Hi

[rivkah]

Hi, I am Rivkah,

I got my first fish pitching ping-pong balls at a street fair when I was five. I won the "big prize", a black moore goldfish. I kept that fish for nine (9) years, and cried likd a baby when it dies, even though by then I have 12-14 other tanks, and was breeding various species of fish. There is something about that first fish. Because of that first fish, I have maintained a tank of goldifsh ever since.

Over the years, I have kept and/or bred many types of aquatic creatures: various fish, as well as dwarf african frogs, fire belly newts, eastern spotted newts and white lipped tree frogs. I also used to have a monkey, a pair of ravens, a horse, leopard geckos, a collection of fancey mice and at age fourteen (14) I rehabed a Mexican eagle. I had a mother that put up with alot, but never had to remind me to look after my charges, it just seemed to come naturally.

I currently live with: 2 dogs, 4 cats, 3 gerbils (all the furry critters were rescues/strays), 13 fish tanks (with five (5) more waiting until I decide with what), a turtle tank with a southern painted and a texas map turtle, 3 terrariums/vivariums housing 5 red efts (30g), 3 bumblee toads (10g), and 2 firebelly newts (35hex) respectively. Oh... and a domestic partner who "tolerates" my critters. As long as the fruit flies do not get loose, he does not complain, and finds it all quite amusing. As he will often say...its hard to believe I am as old as I am... I am like a little kid and somehow still have that childlike sense of wonder.

Recently, at a rept show, while looking at a particular vendors wares, I mentioned that I could be called a bored fish hobbyist. He said "we get alot of you. Come on over the the frog side" I went home with the bumblebee toads. And more other stuff.... just in case, 'cause you just never know....

Since these creatures did not make the decision to live with me, I strive to make their little world as "perfect" for them as possible. Terrarim/vivarium building is a natural progression for me, being a fish keeper, maintained planted tanks, as well as created/maintained bonsai for decades. So... almost 50 years into it (whatever "it" is) I have not lost that sense of excitement each and every day when I look into the glass boxes and see little faces looking back.

[sharkseatzombies]

Wow that's a lot. Congrats on all the success, and I have to say I am jealous of all the different aquatic animals you get to call your own.

[Jess]

Welcome to the forums ! It's wonderful the amount of animals you've had in your life.

[Ebony]

Hi there and welcome to the forum Rivkah. You really have quite a zoo . Your experience and knowledge Im sure will help many. Great to have you here.

[rivkah]

I forget to memtion the birds: finches and a yellow collared macaw... oops. The job that feeds is as an accoutant in a small tax-based public accounting firm. I deal with people, generaly angry people, all day. So, I need to come home and not hear another human voice for a while. There is nothing better for me at the end of the day than to sit quietly in my rept/fish room, equiped with cat ledges and dog bed, and just drift away. Downside, of course, no privacy: wherever I go, so goes the dogs and the cats.

This is my first forray into more terrestial amphibians (bumblebee toads). (The red efts don't count, since I bred eastern spotted newts (aquatic) years ago, and I consider white lipped tree frogs semi-aquatic). I jointed this site to find a great home for a very special armless ACF (which I did find, see thread), and to more information about dart frogs which I am considering for the future.




The first picture is of my red eft terrarium. The second is now housing 2 firebelly newts (of course I have increased the waterline). Neither will work for dart frogs... I am still learning

[Mentat]

Welcome to Frog Forum Rivkah! Wow, sounds like you have kept fish for about same length I have (49 years). I'm new to frogs (and Tarantulas) but have done the fish scene and still maintain 8 FW & 1 SW tank.

[rivkah]

Tarantulas!!! I lived for a number of years in the great state of New Mexico. There we would sweep tarantulas out of the house. At certain times of the year, there would be a mass migration across a road, driving over them would make a poping noice, like pop-corn. When I first moved here to Pennsylvania, I was surprised to see tarantulas for sale as pets.... I could have been a millionair by shipping those to here. Sorry, but I don't get it. But I am sure someone out there can say the same to me about what I keep.

If you had been in the fish thing for all those years, you know.... we all go through the add to the collections, get disgusted, get rid of tanks, add more tanks, repeat.... and always have too many empty tanks and supplies hanging around house, calling us to fill them up again. There is nothing in the lfs that seem to trip our triggers any longer, but we still keep our old favorites.

I still breed only a limited number of fish. Currently, I am breeding 3 species of killies, bolivian rams and dwarf crayfish. I am back to keeping (and hopefully, breeding again) eastern spotted newts and fire belly newts.

With my last move to my currently residence, I tore down and farm out a 125 reef that was up and running for 7 years, in there I was able to breed, with limited sucess, bangai cardinals, and peculia clowns.. Yes, I am that kind of fish keeper, as I am sure you are also... there is not much I have not had no bred during all these years. But as I said in my original post... there is nothing like that first fish.

[tgampper]

Welcome to Frog Forum!

[GrifTheGreat]

Welcome to the forum. Those are some very nice enclosures you have set up and I. Am impressed with all the varieties of animals and fish you had over the years. Very nice.