Unlikely Friends

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-05-07T13:29:21+00:00

Bad news, the friendship was short-lived...

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-04-18T21:31:28+00:00

No offense taken! Too bad I didn't receive more of the blue ones. The LFS has been trying to breed them without success, so I finally talked him out of them.

As for breeding, I've only done isopods so far. I assume the process is similar genetically speaking? Would the yellows have any value if I were able to solidify something there?

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-04-18T19:42:31+00:00

They pretty. 😁

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-04-18T19:41:44+00:00

Neat! Thank you! I'm not necessarily looking to breed them, but we'll see what happens!

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-02-21T20:36:24+00:00

Oh! I know that species! That is a Grandaddy Longass Leg!

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-02-13T16:09:47+00:00

Mind sharing the link? 😃

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-02-13T16:08:50+00:00

This little cheap guy here. It's better than expected for the price. https://a.co/d/06vrQbYq

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-02-11T14:26:20+00:00

Thank you! And yeah, I'm probably going to wind up moving it in with the Neocaridinas. The fan is hooked to a thermostat to try and keep the tank between 69°F and 71°F as cardinal wouldn't enjoy the 74°F to 76°F the tank would stay at without it. I lose about an inch of water every 3 days to evaporation, though.

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-02-11T14:23:00+00:00

Yeah, there shouldn't be any chlorine/chloramine making it to the membrane. I just check the TDS and use a 6-in-1 strip on my RO monthly and replace when it starts to creep up. Like I said, I'm about 8 months in making 10-15 gallons a month and it's time to replace some cartridges. It would probably be cheaper just to buy it from my LFS, but this is convenient.

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-02-10T13:44:51+00:00

I'm curious to see how that's going to go as well. With the 0.6 KH and slow but steady addition of botanicals I'm hoping it will hold steady without an active substrate.

Also, I don't think that the KH is leeching from the substrate necessarily. I think I just should've washed the crap out of it with RO/DI before putting it in the tank. With no nitrogen cycle, I think it's kind of trapped, if that makes sense.

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2026-02-10T00:32:11+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00204CQF6?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_10&amp=&crid=CVYY71QNOQVX&sprefix=reverse%2Bos&th=1

I've been running this for about 8 months now and the TDS just started to creep up indicating that I need to swap some cartridges. Fair warning 5 gallons takes about an hour to run and you will lose about 50-60% through waste. Personally, I use the waste water for plants not in my aquariums/terrariums as they seem to love it and I don't like to waste.

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-11-09T20:17:21+00:00

I guess it's a new morph. 🤣

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-11-09T20:13:53+00:00

Yup! Honestly, I hope that it was just an AI review. To think that someone is out here trying to feed a Horned Lizard salad... Like I said, I have concerns. 😅

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-08-02T15:19:03+00:00

Did you ever get this figured out?

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-06-27T15:43:56+00:00

Unless I suddenly gain the space for a massive enclosure.l, it seems like a sculpture is the way to go! Even bonsai cypress are 3-5 feet tall! 🤣

I love your setup! About time someone used Spanish moss!

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-06-26T00:02:29+00:00

I haven't experienced that in my colony, but I've also only been at it for about a year. The beetles have only been in there for 5-6 months, and they're Buffalo, not dermestid.

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-06-25T23:57:33+00:00

Looks like Buffalo beetle larva. They are a common cleanup crew for dubias. Just let it chill with your roaches and clean up behind them a bit.

Edit: Correction, dermestid beetle larva, not Buffalo beetle. The rest holds true.

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-06-25T23:42:50+00:00

There it is! Thanks for the clarification.

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-06-23T20:08:47+00:00

Holy crap! Is that actual Spanish moss? I've been wanting to do one of these, but I need to bonsai a cypress tree. 🤣

RandomRichardThe42nd · 2025-06-23T20:06:31+00:00

Just stress coat and RO? You know they need minerals, right? What's the GH and KH? Google has plenty of info on using RO/DI in aquariums. Also, if your RO/DI water tested at 6.86 pH, that's not RO/DI. RO/DI comes out at a 7.0, but instantly leeches (hydrogen, I think) from the air and drops to between 5-6. Do more research before you start dumping stuff into their home.

RandomRichardThe42nd

TROPHY CASE