The difference between 'pet fish' and 'lifestyle choice'.

Or, a little tour of my house.

Things have changed a bit around here since I last wrote. I have been enjoying a severe case of Multiple Tank Syndrome (MTS) that doesn't look to be getting better any time soon.

Here is where I am typing to you from, with my favourite fishy resource proudly displayed on-screen:


Here is a collection of treatments and medicines:


A collection of foods:


My Male Guppy tank (female culls go in here as the stores like them pre-hit):


Female Gups:


A breeding tank on my indoor kitchen 'windowsill':


Quarantine/fry tank:


220L Softwater Community:


African Cichlids (I am getting out of these, too aggressive for me. My Goldies will be moving into the tank):


My Goldfish (this tank will be another breeding tank when they goldies move):


My husband's planted community tank (right after a massive plant-trim, believe it or not!):


Even my 8-year-old son has a tank in his room (he chose this as his last birthday gift, hmm... I am a bad influence!):


I have set up another tank on the kitchen sill since taking these pictures, so that means I am now up to 12 tanks in my house!

AQWA!

Last Wednesday, the fam and I headed to AQWA (The Aquarium of Western Australia). I love this place. It makes me proud to be a West Aussie in a weird kind of way - when I experience the aquarium and think about the fact that these beautiful, weird and wonderful creatures are all native to our coast, I realise just how lucky I am to live where I do.


Here is where AQWA is located, right on the W.A. 'Sunset Coast' - I live 30-45 minutes from here.

Of course, I took lots of photos!


This guy is, I believe, a Grey Nurse shark. They aren't known for their dangerousness (despite appearance!), but unprovoked attacks have occurred.


This fish is known as an 'Old Wife' because it makes a grumbling sound when caught!


This is a Moon Wrasse. I would love one for our planned reef tank, but he is a bit destructive and aggressive, so it probably wont happen.


Lion Fish.


Clown Fish.


Just about the ugliest (and most venomous) fish in the world, a Stone Fish.


The Blue-Ringed octopus, the most deadly octopus in the world. He holds enough venom to kill 10 humans. There is no antidote.

I don't know the names of the rest of these creatures:









Afterwards, we went to the little shallow beach bit at the harbour. For the fun of it, here is a picture of my youngest and I, playing in the water:



Such a fun day! I can't wait to go back again, but next time we will be going to the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre, which is located right next door to the aquarium.