Tag Archives: reef

05.22.13

Our little shark Fajita has grown like a weed.

Probably because I fix him up a big shrimp cocktail every other night.

Christina always says it looks like I am giving the shrimp a dip in a hot tub, to bad I follow it up with slicing the shrimp in pieces.  Loses the relaxing vibe, eh? a shrimp hot tub for our shark I finally have Fajita eating straight from my hands, which will come in handy once he is over three feet.  I still usually use an extension rod to feed him, since I am quite partial to my fingers.

In fact, at the beginning, he got a little rowdy and took a nip at me.

Please disregard our awesome basement complete with lots of 2×4’s and little boy racecar curtains.

See how our shrimp is hitching a ride on the shark? our shark fajita Bet ya didn’t know he is actually picking his brethren out of Fajita’s gills to get a late night snack.  You little cannibal you.

How long do you think before I lose a finger?
Think a shrimp fajita sounds tasty?
Want to buy some racecar curtains?

Written by Christina and Tim
05.14.13

Our neighbors have to wonder about us.  There are probably quite a few with binoculars by the window waiting to uncover our secrets.  Pretty sure they are disappointed when they realize how boring we are.

I would imagine many of them see the glow coming from our dining room and believe we are growing illegal substances.  I am surprised we’ve never been bombarded with questions of why our house glows all the time, but then again they are probably more concerned with why we haven’t cut our grass all week.  It’s a jungle out there.

I can only imagine what people think when they see the flashing lights of a thunderstorm.  Professional photographers?  Rookie Ravers?  Epileptic Research Association?  Weather Manipulators?  Bingo.

When we set up our 210 gallon reef tank, we splurged on AI Sols (fancy LED lights) to help trick the fishies into thinking they were really out in the wild.  They have moon cycles, customizable color spectrums, and the best part is a pretty realistic thunderstorm.

This video isn’t full of suspense and excitement but if you want to add your own thunder sounds or bust out your rain beads, feel free.  Christina says, “Humming the Jaws Theme followed by The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow really gets the fish excited”.  She always has to put her two five cents in.

The video doesn’t do this feature justice because it really lights up the whole house.  Particularly frightening when you wake up at midnight and are knocked over by blinding lights.

So if you ever decide to stop by and visit us, please don’t be alarmed.  We are just trying to trick our fish into thinking they are in Hawaii.

Aqua Illumination (the light folks) are not paying our bills.  Just thought you all would like to see a unique part of our life, as indoor weather manipulators.

Written by Christina and Tim
04.09.13

They say that aquariums and oceans are relaxing.  Calming if you will.  Some people even use them as forms of meditation.

Yet every time I get into a reef forum or Facebook group, someone is causing a ruckus.  It got so bad in our local group that all the comments had to go through moderation before posting.  In this hobby – like most hobbies – everyone has their own opinion.  Some things work for some people, and for others they are a disaster.  Like wipe your whole tank out disaster, but that is no need to go yell at the person advocating “macaroni dosing”.  You just have to do your research.

you didn't know

Please don’t research macaroni dosing though, I made it up.  Although I may be onto something.  Patent pending okay.

Recently, the hot debate has been the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishing a proposed rule in the Federal Register (77 FR 73219) in response to a petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity to list 83 reef-building coral species as threatened or endangered  under the ESA.  When this first hit the forums everyone was really nervous that this would kill the reef-keeping hobby.  By making the buying and selling of these corals illegal, the hobby would become like selling cocaine to the Cartels.  There was even talk of undercover agents at frag-swaps and conferences.

sneaky little boogers

I will admit that reading through the panic did give me a couple nightmares of being arrested for coral trafficking, but after further research my fears have been stifled.  Quite a few reefers have taken it upon themselves to call NOAA to get more information on what exactly will be illegal.  It appears that the only thing illegal will be buying and selling these corals for commercial use, and keep in mind it isn’t law yet.

The biggest fear is that the agents enforcing these laws won’t be able to decipher the different species and would ultimately confiscate the wrong corals.  Sort of a slippery slope.

