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Noises in the Ceiling

1 Apr

We like our house and enjoy the space, warmth and comfort it offers. But I realized we are not the only ones who like it; there are creatures who share the same sentiments as us. We have had a bird come and made a home with her nest not too long ago at the car porch. But this feathered friend is not the first, there were earlier settlers, on the gutters outside the kitchen, M2’s bathroom and in the garden. I’ve lost track.

So far we have had other short term visitors: rats, squirrels, cats, more birds, snake(!), bat and owl. With our dog, fishes, tortoises and turtles, it’s almost like a mini zoo!

This morning when I woke up, I heard noises up in the ceiling.

Something is up there, busy traipsing across the length of the room, lugging what sounded like a twig or wire. I think it’s a bird because it sounded light footed. Surely it cannot be a furry four legged? Gulp…

Whatever it was, I think it’s trying to build a nest and settle down. Maybe we will check out the ceiling in a few days’ time to see who’s come a calling.

 

Day visitor

 

Unwelcomed visitor in the garden!

 

“Indoors is better!”

 

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Fish Dog

15 Mar

We have many pets at home. There’s official pet number one, Rooney the English bulldog and there’s Miao-Miao the Arowana in its big aquarium. Not forgetting the tortoises and turtles. Then there’s the little aquarium with three Bettas (possibly soon to be two left) and we also have a pond full of fishes. 

The pond residents are all called Bob so nobody is left unnamed. And we have one strange Bob in there, a climbing perch. It would jump out of the pond to land on the deck whenever hubby goes near the pond the feed the brood. Strange Bob behaves like a dog as if it’s coming out for snacks then jumps back in the water. Fish dog, I’d say! And the funny thing is, the real dog eats fish snacks!

   
 

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The End is Near?

14 Mar

The situation does not look good for HobNob’s. Our one-eye blind Betta has been looking lethargic and nearing death. It’s even resting in the same corner where Svetlana used to rest just before she went to pet heaven. M2 morbidly calls it the death corner.

Several times, the other two companions would come over and just lay beside HobNob’s or simply hover over it, giving support. I’m not sure how long this will go on. It saddens me that the Bettas are not doing well. Sniffle…

Notice the eye? Blinded

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Came and Gone

8 Mar

We have two potted plants in our car porch and one of them has, or should I say had a resident. We discovered a nest last week and I have seen Mama Bird flying away whenever I get into my car to start the engine.

Peeking in quietly while she’s away, there were two little eggs in there! Awesome. But on Sunday when I checked again, the eggs were gone.

Not even an egg shell could be seen. Let’s hope all’s well with them.

  

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One Eyed Bandit

1 Mar

Last night, we discovered one of the Bettas has lost its eye! Blinded on the left side. Horrors. I think it’s HobNob’s but I need to confirm with M2 on the identity. Poor fella.

This could have occurred earlier but we were away and did not know. It wasn’t obvious because when I look at the aquarium, it would turn on its good side to look back at me. 

Hubby doesn’t think it will last. Gulp…

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Goodbye Svetlana 

23 Feb

We never saw it coming. Just last week, I was gushing about how harmonious and happy the little aquarium was with Svetlana and friends. To our horror last night, M2 discovered a lifeless body on the aquarium bed.

Svetlana! Oh no. Noo…..

Our beloved Russian Betta’s happy life has come to an unexpected end. Her electric blue color body looked intact, no bite marks or anything. So it was quite a heartache to discover her sudden demise. And to make matters worse, I felt a sense of loss in Bobinsky, Hobnob’s and Phish. They seem to be hovering in sadness over Svetlana’s lifeless body. I can choke in tears now thinking about it.

Hubby concluded she died of old age. Sniff. Rest in peace, Svetlana, we will miss you.

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Svetlana and Friends

16 Feb

I must say Svetlana’s latest batch of companions have gotten along very well with her. They all look very happy. Up until today, the inhabitants of the little aquarium are living harmoniously and no untoward incidents. Thank goodness.

All of them came up close to the front of the aquarium this morning when I was trying to take a snapshot of them. They were swimming around and jostling for attention, as if trying to pose for me! It was heart-warming.

Look at them, so happy and carefree.

   
    
    
 

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Svetlana’s Got Company, Part 3

14 Jan

I guess hubby couldn’t stand it that Svetlana’s all alone in the little aquarium so he bought three new friends of the same species to join her. Maybe it’s better to be the same kind than another type of fish.

So now there’s four Betta fishes and both M2 and I decided to name the newbies, Bobinsky, Hobnob’s and Phish.

Let’s hope Svetlana will be happy and her new friends will last.

  

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Svetlana’s Got Company, Part 2

8 Jan

It was the Christmas Eve morning and I happened to observe the two parrot babies again and something was definitely not right! They didn’t look normal and had this shedding look, like a snake changing its skin. Oh no!

On closer inspection, they were indeed bullied. And traumatized. Hubby said the shedding were signs of defence under a threatened situation. On top of this, there were some missing scales on their body and fear in the eyes. Svetlana!

We had no choice but to move them to the pond to join the big boys and Svetlana’s moment of company was short lived. Within a few minutes, their little bodies were back to its normal color and without the shedding look. But several hours later, one of them did not live to see Christmas because it was traumatized beyond therapy. Sniffle. Poor thing.

Looks like the surviving one may have to do the community living with the others if we want it to stay alive and up until now, I must say it is doing very well. Thank goodness.

Svetlana rules her little aquarium yet again. And alone.

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Svetlana’s Got Company, Part 1

5 Jan

It was the Christmas week and I never noticed until Wednesday when I spotted two new residents in the little aquarium. The first thing that came to my mind was Svetlana’s got company. Yay.

But as I stared at the two little parrot fishes, fear gripped me. They were not moving! Oh no. I called out to hubby and asked him if there were okay because both of them were huddled in the bottom corner and looking half dead.

He came downstairs and reached his arm in to check and both the fishes startled and had a fright! They were actually sleeping with their eyes open. Silly me and I thought the Russian Betta did them in.

(Embarrassed)…

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