Gonna Build a Little Pond

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
Been playing with getting a closed terrarium going in a large glass growler. I put in the various layers of substrate "by the book" but I'm winging it as far as populating it. I tossed in a few grass seeds and they all sprouted. There is some moss and some small plum and cedar branches, some oak leaves and pine needles, a few rose hips, and even some lichen, all gathered from near my house. Oh, and a kidney bean, because beans sprout anywhere and I want to see what happens. :)

There is already a springtail population getting established. I may toss in a few isopods, though I'd likely have to buy them and I'd prefer to gather what I can over bringing in foreign life. Gonna give it a few weeks and see what else appears.

It was pretty dumb to make my first attempt such a large container, especially one that's only got a one inch hole to put everything in, but it's all for fun and for learning. I'm finding myself spending more time than expected staring into it, watching tiny little critters crawling about. :)


While out gathering the moss I walked to the edge of the valley and looked right into the face of a deer, calmly staring back from maybe 35 feet away in the brush on the hillside. I said hello and asked how she was doing. After a little while she calmly turned and, in just a few steps, disappeared into the trees.

Have I mentioned that I love my life in the boonies? ;)
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
Went for a walk to gather some more terrarium goodies this afternoon. Brought home various deer remains including a pretty cool skull with almost all the top teeth, a clavicle and a rib or two, as well as some chips from beaver-felled trees.

skull.jpg

Additionally, here is definitive proof I am not a rolling stone.

moss.jpg

I really like how the 20 gallon aquarium is looking. I made a tiny pond with leftover liner material and lined it with old bark and stones and added a plant from the fish barrel. I also grabbed a cool looking, colourful little plant last time I was in town and it turned out to be a fittonia, which turns out to be a very popular terrarium plant. :)
Springtails haven't had time to get established yet, but there is at least one little spider and one confused and lonely ant making the odd appearance. I think I'm going to add a herd of dairy cows next trip to town.
I'll get some pics up at some point.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
I'm enjoying my little mini-worlds.

The dew worms don't get much attention but seem to be doing great. There are always fat, healthy adults available when I need a few for fishing.

The fish barrel is thriving. Not sure if both adults are still alive as they hide most of the time, but there are still tons of this year's class, growing quickly. Lots of snails, a good amount of algae, and healthy plants, are making a cool little environment.

I'm really enjoying my terrarium. There is so much life in there. Native springtails and African pink springtails and nematodes, and a spider, and some unfortunate fliers that I'd like to get rid of, and who knows what else. The best part though, is that the Porcellio laevis have reproduced. In addition to the small group of adults I added there are now a bunch of babies, barely 1/8" long.
(not my photo)


Pocellio-Laevis-Dairy-Cow-Isopod-e1620338496857.jpeg

Yeah, like I wasn't strange enough, I now have pet isopods. :ROFLMAO:
I just really like building a complete ecosystem in a container, and watching the cycle of life. I need some more plants, and maybe down the road a gecko or tarantula, or maybe I'll grab a garter snake in the spring.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
Woohoo! Puttering in the yard time has returned!
Walking Stick Dancing GIF by moonbug


Shoveled the snow off the pond cover so the tarp can make a wee greenhouse to kickstart the thaw, and started a bit of general Spring maintenance. No coat and I was still sweating. (y):love:(y)

Gonna play at home today and then back to the ice tomorrow after all the peasants leave. ;)
 

Ramjet159

pHeno pHisher
I'm enjoying my little mini-worlds.

The dew worms don't get much attention but seem to be doing great. There are always fat, healthy adults available when I need a few for fishing.

The fish barrel is thriving. Not sure if both adults are still alive as they hide most of the time, but there are still tons of this year's class, growing quickly. Lots of snails, a good amount of algae, and healthy plants, are making a cool little environment.

I'm really enjoying my terrarium. There is so much life in there. Native springtails and African pink springtails and nematodes, and a spider, and some unfortunate fliers that I'd like to get rid of, and who knows what else. The best part though, is that the Porcellio laevis have reproduced. In addition to the small group of adults I added there are now a bunch of babies, barely 1/8" long.
(not my photo)


Pocellio-Laevis-Dairy-Cow-Isopod-e1620338496857.jpeg

Yeah, like I wasn't strange enough, I now have pet isopods. :ROFLMAO:
I just really like building a complete ecosystem in a container, and watching the cycle of life. I need some more plants, and maybe down the road a gecko or tarantula, or maybe I'll grab a garter snake in the spring.
😂 speaking of Geckos I wandered outside about 0500am to relieve myself ( the cavemen heritage ) and I hear a little grunt/squeak down near my feet . This solid little barking Gecko was copping a shower he never ordered and was letting me know he’s not happy . Kind of startled me for a sec and then I apologised to the little fella because Geckos understand English 🤪. It’s 0500am . Slater bugs in the pic are great little cleaners . I put some in my tree frog terrarium to clean up the floor droppings .
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
Hmmm I wonder if it was his female counterpart MEEKAH that he shiton. Now that would be something worth the buying the dvd
Whatever float your boat, but here's more from wiki:
Nathan J. Robinson of Current Affairs criticized Blippi's programming, calling it "dead and sterile" and lacking intellectual curiosity that children can understand.[21] The actor who plays "Blippi once made a video where he stripped naked and blasted diarrhea all over another man’s bare anus."
 

Psychobilly

🧀Muenster
😂 speaking of Geckos I wandered outside about 0500am to relieve myself ( the cavemen heritage ) and I hear a little grunt/squeak down near my feet . This solid little barking Gecko was copping a shower he never ordered and was letting me know he’s not happy . Kind of startled me for a sec and then I apologised to the little fella because Geckos understand English 🤪. It’s 0500am . Slater bugs in the pic are great little cleaners . I put some in my tree frog terrarium to clean up the floor droppings .
Well there goes your chance to save 15% or more on car insurance...
Whatever float your boat, but here's more from wiki:
Nathan J. Robinson of Current Affairs criticized Blippi's programming, calling it "dead and sterile" and lacking intellectual curiosity that children can understand.[21] The actor who plays "Blippi once made a video where he stripped naked and blasted diarrhea all over another man’s bare anus."
What the.... This is why I don't listen to GG Allin.
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
@JL2G was kind enough to mention my little pond in another thread, on the first day I've really got to play this year. I've been chipping away and the air pump is really helping, too. Blowing 15 degree air under the ice all day made a big difference.

It will mostly re-freeze over the next week, but I don't care. Hearing and seeing running water is so nice.

I cleaned a lot of the dead stuff off the berm and have to build it up in a few places once it's thawed before turning on the filter. Also going to create an overflow channel so I don't have to be running out to drain the filter barrel in heavy rainstorms.
Looking forward to another season of outdoor joy. :)
frozen.jpg
 

Amarok

bad mother chucker
Staff member
Moderator
I mentioned hearing the crows in town the other day. I've since started putting out water and food on their platform to welcome them back.

Today I was hearing them all over, so I replaced the ice in their dish with water, replenished the food, and sat on the deck in the wind and subzero temps for a bit. I clicked my tongue a few times and twice was rewarded with the "friend" call from an evergreen in the driveway. I didn't see the one that responded but have to assume it is a returner from last year.

I'd love to see them nest in one of my trees, preferably early to discourage the magpies and bluejays.

So I babysat 2 crows two years ago, and expanded to a daycare for 4 last year. I can't wait to see what this year brings. 😄
 
Top Bottom