I kept that small tank going with other community fish until I had my first job and was able to save for my first purchase... a 55 gallon tank and stand from walmart full of plastic plants and other goodies from a fish magazine vendor that had good prices (everything local was much higher). I was very proud of it...especially of my glass catfish and my common pleco that grew to 18". I saved next for my veiled chameleon that I built the cage for so I could afford it!I'm not sure when I decided to go to college for zoology with plans to be an aquarist. I think it was the first time I saw the PBS documentary "Into the Abyss" that showed me the deep ocean bioluminescent creatures for the first time. I just could not believe that such things really existed! Anyways, I got thru my first 2 years as a biology major at UA intending to continue at OU. Then I met my now husband and my life plans changed from not ever wanting to have children all the way to baby fever! So, the last 10 years have been dedicated to being a stay at home mom. My youngest is starting kindergarten this year and have no plans to have more so I'm getting back to the things I love and have put on hold over the years.
We have a collection of small animals including American toads, a corn snake, 2 box turtles (eggs due to hatch any day), a gerbil and our newest is a hatchling northern map turtle (had it handed to us from someone who went floating & thought we'd like him). Anyways, I'm currently working on getting his tank made from all live plants and natural materials. He doesn't eat the plants luckily but I need to round up more to get it done (maybe someone can help me out with some when they prune/trim?)
Well that's it for my introductory novel!