Don’t get us wrong, anyone that is involved in this hobby wants to preserve corals, reefs, and the ocean habitat in general.  We just don’t want to become convicts for admiring their beauty.  Our personal belief is that reef keepers are ultimately trying to preserve the futures of many species of corals and livestock as the wild becomes a harsher and less sustainable home.  At least that is our goal.

I am sure Federal Regulation is not as juicy as Kim K’s sex tape, or as crazy as Miss Lohan’s shenanigans but you should see some of the cat fights going down.

Have you been following this topic?
Been involved any Spears-sized drama lately?
Want to try macaroni dosing?

For more information on this topic check out these helpful links and resources:
Overview of ESA from NOAA
NOAA’s contact information
Threatened Species
Good overview and spicy comments
Some Forum fun

Written by Christina and Tim
02.19.13

It’s officially official….
WE ARE SHARK PARENTS baby fajita After a whole lot of waiting our baby shark decided to surprise us this weekend.
We literally bounced off walls.

Don’t ask about the name, it just kind of fit.
Very “apple-esque” don’t cha think.

Fajita is about the size of our hand, he’s teeny tiny.
I wish I could pick him up and snuggle. little bundle of joy How could you not love that face.

Now comes the really hard part.
We have to get him to eat.

We have heard it can take up to two weeks to get them to start munching.  We are already trying, and in our heads he is already picking up that it is food.  But doesn’t everyone think that their little one is ahead of the game.

When you say your prayers tonight, throw in little Fajita.
He’ll thank you later.

We have already decided that if we DO get him eating, then a bigger tank is in order.  Obviously I have already begun planning.

No way can we let this little munchkin go until he is at least four feet. look at those colors He has already made friends with the little shrimp.  If only that shrimp knew that in a couple months Fajita will want him for dinner.

Mama’s so proud.

Follow us on Facebook for more exciting videos and updates.

Written by Christina and Tim
02.12.13

If you’ve been following for a little while, you remember our shark escapades.

If you haven’t, let me break it down.  We decided we aren’t ready for kiddos…but we are totally ready to grow a baby shark in our basement.

For the last two weeks now we have told everyone that any day now there will be a baby shark in our lives.  Seriously, any. day. now.

Well, we are still waiting.

I am not saying I know what you mama’s go through when you are eating spicy Mexican and jogging up hills on your due date, but the anticipation is killing me.

please hurry little shark I did a little digging back to the first post I wrote about this particular shark egg.
We have no idea how old our little bundle of joy was when we brought it home, but we know that we have encouraged a hatching for nine weeks now.

Check out how teeny this little bit was…

 Now this not-so-little-runt is wrapped up in his egg and running out of vacancy.
The difference in size is almost startling…I am so glad we have video.
The poor thing can barely move.
What a difference nine weeks can make eh?
 
Let’s hope that the cramped quarters persuade Junior to make an appearance very soon.  Till then I will just document his every non-movement. any day now Let’s all say a chant….a chant of encouragement.
Come on little sharky…..hatch away.
Any. Day. Now.

Written by Christina and Tim
01.16.13

A couple months ago we bought a shark egg.

We didn’t have the best luck, but we shared this video with you a couple weeks ago when it was just a wee little lad.

Well he is all grown up now.

 
Granted, it is not the best video.

But you can see that he is quickly outgrowing his mancave.Which means….baby shark should be making an appearance soon.We have read that shortly before hatching you can find a hole in the egg where the shark has rubbed it’s nose.  No hole yet, but we have our eyes glued to this egg. 

The next part will be the hardest.  It is very difficult to get them to start eating, which we have heard can take up to two weeks.  Obviously this is the time for constant monitoring, I may just quit my job so I can shark-sit.  Oh that’s not okay?  Shoot.  Well, I will be a ball of nerves I am sure. 

And even with all the fish catastrophes we have had after I blog about them, I think baby shark will be an exception. Lots of photo shoots in this guy’s future.

Written by Christina and Tim