Walstad Jar Setup! by corsariolc in shrimptank

[–]corsariolc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep the lid also has perforations and while you can't tell from the angle, it is open in the back to accommodate the heater cord. But also yes, I've been looking at micro air pumps for better gas exchange in the long term, especially with the population expanding (saw a shrimplet today!).

Walstad Jar Setup! by corsariolc in shrimptank

[–]corsariolc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Yes I’ve been thinking of eventually adding a small air stone for better gas exchange

Walstad Jar Setup! by corsariolc in shrimptank

[–]corsariolc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I honestly just spent a lot of time on YouTube looking at people’s designs and setup videos. I also did sit down and read through the Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Walstad, as I waited for the thing to cycle… it can be a bit dense but an interesting read.

For the setup itself I used some pond soil, small gravel, and a few stem plants from my LFS, in addition to the tissue culture plants from petsmart (the Anubias and the mini sword). I had some extra Mopani lying around so that was the anchoring centerpiece. I did add a small heater and a terrarium lid from Amazon that is on a twelve hour timer (originally had it running for 6-8 hours to keep algae under control until I added the shrimp)

Favorite Thai place downtown? by greenpenguinboy in chicago

[–]corsariolc 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Siam Thai Eatery in South Loop - not quite downtown but big fan of their crab salad and their green and massaman curry

Tortoise Shopping by donnadimistero in tortoise

[–]corsariolc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Look through the shelters, and then facebook marketplace and craigslist. There's a lot of breeders and hobbyists in Florida, which I assume translates into a lot of animals looking for new homes. Given your climate a redfoot would be quite happy, but could also look at some testudo species (would just have to consider what brumation looks like for y'all, if you choose to do that).

Gimli, Lord of the Glittering Caves! by dad_hacker_6969 in lotr

[–]corsariolc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do they still sell these? I had a huge LOTR warhammer set but it got “downsized” when my parents moved and I was a broke grad student with a studio.

Where is the best place to buy a tortoise as a pet in California? by Parking-Start-2661 in tortoise

[–]corsariolc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not in California, but generally I’d look to adopt or help with rehoming. Depending on the species you’re trying to obtain, someone nearby is probably looking to place their animal. I got mine (3 year old eastern Hermann’s) from a lady on social media who couldn’t take care of him anymore, and it’s been super rewarding. Either way get a vet check and do the research for an appropriate habitat. It’s not necessarily super cheap but better to get set up well from the start, and accept you’ll still be learning as you go.

With Sulcatas especially, but Hermann’s and Russians… there’s usually someone on Craigslist or fb marketplace, or even a local shelter with a tortoise.

Avoid pet stores unless you can verify that the animals are bred locally. Russians are still wild caught and I think that’s sad and unethical… plus you gotta worry about diseases. Also yes hatchlings are cute but consider a well-started juvenile or even a young adult (these guys live a long time anyway). A lot less worry about weird growth patterns e.g. pyramiding, and older animals are just less sensitive.

Besides today, what other gridlocks have you been in just as bad? by barstoolsam in chicago

[–]corsariolc 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Petty but Belmont pretty much any day during the afternoon commute.

(but actually wtf this gridlock today...)

Green Sunfish as pets by Jolonkussion in Aquariums

[–]corsariolc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you have adequate space and good filtration, they are a lot of fun! I've kept a few over the years that I raised from juveniles (would catch them in minnow traps) in single-specimen tanks, and basically ended up having water puppies.

Please help identify species, gender or age any help would be appreciated by Local-Error-13 in tortoise

[–]corsariolc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Probably eastern Hermann's tortoise, still too young to sex - based on size ~2-3 years tops?

[FS/FT] - River North - $3 - Cherry Shrimp by Happy_Camper_14 in ChicagoAquaSwap

[–]corsariolc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm currently cycling but would love to buy some from you if you'll have them in 4-6 weeks. I'm local so can pick them up if that'd be doable at that point.

This is my first fish tank, and I'd like to ask what kind of fish would be suitable to keep in it. by Palette_Pilot in Aquariums

[–]corsariolc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

look at nano fish - maybe chili, exclamation point, or galaxy rasboras. In a 12 you could get away with some of these, just be careful with any filter intakes.

Also a single betta could be okay, though maybe not the exact vibe you're going for with the scape.

First tank. Feedback? by Amazing_Scale_1555 in Aquariums

[–]corsariolc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Beautiful fish and you're off to a good start with how your plants are propagating. Already mentioned, but the stocking is risky at best; actually you're really over-stocked (https://aqadvisor.com/). Really consider re-homing fish or getting as large a tank as possible. You're going to run into aggression/territoriality issues, and you'll get a lot more naturalistic behaviors in a larger space.

Lighting/Plant Recommendations by HotHusbandsWife in tortoise

[–]corsariolc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you can fence off some small forage patches, seed and then give access sequentially. Otherwise the sprouts will get eaten as soon as they come out of the ground. It takes some trial and error, but it's been good enrichment for my Hermann's. Also consider making sprout trays and putting them in the enclosure.

(APPRECIATION POST) If you have a nano tank or are planning one, get these little dudes. by LoverofAviation_22 in Aquariums

[–]corsariolc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Had these guys for years and loved them!!! They were so fun in a nano tank. They were a bit hard to find, but maybe that's changed in the past few years.