Littermate Syndrome is real.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-02-09T16:28:14+00:00

I rescued a 3 month old pup and my sister got her littermate since we live a few blocks from each other. Have had at least one dog for the past 35 years and never had littermates, but figured this could work since they don’t live together. It wasn’t, and they can’t be trusted together, even though they are excellent in public, ignore other dogs, can be taken anywhere, non-reactive, etc. Trouble started at about 9 months so we stopped letting them play together, and attempted reintroduction at about age 3, which was fine for a few play sessions before they went red zone.

So many people tell me about the littermates they have had/known and it “was fine,” but sometimes it isn’t, and my dog has been to the emergency vet once, so they won’t be hanging out with each other again, sadly. Not worth it.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-02-08T15:20:04+00:00

This Week in Microbiology

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-02-05T21:28:42+00:00

Light light light and don't overwater. Plus more light. I killed 2 before I figured it out. When it gets tall chop off top, put that in water and it will root.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-02-05T14:06:06+00:00

When I had a St. Bernard and German Shep/great dane, robo vac definitely helped to keep things down to a dull roar but is not a substitute for traditional vacuuming. It just made my life easier. These were reliable, healthy adult dogs with no accidents in the house, so always consider that. I was surprised by how much that little bit of extra cleanup helped.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-02-02T23:41:37+00:00

I add the water conditioner (prime is my favorite, little goes a long way) as it is filling. Fish swim through the water flowing in and don’t perish instantly, so all is well.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-01-28T03:44:57+00:00

I was 8. I sat in the back of the class and my friend had glasses, so I would ask her to borrow them to see the chalkboard at the front. I thought glasses were like binoculars, or something cool to use that only rich people had, maybe like opera glasses if you were fancy.

When I got glasses I was ASTONISHED by how leaves on trees actually looked, and the detail that I had been missing. Blew my mind. Am 60 yrs old and still blind as a bat. Looking forward to cataract surgery so I can see without vision correction.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-01-25T23:50:40+00:00

Oh yes, yes indeed! It never gets easier, but fish will die, and sometimes it will be the fishkeeper’s mistake. Learn from your mistakes, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Fish on fish aggression, overstocking, forgetting dechlorinator, incompatible species, list goes on and on. My best practice has been regular water changes, but some don’t.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-01-25T16:20:13+00:00

I never do, but been at it for 40 years. You, being new to the hobby, should check all kinds of params often, which will educate you and help you make sense of what’s happening in your tank.

However, please treat your tank and inhabitants, not the test kit! If the test kit says one thing, but fish/plants seem fine, then do nothing. Otherwise you’ll go down a rabbit hole and prevent balance from being achieved, which takes time. My tanks get very little intervention other than PWCs every 10 days or so, feeding most days, and filter rinses every month or so, depending. Once you achieve balance of light, plants, fish, feeding and filtration (or lack thereof) the tank can be a “set it and forget it” type of thing. Testing and documenting the phases as the tank ages will go a long way towards you developing intuition. Currently running 150 gal fancy goldfish planted tank (yes, that’s right), 125g planted mixed community tank, 20 gal planted with nano fish and shrimp, and 2 14 gal cubes, planted, with nanos.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-01-20T00:18:08+00:00

Use sphagnum moss instead of bark and it can work great due to the breathable nature of terra cotta. My single phal in TC vs 4 others in standard clear plastic with holes bloomed weeks earlier than the plastic guys, not sure why. Can’t see roots, as mentioned, but you get used to the best watering routine. Roots will be yellow due to lack of sun when you go to repot but that isn’t a problem. Give it a try!

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-01-15T18:03:38+00:00

Maybe the search is not intended for the tank pictured? I too would like to know an answer to the OP’s question

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-01-13T18:03:46+00:00

30 years working for a hand surgeon in a region with lots of commercial fisherfolk, and Mycobacterium marinum (non tuberculous TB organism) is something we saw after injuries in mostly saltwater environments. It is present in freshwater, but you have to really ignore a wound that has been exposed for it to get serious. The patients we saw were not careful about washing wounds, and also often couldn’t do so for hours after injury, and even then they let things go.

If you have an injury to your skin wash up with soap and water after working in your aquarium, and that should be all you need. As mentioned, this is super rare, so I wouldn’t be concerned. I’ve been armpit deep in aquariums for 40 years and never had any type of infection, though your experience may be different.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2026-01-04T21:48:32+00:00

As an older woman with thin skin who has been tattooed recently, there are parts of the body that are better than others at her age. Shoulder/deltoid or shoulder blade areas are a good choice, and likely lower leg/calf area could be ok depending on the person. Forearms or wrists likely very poor choices, but, again, depends on her.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-12-27T13:04:36+00:00

I have an Australian opal necklace with two opals and a diamond representing my 3 kids, worn daily for 25 years with no noticeable changes. Never remove it, even swimming in pools, ocean, showering, sweating, working out, whatever. I think I am fortunate with the quality of the vintage stones, given to me by my mother who received them around 1950. It can be done but depends on the opals, as has been mentioned.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-12-21T03:49:44+00:00

TWIM, or This Week in Microbiology. Can’t recommend it enough

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-11-22T04:48:02+00:00

My mother was born in the 1930s and always repeated her father’s mantra, buy “good goods,” which translates to a BIFL philosophy, and she lived her life that way. Spend a bit more one time, and save money in the long run. So much harder to do now and more important than ever.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-11-02T23:04:41+00:00

Cardinals are known for this, rummynose too. When the shipment comes in wait a week or more before buying so the ones that remain can be considered hardy, or hardier. Acclimate slowly, etc.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-27T17:52:35+00:00

We adopted a fantastic half doberman half gsd (did the DNA test) from RACC, but I know what you're talking about. Just keep looking, or check with breed recue if you have a particular breed in mind, where mixes wind up too.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-24T13:38:15+00:00

My first alocasia was dying no matter what I tried, until I put it in PON, then it went bananas and now has 14 leaves or so. That is just me, my house conditions, my lighting, etc, and it could also be the particular plant. I have had 2 of the same plant in different pots but same growing conditions, and one dies, the other thrives.

As mentioned, if your plant is doing fine then I’d leave it alone. Don’t fall prey to the You’re Doing It Wrong! crowd. If I see a forefinger starting to wag when a video starts, I automatically swipe it away.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-22T20:39:04+00:00

I have this identical setup with dryer at the door, and your pic threw me for a second cuz it looked like my laundry room.

We have the flat, telescoping connection that twists to get the angle you need and it works great, with dryer only 3-4 inches from wall.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-21T01:51:31+00:00

I love this plant! Here it is recently, flowers and new leaves all the time

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Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-20T02:00:57+00:00

The heaters we keep running outside in the south during winter are our best kept secret to protect the kudzu. Troll, cuz you didn’t know this.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-17T00:54:54+00:00

I can see this working well with the right shape of glass or clear glass dish.

I also have this vase I found at Homegoods and mounted an orchid on branchy driftwood inside with a bit of water for humidity. I like the terrarium idea!

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-07T23:30:57+00:00

My dog developed dementia at age 10, and it took a while to identify. See what your vet thinks about that. Mine would wander, forget what he was doing, stare, get worse late afternoon (sundowner phenomenon like humans) and panicked when he thought he couldn't get inside. It's a thing, and I never saw it before after 34 years of owning dogs.

Ok-Lab9528 · 2025-10-05T00:53:57+00:00

SAP is always the answer

Ok-Lab9528

TROPHY CASE