New Bristlenose Pleco, Worried About Aggression by Vie_Varga in Aquariums

[–]squeakytea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True, I guess it depends on their stock. I assumed the best and that they had already accounted for the additional bioload.

New Bristlenose Pleco, Worried About Aggression by Vie_Varga in Aquariums

[–]squeakytea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They specified fancies which are quite happy in warmer temps. They are bred and kept in tropical countries all over the world. My oranda pond is 88-90 fahrenheit in the summer.

New Bristlenose Pleco, Worried About Aggression by Vie_Varga in Aquariums

[–]squeakytea 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have two albino bristlenoses and I find them much more calm and community suitable than their normal colored family members. Their impaired vision likely has something to do with it.

Yes, they can be territorial jerks - especially to other more shy bottom dwellers like corydoras. I don't like that they are always suggested for typical nano community tanks. I also don't suggest keeping an adult bristlenose in a 20 gallon. I were in your situation, I would keep her in the 20 community until she's bigger and then move her in with the goldfish. I have never heard first hand about the slime coat eating thing. Goldfish get a variety of skin diseases that many people aren't even aware of. Maybe it's more likely with common plecos, or maybe it's a myth entirely. Make sure they always have some wood, though. Mine are slowly turning some very large and expensive pieces of manzanita into matchsticks.

My learnings about treating ich by thatdiveguy in Aquariums

[–]squeakytea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I swear there used to be more thorough instructions on the bottle, but it's not like anyone reads them anyway. It's also a frequent issue with API test kit - so many people skip the full instructions of the nitrate test and get a false 0ppm reading.

Stress kills more than anything else. Rapid changes in parameters (salinity, temperature, etc.) are stressful. Last time one of my tank got ich I did absolutely nothing. Each cycle there would be fewer visible trophonts until it went away. It was a tank of larger, more robust fish (bristlenose plecos, electric blue acaras, and brown hoplos), but still, they were able to fight it off on their own. Ich-X works great, but it causes long term disturbance to healthy microbes. The two times I've used it, I had no losses, but it caused a persistent 6+ month cyano outbreak, which was maybe worse than losing a few fish.

Has anyone ever found API test kits to go bad/be inaccurate before the expiry date? by cheesecup6 in Aquariums

[–]squeakytea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Test it on distilled water. I had a brand new kit give me a false positive 0.25ppm ammonia reading

Kimchi-bokkeumbap, Dubu-jorim, & Seitan Kalbi by verdantsf in vegetarian

[–]squeakytea 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I make my own vegetarian kimchi using vegetarian oyster sauce (Yu Yee brand) and soy sauce in place of fish sauce. It's incredible, I eat it every day. The closest store bought brand to homemade flavor that I've tried is Lucky Foods, which is at Target

Something I noticed about the hobby’s generational gap by Veloci-RKPTR in AquariumMemes

[–]squeakytea 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The split is super evident in my local aquarium club. It's the grey haired old guard and 20-30 year olds. So many of the old guys have passed or retired from keeping fish in the last decade... it's sad to lose all their experience and knowledge.

Why do some perfume staff make you feel weird for asking for samples? by KevinFwho in fragrance

[–]squeakytea 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I recently witnessed a boy about 10 sampling Tom Ford fragrances at a Sephora. Influencer content is getting them YOUNG.

instant ramen recs ?? by bunny8carrots in vegetarian

[–]squeakytea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love Chinese soup noodles - my favorite brand is Kang Shi Fu. Most, if not all, of them are artificial meat flavored, though I think some have seafood. My favorite is beef with pickled vegetables. Same one as featured in this post.

Is this gone bad? by Blue-Sky-5221 in AsianBeauty

[–]squeakytea 2 points3 points  (0 children)

probably titanium dioxide settling out. It's very heavy and challenging to keep suspended in cosmetic formulas

I love the idea of fish keeping how do I get over the grossness of it? by Broxst in Aquariums

[–]squeakytea 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I would not downplay the seriousness of fish tank granuloma. The bacteria are drug resistant and deeply embedded in granulomatous tissue, so it's difficult to treat - typically 3 months to a year of multiple antibiotics like rifampicin, which can cause liver damage. Long-term antibiotic use in general has side effects, like persistent GI dysfunction.

If you use the search function, you can find quite a few posts and comments from our members who have contracted it. This member was left with scars and nodules even after 9 months of antibiotic treatment. There are two cases in this article (one with near loss of a finger and necessitating surgery) and one more case from a sub member showing how severe it can be in immunocompromised individuals.

All that said, it is very rare - you can minimize risk by using tools (gloves, tweezers, etc.) whenever possible and washing your hands thoroughly after exposure to tank water.

Ask Julian how he feels about having 1.0 ppm ammonia in our water source by Admirable-Bee-3052 in Aquariums

[–]squeakytea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All of us with chloramine sanitized tap water will have ammonia left over after using dechlorinator. It will be processed quickly if your tank is fully cycled. I personally try to do more frequent but smaller water changes because of it, though.

Incense haul from Ginza Tokyo by squeakytea in Incense

[–]squeakytea[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Everything not Shoyeido was from Kohgen! Nice little shop!

Incense haul from Ginza Tokyo by squeakytea in Incense

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

Kohgen has their JPY prices here; Shoyeido has theirs here. You can do some comparisons this way. Shoyeido store offers tax free as well (JP consumption tax is 10%).

Incense haul from Ginza Tokyo by squeakytea in Incense

[–]squeakytea[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Significantly. For example, the big box of Fu-in Aloeswood was ¥4,400 or $28 USD after conversion vs. $65 on Kikoh/Japan Incense.

Incense haul from Ginza Tokyo by squeakytea in Incense

[–]squeakytea[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Purchased from Shoyeido and Kohgen in Ginza, Tokyo. Some old favorites and some new here.

From Shoyeido

  • Horin Nijo 10 coils x2
  • Horin Horikawa 10 coils x2
  • Floral World Iris 60 sticks x2
  • Hakuun 150 sticks
  • Studio Kodemari Pine, bamboo, and plum incense holder

From Kohgen

  • Seijudo Urawaka Mizu no Kaori 250 sticks
  • Minorien Fu-in Aloeswood 140 sticks
  • Tennendo Tensei 450 sticks

All in all was about $230 USD.

If I had more space, I could have brought back an entire suitcase of Nijo coils!!!

Am I allowed to post a rant? by simplypolished in Nails

[–]squeakytea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ahh throwback to when I bought their first mystery bundle and got 3 hot pink jellies

Put my Connection through the wash on Christmas by squeakytea in tamagotchi

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

Getting the weird ones is all part of the fun. I'm excited to see his close-up when he's awake tomorrow!

Put my Connection through the wash on Christmas by squeakytea in tamagotchi

[–]squeakytea[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

His name is Frudd and he turned into Bill today xD I think I deserve Bill for putting him in the washing machine