A Couple Angel Fish

I’ve always loved cats.  As long as I can remember I’ve had cats, often in multiples.  Cats true personality come to life when they live in packs, or at least in tandem.

The last time we moved, we decided not to have any more furry animals to clean up after.  Between the litter box and the shedding, having cats was just too much for a family of five to keep up with.  So, we brought our Aquarium.

I had become interested in aquariums about 6 years ago, so we bought a 10 gallon tank.(woo hoo, right) From there I moved up and up and up to the tank you see here, my my wife’s 40 gallon angel tank.  It has contained many different species of fish, all of whom we have had long periods of time and enjoyed very much.

I had been looking for some time for a 55 gallon aquarium to upgrade to, and when I finally found one for the right price on craigslist, we drove about an hour and a half to somewhere in New Hampshire to pick it up. I’m big on savings, as you may already know.  In my new tank, I started whats called a Malawi Lake Cichlid Tank.  It’s different than regular fish, but its not saltwater either.  Anyways, so we had a 40 gallon, which my wife inherited, and a 55 gallon of mine.  That’s a lot of water should someone have an accident.  Well, back at the ranch, when we moved there were two undeniable truths;

1.) No second floor apartment should have 95 gallons of Accident Waiting To Happen in it

2.) Cats are messy, we are broke, and the kids will be enough to deal with.

I'm Sure You've Met This Guy

So who’s fish tank got torn down?  That’s right, mine.  So the point is, at move in we had one fish tank, and no other pets.

FAST FORWARD: My wife got a job at a pet store to help carry us through the winter, and somehow, animals became frequent guests in my home.  From gerbil sitting, to snake care, we were a regular Animal Rescue Center!  With the kids always so excited, how could I say no? I had to lay my foot down! So an agreement way made, we were NOT going to animal sit anymore, period.

Come Christmas time, I was being nagged by three kids and one wife non-stop for a kitten.  My brother-in-law even had kittens.  So on Christmas Eve I slipped away and got two kittens for everyone!  I don’t know what came over me that day, but I guess I was feeling like I hadn’t done enough, and couldn’t afford to do more.  So joy of joys, now we had two cats as well. (we actually had a little mishap and one of the cats has been replaces by another one from the same litter, but that’s a story in and of itself)

Ally and Molly

So now, four months after swearing off cats, we had two.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE cats.  I’ve always been a cat person, I just don’t like to retract a ruling I already made.  Needless to say, we’re all very happy to have the new kitties.

Shortly after Christmas,  my wife Heather called me excitedly from work to inform me that they had a Ball Python, and she could have it, and its supplies for free.  SHE GOT ME!  Free is like my cryptonite.  Just udder the word and I’ll drive three hours for it.  So we got a snake, Stewart the Cowardly Ball Python.  I wasn’t too sure about this at first, but once I found out what an effective Mother-In-Law repellent Stewart was, I decided we needed another. (its a joke, Betty!)

Again, a snake had been abandoned at the Pet Store, and this time, it was a gorgeous Colombian Boa Constrictor.  This snake has a rainbow reflection off its scales, deep eyes, and a black tongue.  I think she is beautiful.

Meet Emma, my Three and a Half Foot Boa Constrictor

Emma’s going to be a big girl when she gets older, and big girls need big houses.  Those don’t come cheap, even to a well paid under appreciated pet store employee like my wife! I had done a lot of reading online, and I decided in with my newly found free time (i got laid off three weeks before Christmas) I was going to build Emma cage, DIY style!  I gathered all my materials, linoleum, screen mesh, silicone, and a shitty old bureau, and went to town!

Framing out this thing was pretty easy, it was done in a day.  The real task proved to be putting doors on the thing without spending $200.  I ended up searching for the right idea for three weeks before it happened.

I found some panel door track at a hardware store (whom I called two weeks prior and they told me they didn’t have any!) and my dad had scored some nice plexi-glass from a friend! I was back in business. Emma’s new home was complete.

Emma's New House

So I know it feels like this should be it, but its not.  Remember my 55 gallon tank I had to tear down against my better judgment? Well its back in service again, on top of Emma’s house as you can see.  This is home to Jerry, our Bearded Dragon.  He was bought by another family who could take care of him, so we decided since we had all the stuff he needed (from selling Stewart, I didn’t mention that, sorry!) we could take him in too.  Jerry, is one funny character.  You would have to see his antics to know what I mean, but he is a riot, trust me!

Jerry is Awesome

So that is it, for now.  I still get harassed daily for a dog and a bird, lets hope I can avoid those additions!  Lastly, I recommend NEVER letting your wife work at a pet store!

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