Filmhippie and I went to the Mobile flea market this last weekend. We strolled hither and yon for a while, eying hand-me-downs, making baby talk to puppies and making small (and not-so-small) purchases. I found some old D&D (Red box era, some older), she found some books and dishes. We had a good time.
Walking out, we came to a young Asian man with an aquarium full of small, happily swimming, turtles. He introduced them in a thick Alabama accent as red eared sliders (RES), and assured us that they were disease-free (RES can carry salmonella). We could adopt one for the low, low price of $10. We smiled, walked away quickly, and consulted our collective pocketbook and each other.
Filmhippie picked out a turtle.
"I'm running a deal, where you can get a second one for $5, so he will have a buddy." I can't convey the odd lilt he placed on the word "buddy". It was actually somewhat Pauly Shore-esque.
I picked out a turtle.
We got a baggie of food. What kind of food? Pellets! (Got better food later.) We decided against getting a tank, since Filmhippie was prettty sure she had one. We carried them hom in a solo tumbler, provided by the turtle seller.
Once we got back to Filmhippie's place, it turned out that she did not have a tank. We made a temporary home for them with a plastic container and some rocks and water.
Filmhippie kept them for a couple of days, but it turned out that the environment in her house was just too cold for the little guys to be comfortable. She brought them to my place, where I had a larger plastic container ready, with a brick basking platform and enough water that they could comfortably swim.
That was yesterday. I've spent a day and a half researching them online. The cats spent that much time trying to get up to where the little guys were to research them in person.
After work, I went to the store (I had errands anyway) and bought a starter aquarium. Ten gallon capacity, pump filter, lid. Very important, that last bit. I got a basking platform and some gravel.
The new tank is all set up now, and it looks pretty good. The water's a hair deeper than I would like, but it's ok. The filter doesn't work, I'm not real sure why. I think it has something to do with the fact that the water level is several inches below where the inlet would naturally be. (I tried lengthing the inlet with a piece of hose, but there does not be enough suction. I can get a different filter later.)
It's a sweet setup. Pancho and Lefty seem to be happy.
Hopefully, I can keep them going well. RES can live 25 years in captivity. Eep.
Lands of the Heresiarch
2 weeks ago
