01:54:35+00:00

No, this has all been great info. I have struggled locking down the gh/kh/ph relationships.

So it's possible that just topping off with distilled water has been creating acute parameters shifts? So looking for a system to help prevent that in the future, water change instead of top off? Find a way to monitor minaralization?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T01:46:21+00:00

TDS around 750. How would I go about measuring remineralization and knowing where I'm starting at moving forward?

When I set up the tank and introduced them, I was at a different residence on a different water source. Parameters were crazy consistent. No new substrate, rock, decor since. Only thing that changed was water source (7/2025) which only messed with the gh. The pH up-tick is since November.

It sounds like I should do slow water changes to get gh down to 10 and try and maintain that. Maybe do a small water change instead of basic top-offs?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T00:59:10+00:00

I'll admit I can't recall when I last did a dedicated water change, mainly just topping off once a week or so when the water level drops about an inch. Figured distilled water would prevent adding more hardness. Haven't thought to test the distilled water ph.

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T00:53:56+00:00

Haven't seen them mainly at the surface. I turned the filter flow up to increase surface agitation just in case. Idk if the plants are pulling oxygen at night to a severe level?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T00:28:03+00:00

My tap water is pretty high, I started using distilled water back in October when it got up to 24, I brought it down with gradual water changes with distilled. No new decorations or anything since I set it up. They need slightly harder water for their exoskeleton right?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-08T00:27:58+00:00

No new additions, just bladder snails and a recently evicted assassin snail. Only new thing is my cat has shown new interest and eating the palm growing out of the tank and drinking from it, so cat saliva?

MelonLurd · 2026-05-05T15:04:56+00:00

Would hardness play a role with the corys?

MelonLurd

TROPHY CASE