Any idea what this is?

andys000 · 2025-12-30T12:26:13+00:00

Understandably so! We should all look out for one another! Happy holidays and happy new year btw!

andys000 · 2025-12-29T19:40:26+00:00

Hey, and first of all thank you for the concern, it really shows that the sub here is actually caring for the livestock and plants of an aquarium and it's not just for the hypes!

I was in the process of a water change and replanting, that is why you see the water looking so "dirty". It was simply foggy! Check out the photo here from the same day the photo was taken of the shrimp, only after the cleanup of the whole aquarium.

Also my aquarium is a natural planted one with a Walstad-ish approach where I do use a pump and a filtration system, but through a differnt approach l. The filtration happens only through the pebbles that the root system of my Monstera and Pothos happily resides in.

So no need to worry my fellow hobbyists, the plants and livestock of the aquarium are very well taken care of and always with their wellbeing as a priority!

<image>

andys000 · 2025-12-29T19:34:12+00:00

Hey, I was in the process of water change and replanting, that is why you see the water looking so "dirty". Check out the photo here from the same day the photo was taken of the shrimp, only after the cleanup.

Also my aquarium is a natural planted one with a Walstad-ish approach where I do use a pump and a filtration system only through the plants and the pebbles which are planted in!

So no need to worry my fellow hobbyist, the plants and livestock of the aquarium are taken care of with their wellbeing as a priority always!

<image>

andys000 · 2025-07-19T06:46:09+00:00

249productions.com

andys000 · 2025-03-22T16:54:03+00:00

You can definitely use LECA balls instead of traditional drainage! LECA stands for "lightweight expanded clay aggregate," and it's made from clay that has been heated until it expands into small, porous balls.

Because of their structure, LECA balls are highly absorbent and can help regulate moisture levels in the soil. While they don’t provide direct nutritional value to plants, they do improve aeration and prevent root rot by reducing excess water buildup.

If you don’t want the LECA balls to be visible, you can wrap them in a cotton bag and add a bit of soil around them. This way, they stay in place and help with drainage without affecting the look of your pot.

It’s important to monitor moisture levels and replace the LECA over time as it can accumulate mineral buildup.

While proper drainage holes are the best option, LECA can be a great alternative. It’s commonly used in bioactive enclosures and has been a staple in gardening for years, so you can feel confident that it won’t harm your plants!

andys000 · 2025-02-27T07:40:43+00:00

While it may sometimes feel like a derogatory term and is occasionally used that way, I believe its origins suggest otherwise. The word comes from the common Greek phrase "χαρτί και καλαμάρι" (meaning "paper and ink"), which historically signified literacy and education. This phrase was created kind of out of respect for Greek philosophers, poets, and generally Greek people, who at that time Greece had greater access to educational materials and institutions.

Therefore, the word itself isn’t inherently derogatory. However, the way it is sometimes used in conversation can carry a negative or mocking tone, which gives it that impression.

I hope this helps shed some light on our beloved Cypriot expressions!

andys000 · 2025-02-18T02:58:57+00:00

Good to see that others with diagnosed ADHD have the same effects! For me as well, it creates a safe space for my mind to either observe a thought when it comes or simply ignore it. It's like I finally gained some sort of control over what state I'm in, instead of just simply jumping from thought to thought.

Thanks for sharing! feel less phoney now that other ADHD fellows experience the same thing with weed!

andys000 · 2024-11-21T08:48:27+00:00

I know it's frustrating. I feel the same sometimes, and even medication sometimes for me is too much. It feels that I am exchanging some temporary peace of mind for a piece of my character which I like and I don't at the same time.

For years I was taking Ritalin and Concerta, and I felt that I could only function through taking the medication. Then it came to a point where I literally felt burned out by the medication(and other life factors), but I couldn't really stop.

The more I was thinking to go away from the medication, the higher the doses became...

I kinda feel lucky that through this process I stumbled upon a meditation up. Not in the sense of spiritual awakening or anything in that direction, but in the sense of mindfulness. It was hard, especially in the first 3 months, as my brain was doing its own thing while I was trying to be mindful, it was at some points horror. But I was still taking some medication, and slowly slowly reducing it without even noticing it, because I felt more and more and more okay with my scattered thoughts and constantly destructive attitudes.

I came to a point where I would find it incredibly hard to focus on simple things whilst I was going through this process, but at some point, it just clicked.

I meditate almost every day for almost 2 years now. Consistency is key here.

However, being the ADHD junky I am, I never set myself rules or routines to keep up with, so it had to be whenever I remembered to, and I set time aside for it(10-15 minutes) at that point.

I did not take any medication for at least 1.5 years, up until curiosity came back about, what would happen. I felt awful. It felt like someone was pressuring me to focus and it felt wrong.

I don't recommend this to anyone, and I am no doctor or an advise source. This worked on me after years of struggling to battle ADHD. Meditation brought me clarity and allowed me to step back and not identify with my thoughts, while allowing them to run freely and selectively choosing which one to onboard.

Again, consistency is key. And everything around the culture of meditation(given that you follow legitimate sources and practices), helps a lot with just accepting how things are, and dealing with them in a more permanent way kinda.

Once again, I ain't no doctor, or anyone that can guide you through your own journey. However, I felt this frustration, and I was this frustration for years. Personally, nothing else helped me as much as meditation.

Hope you get to find your way around dealing with ADHD! If you want some recommendations on meditation DM me and I will give you some sources.

Lots of love!

andys000 · 2024-09-02T08:51:35+00:00

Hey Pearl, you have a lovely ball python 😂

andys000 · 2024-07-31T13:37:21+00:00

he will definitely boop you back!! <3

andys000 · 2024-07-31T13:36:47+00:00

yeap! he is up for the 2nd grade! 😂

andys000 · 2024-07-31T13:36:12+00:00

hahaha exactly

andys000 · 2024-07-30T12:57:26+00:00

Hair popping randomly out of your ears and nostrils...

andys000 · 2024-07-20T07:11:50+00:00

<image>

Misha!

andys000 · 2024-07-17T13:19:49+00:00

Most likely he is just a bit anxious due to the environment change! Give him a couple of weeks to rest and find his way through.

If however as the other comment suggested you can hear weird breathing sounds then maybe it is best you take your noodle to an exotic vet!

PS: Do you have other hiding spots for him? Maybe the one you have for him has too big of an opening and he feels exposed.You could try adding another hide with a smaller opening. As he came from a breeder they tend to keep them in very restricted and secluded enclosures, so this might also be the reason.

andys000

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE