It wasn’t meant to be so soon but it happened, yesterday. The picture says it all. We are devastated. No words…
Archive | Pets & Insects RSS feed for this section
The Popping Tuna
23 FebDuring Chinese New Year, the pet shop was closed and we were not able to buy live prawns to replenish for Meow-meow the arowana and Tuna the crayfish to eat. But luckily, there were some leftover clever ones hiding in Meow-meow’s big aquarium. So hubby was able to fish out one or two for Tuna to survive on.
By the fifth day of Chinese New Year, I noticed Tuna was not very active and most likely conserving energy. Every time I walked passed the little aquarium, he would be hiding in his little pot. He would not rush out with his claws raised as if to frighten me even when I squinted at it. A morbid thought crossed my mind: he was dying a slow death because of hunger! Yikes.
Thankfully by the sixth day (of Chinese New Year), the pet shop opened and we were able to replenish the food. And after several days, Tuna’s back to its old self again, flaring his claws at me whenever I walked near his abode.
One evening, he was about to do the same thing to me when his actions backfired. As he rushed towards me, the overhanging fake tree tickled him and suddenly, he was popping like a popcorn instead! It was rather funny.
Maybe we should not straighten the tree to its original upright position so that Tuna can pop and not lunge at me whenever I get close! Hehehe…
Feeding Them All
16 FebThe new office being so close to home sure is nice because we avoid the evening rush hour on the highway and we are able to arrive home early. No jam, no stress.
The only downside for me is I don’t get the sheer driving pleasure of driving my car because the distance is too short to step on it. Oh well.
So the past few evenings when we are home early, we would put some seeds out for the birds to eat. What started out as just a morning feed with two mini trays on the wall to enjoy watching the little birds has now become a routine two-meal feed. Even the bigger birds join in!
One evening, we were late getting home and found the little birds hopping on the terrace table and chairs, staring at the food container. And we saw some that cannot wait getting down onto the ground, pecking at leftovers on the grass.
While they may seem very demanding, a meal on hand is always appreciate over having to look for scraps. I am not complaining because it’s nice to see a thriving community of birds creating some nice chirping and activity in the garden. So much so, we bought more bird seeds and added a pack of food for the squirrels too. Might as well feed them all.
Joy Again
12 JanWe found out recently when M1 was back, that our latest pet Tuna the crayfish is a boy. Luna the previous one was a girl.
The Food Science student was able to identify the crayfish anatomy because she had taken a class that required her analyzing crayfishes. One evening we were just admiring Tuna, and M1 looked closely at its underside before pointing out that Tuna’s a boy! We were surprised.
I must say after Luna’s demise (for her gender, M2 and I did checked on the internet and can confirm she was a female), we did not bother doing the same when we acquired Tuna 1, 2 and 3. We just assumed they were females.
As there was aggression between the three and quick deaths that followed, checking the gender was the last thing on our minds. And so it was left in assumption that Tuna was a female.
Gender aside, Tuna has brought us joy again. He may not be as orange-looking as Luna (different species most likely) but he is quite a character and just as enjoyable to observe.
Always flaring the claws
Picky about his food. Leftovers on the bottom left
Doing a Spidey act
Newbies, Part 2
22 DecJust when we thought the Tuna trio were happy, tragedy struck again! This time it’s like a scene from a horror movie.
It looked like Tuna 2 got devoured by Tuna 3 while Tuna 1 hid in the dark potty cave. Yes, devoured. Hubby suspected Tuna 2 was molting, thus weakened and at its most vulnerable, when it was attacked. Even its old shell was not spared.
Sigh. I have no words to further elaborate. These crayfishes are not easy to handle.
Hubby decided to separate the two remaining Tuna’s for fear of another murder. Tuna 3 was regrettably banished to the big aquarium to be with Meow-meow. Uh oh. Bad move.
Two days later Tuna 3 was never to be seen again. The murderer became the murdered. Super sigh…
Suddenly the little aquarium was reduced to just one inhabitant. I decided to ignore Tuna 1 for a few days to let things settle. And lo and behold, it decided to change shell! It must have occurred yesterday when we were out because in the morning, it still looked fine and no indication of its intended molting act.
Thankfully, Tuna 1 survived the process as there were no lurking big or small predators to eat it in its weakened state. So now, after the demise of Luna, Tuna 2 and Tuna 3, we have one surviving crayfish and it looks healthy.
Let’s hope this newbie will last longer.
Devoured!
What’s left…
A new newbie literally
Newbies
16 DecHubby just cannot stand the fact that the little aquarium remain unoccupied after the demise of Luna. Even I felt it too as every evening when I walk up the stairs from the living room, the empty aquarium sitting at my ascending path looked… well, empty.
So prior to M1’s return, he bought some cute fat fishes to fill it up. But the innocent looking fishes were not so innocent. They were rather carnivorous, devouring each other up! As days passed, one by one met their untimely departure. Horrified, he decided to change plans and gave in to getting a crayfish again.
And not only he bought one, this time he bought three! Yup, three crayfishes. I was speechless.
But these newbies are full of character and voracious too. One of them quickly made short work of the dead fishes that we have yet to get rid of! Smaller in size compared to Luna, I decided to name the three, Tuna 1, Tuna 2 and Tuna 3, just to rhyme with Luna’s name.
Spot the Tuna’s!
Tuna 1 having a feast
Cold Nights
2 DecYou know winter of sorts is here when it rains daily and the air becomes chilly. Even for official pet number one, it’s cold. He would go into his little abode to sleep on the rug to keep warm instead of on the cold tiled floor.
He doesn’t usually do this, sleeping in the pad. His abode is usually his protest platform – going inside only whenever he feels like barking at us in protest over something. I think he feels that with the barriers protecting him, he can have his voice, err… bark heard. Very opinionated fella.
But with the weather changing, raining just about every day and night resulting in cold nights ahead, the pad now has another use.
Joy and Sorrow
28 NovWith sadness I share the news that Luna has gone to pet heaven. What?! How? You may want to know…
It was a typical Sunday morning but there was excitement as far as Luna was concerned. She was molting! The old shell was just floating and she was still wiggling.
Never thought we would see a moment like this…
But we thought the deed was not completed as she’s acting really weird and hiding in her cave. A little bit more to shed and a bigger Luna would emerge? We were careful to be discreet so that she won’t be spooked.
Our joy turned to horror when we discovered Silly Prawn II and its accomplices attacking her. We had to do something for we can’t just let them gnaw at her legs. Without the protective hard shell, Luna was vulnerable and also weakened from all that effort to shed. So hubby fished the predators out. It may have been too late. For later that night, Luna was not moving…
And this morning, much to our fear, she’s gone. RIP my crustacean, we will miss you. There was joy when we had you, now there’s only sorrow with you gone. Sniffle…
Luna was buried in the garden this morning.
Life of A Crustacean, Part 2
25 NovI think Silly Prawn became food because I can’t seem to find it in the aquarium. It must have become food because Luna was out from her cave two days’ ago and being silly, striking a pose of wanting to scale the aquarium height. Was Silly Prawn terrorizing her?
This morning, I spotted another silly prawn hoovering over an upside down one. Can’t be Silly Prawn, can it? And looks Silly Prawn II is in the making because Luna is back in her cave!
Between the crustaceans, visiting birds and official pet number one, life amidst them creatures sure is entertaining.
Spot the prawns!
Save me from Silly Prawn!
Angieneering 
Remarks