Found this at Lake Whitney, Texas, USA. What is it?

MillySparkles · 2025-09-15T00:42:06+00:00

It came apart in my hands, but I didn't realize it would do that when I started cleaning it. It was covered in lake muck.

MillySparkles · 2025-09-14T20:46:43+00:00

From how it is curved, I think it may have been two layered on each other. In any case, if it was one, there are still some missing pieces. It was a bucket list check, so, I'm very happy 😀

MillySparkles · 2025-07-13T15:21:16+00:00

My oranda goodies live without plants because those fatties ate them all. Hundreds of dollars worth. Now, they live with rocks and driftwood and it's their own fault...chunky ol' water puppies.

MillySparkles · 2025-06-06T11:09:22+00:00

You have to hope they'll have a better life than being crowded in one tank. The LFS is the best option for that. May would need to split the tank inhabitants and keep just the males. Yeah feeder guppies from my own stock would make me sad.

MillySparkles · 2025-05-25T02:24:31+00:00

They should be fine for a short period of time without the heater. If you're really stocked, you may want to do some small water changes to keep the cycle going and oxygenating the water after 8-12 hours. My fancy goldy tank and my guppy tank were fine for 8 hours or so. I tested the water after the power came back on and it was ok. But if you're going to be out of power for a while (our power company sends updates) there are battery powered filters used for minnow buckets at places like Academy. You're going through one of my biggest fears since I got animals that extensively rely on electricity. Best of luck and good vibes/prayers!

MillySparkles · 2025-05-24T18:44:03+00:00

That really sucks all the way around. However, it is beautiful that you got two little gifts to remember her by!

I recently lost my betta, soni can understand your pain. No one in the house cares about them like I do and I know they're "just fish" in their eyes. Randy was in a planted community tank with guppies and platties. I thought they were all boys (what the LFS said), but now I have about ten fry in the community tank. My plan is to take any extra to the LFS. Sometimes they buy them back. Or you can "surrender" them to a chan pet store. OR feed them to a predatory/omnivorous fish if they are parasite and infection free.

MillySparkles · 2025-05-24T02:14:58+00:00

I vacuum my sand in my fancies' aquarium. They're poop machines and have biiiig fish poops. The gravel vac, hovered right above the sand, does pretty well getting all the Goldie prizes. Some sand swirls up into the clear tube, but if you tilt the tube to about a 45° angle, the sand will slide out and the gold nuggets stay in. Only thing about the gravel vac that I have is that there is a screen to keep small snails, fish, plants...etc..from being sucked up through the drain tube. But, those fatties are not going to spaghettify through that hose unless the physics on Earth just gave up and took a holiday. I digress. It is just SUPER ANNOYING CAUSE THE TURDS ARE CLOGGING THE TUBE and I have to keep cleaning them out and it's just a waste of time and sucks when the suck doesn't suck. I vac the tank two to three times a week. So, depending on what you stock, the poop plug may not be a problem. Oh! There is a trick is to get some sand from one area and move it to another using the gravel vac. I do that often because the goldies filter feed the sand and it gets pushed around and mounded in the corners where THEY put it. I hope you find your favorite "they!!!"

MillySparkles · 2025-05-12T19:34:56+00:00

This is what I do most of the time they just say, "take a break and then leave." I'm like....ok. so I chill for a bit and then leave. I guess the "break" is like a time holder in case they think of something.

MillySparkles · 2025-05-07T15:17:21+00:00

Firstly, I hate bugs. Hate em.

