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The Snickerdoodles

24 Jun

The latest bunch of Bettas are doing great, living happily and harmoniously. I call all eight of them the Snickerdoodles, thanks to M1 for this name suggestion. Or should I say they were doing great. Three days ago, hubby told me one of them has been bullied. How did he know?

It was blinded in one eye! Oh dear. Another one-eyed Jack in the making. Why is it they always go for the eyes? The most vulnerable point to attack?

So Snicker #1 is blind in one eye but physically still okay. Thankfully the rest are still intact but we don’t know how long it will be like this. We will have to monitor because when one is injured, the territorial trait becomes more prominent and soon, the inhabitants may pose a danger to each other.

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Another Garden Visitor

24 May

Our home seems to be a sanctuary not just for us but other creatures as well. Last week, there was the squirrel. A while back, we had a bird making a nest between the branches of the potted plant placed at the car porch. 

We even have bees building a bee hive, more birds, a visiting owl, uninvited snakes, cats and of course, rats. Last night we made another discovery but it was too late to verify. 

This morning, we looked again. It’s another bird! This time, it’s high up on the tree on the front lawn of the house. A rather unusual engineering feat, the nest seems to be hanging precariously off the branch.

We used the binoculars to have a better view and to our delight, saw a black bird with orange feet fidgeting in there.

Let’s hope all’s well with Mama Bird and her babies.

Look closely to spot the hanging nest!

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Garden Visitor

23 May

Every now and then, this little fella will come scurrying in the garden, looking for food. Last week when I saw him from inside, I managed to snap several pictures of him without scaring him off. It must be the same one who pops by every now and then.

Sometimes he would just run along the wall behind the hedges but on that day, he came out within the golf and ping ping balls. Official pet number one, Rooney, must have been snoring away to not sense his presence.

   
   

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A Lively Bunch

17 May

It’s heartwarming to see these fellas swim so lively every time I walk up the stairs to pass the little aquarium. And when I peer at them, they would all swim to the front of the aquarium as if to greet me unlike the previous few who has gone to pet heaven.

We have yet to name them but M1 did suggest ‘Snickerdoodle’. Maybe I will just call all of them ‘the Snickerdoodles’!

  

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Payback Time?

9 May

How can one be king of the ‘hood against eight? And being a blind one too? What chances would it have to call the shots and live on without fear? Bobinsky initially thought it could take over Svetlana’s role but the newbies would not have it. 

It was a gruesome sight on Saturday morning. Bobinsky’s lifeless body was pecked, injured and scarred. There was no chance it could survive especially when it adopted that gangster attitude and bullied the others instead of welcoming them. Payback time? Goodbye Bobinsky, you’re in a better place now.

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Newbies

5 May

When I got back from my weekend escapade, I discovered we have newbies in the little aquarium! Yay. HobNob’s did not make it and Bobinsky now has new friends.

And hubby said that it is Bobinsky who has been the culprit all this while, taking over Svetlana’s (Russian killer) role and bullying the newbies. Blind and still able…

Let’s hope this does not go on and it will be a happy environment without further mishaps. I have to discuss with M2 on their names. So many of them!

   
 

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Two Blind Fish

19 Apr

Looking at the two Bettas, I couldn’t help myself as the ‘Three Blind Mice’ tune popped into my head; only that it isn’t three blind mice but two blind fish. So here’s my ode to them (to the tune of Three Blind Mice) in my attempt to be poetic about the situation.

Two blind fish. Two blind fish

See how they rest. See how they rest

They try to swim when I look at them

Who ate their eyes with such devious plan

Did you ever see such a sight in your life

As two blind fish?

   

This is HobNob’s

  

This is Bobinsky

 

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Little House of Horror

18 Apr

Last night M2 discovered in horror that the two remaining Bettas, HobNob’s and Bobinsky are both blind! OMG. How did this happened? Are they that vicious that they have to take each other’s eyes out literally?

It was a while back when we noticed HobNob’s was blinded in one eye. But not anymore. Now it’s blinded in two eyes. And not only that, Bobinsky is also blinded in both eyes.

No wonder they have been rather inactive of late. Last week, we lost Phish to dropsy and now this. This is really terrible. After Svetlana’s demise, the little aquarium is becoming a little house of horror.

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A Surprise!

14 Apr

Guess what? A few days ago, we discovered one of the Bettas is pregnant! And all this while we thought all of them were male fishes. Obviously it is not HobNob’s, the one with one eye blinded. It’s Phish.

Its tummy is just so bloated and looking ready to explode. If you look closely at the tummy, there seems to be a white dot, I assume an egg, as if it is trying to come out.

But the poor thing looks like it is suffering, floating at awkward angles. Hubby said due to its tail being gnawed at by the other two (they are fighting fishes after all) causing her to lose her balance, her survival is critical. We will have to monitor closely.

Sadly, things did not turn out okay. Phish left us this morning, joining Svetlana and the many others in pet heaven. Bye Phish… you will be missed. Sniffle…

  

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Hanging in There

4 Apr

Every now and then, I look at the little aquarium and find that HobNob’s is still alive. Feeling thankful, I am glad our little friend is hanging in there.

Maybe moving away from the death corner has helped and definitely with the support of the other two, there’s reason for him to go on living.

  

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