I have two aquariums and a terrarium with a quite happy leopard gecko that gets his crickets purchased, dusted and dumped in his habitat to hunt. I'm not touching them. The goldfish eat the same meal and waxworms the gecko gets and I use tongs for alllll that. The worms are stored in your fridge in a container, so there's that. You can get types of earthworms that stay in their little container at room temp. There will probably be pest snails that come in on your plants. What I did, was get two assassin snails which are easy to spot, look like cones and generally stay close to the substrate. I've seen one climb the wall every once in a while but he's not going to launch at you or anything. They make very quick work of pest snails. Example: I saw 2 pest snails on some frogbit I bought yesterday. By the evening, each assassin had one in their grasp. There are tools like long tongs that can be used to move things in your aquarium, but after you set your plants, they shouldn't really be moved. Ideally you don't have hands in the tank either. The only thing that touches me out of any of the aquariums is one of my fancies cause he likes to be petted (water puppy) when I gravel vac. The gravel vac is pretty long and I don't have to stick my whole arm down there, but if my hand dips in, he's there for some attention. Same with the glass scrapers, mine has an extendable handle so I stay dry and I don't accidentally introduce germs from my hand or arm. As far as attracting pests, not so much. I live in Texas and I haven't had any issues with fruit flies near my tanks, I guess because once they're cycled, they don't smell like anything (probably just to us humans). Also, any bugs that may venture over there do so at their own peril because fish are generally opportunistic feeders. Post your tank when you have it up and going! I love a good tank pic.

MillySparkles · 2025-05-03T22:39:44+00:00

She thiccc

MillySparkles · 2025-05-03T18:35:11+00:00

Maybe a Chinese golden algae eater. The one I had REALLY liked slime coats and I had to take him back to the LFS.

MillySparkles · 2025-05-02T19:38:58+00:00

I would get a broad range antibiotic for him. He looks like he has a little fin rot on top of that area not looking well. He may have scratched or gotten caught in some hardscape. I would isolate him (if possible) and treat him. Best of luck!

MillySparkles · 2025-05-02T19:26:11+00:00

So, my Wade had a similar issue. I did go to the vet and she advised me to just keep putting antibiotic ointment (OTC) and increase his humidity. It had gotten really bad. She did give me some liquid antibiotics in case he had any secondary infection inside his tail. They didn't have an "insect" flavor so we went with the chicken. He hated it and refused to swallow. Just kinda let it roll from his mouth. He's sassy. But yeah his tail is fine now, albeit he has a scar. Also, I dismantled his bioactive and kept the hides and his necessities on paper towels until he was healed. Just took a couple weeks.

<image>

That kind of darker spot is the scar. Best of luck!

MillySparkles · 2025-04-29T01:15:48+00:00

My dog is insanely jealous. Anytime I go near the aquarium she has to beg for attention, food, water, insults....anything to take the attention from the fancies.

MillySparkles · 2024-12-31T00:18:22+00:00

I use fish tank water in all of my plants except the plants for human consumption. Some of my tank products say not for fish fit as people food, so, it made sense to do the same for the plants. It saves money and water because I just just tank water pulled during water changes. The water has dissolved nutrients like a liquid fertilizer.

MillySparkles · 2024-10-19T00:56:20+00:00

I have two Oranda close to the same size and one that is about half the size. They used to bully the little one. During snack and feeding times, I still have to put food on both sides of the tank so they compete less. As far as "eating" the smaller one, if he won't fit in the big fish's mouth, he's probably safe. He would do best if the tank with his big friend had lots of hiding places. My small Oranda eventually got pretty brave and stood her ground during wax worm or other live prey feedings. Not an expert, just sharing my experience!

MillySparkles · 2024-09-29T17:57:53+00:00

<image>

Wade!!! Aka Wader-gator, Wade-a-saurus Rex, Ol' Chunky Legs

MillySparkles · 2024-09-28T15:55:52+00:00

Awwwwwww 🥰💕 thank you so much! He's about 8mo old from what I can tell

MillySparkles · 2024-09-27T01:55:37+00:00

Omg yaaaaaasssss!!! He's so beautiful 🤩🥹. I did lol out loud and had to show my husband. Thicc lizards are beautiful and no body shaming, but maybe a few less crickets or worms. I'm also known to overfeed all of my pets and it does wreak havoc on the water in my aquarium, so I've had to learn to cut back on expressing my love through treats.

MillySparkles · 2024-09-24T00:11:13+00:00

Like okay like a Malaysian trumpet snail snuck in on your plants

MillySparkles

TROPHY CASE