On Thursday, 9 Oct 2008, after MONTHS of planning for and shopping around and reading, I FINALLY set up a humble little aquarium! 

I love Bumble Bee Fishes and once I realised that they do import them over here, I was so gleeful I wanted to keep them.  Me and the Bumble Bee Gobies go a long way, back to when I was in Pri / Sec Sch. 

I couldn't find a tank that was small enough because the smallest was already 38 litres!  Besides, they didn't come cheap over here because a heater is also needed to maintain the water at 25-27 deg C for the tropical fishes.  Actually, everything aquarium is expensive here, compared to back home, so I had to wait and shop around a bit first...

I got my wee little 5.7 L tank for just A$40 and it comes complete with a (weak) LED light and a pump + filter. 

I wanted three bumble bee gobies and when I went to the neighbourhood aquarium, they had three left!    So, the gobies all came home with me and became happy residents!  Look how permanently grumpy they look!  Harharhar!  I LOVE them because they are forever grumpy-looking! 

I got three snails free.  You can see one of them clinging to the side of the tank above.

I saw one other aquatic creature that really caught my interest - Crystal Red shrimps!    They are apparently 'rare' here and I really balked at the price - blardy A$40 each!!  After hassling the staff to be sure that the gobies won't make expensive snacks out of them, I got the two largest Crystal Red shrimps they had. 

They are sooo tiny!  Hopefully, they will eat a lot and grow large fast.  There's no way of telling if they are a male-female couple or not but I sure hope they are and that they will breed! 

Apparently, they really love moss, so they can kinda 'hide' in it and makan from it too.  It's quite cute how they are always nestled in the entangled mess of moss!

Like so...

I kept observing the residents in the tank and yelling out to the bee fish gobies that they are NOT to makan the shrimps!  I held my breath each time they got close to each other, but hmm... today's the first morning post aquarium set-up and all residents are at home so I guess nobody kena'd makan!  No casualties reported!  Hehe! 

Heng ah... the bee fish gobies simply swim by the shrimps each time their paths cross!  Phew!! 

 

 

Wah liao those CRS cost 40 bucks each!!!

>.<" That's SERIOUSLY overpriced for the quality they are selling >.<"

I know that fishes are expensive in Australia as I have seen platies I used to feed my fishes going for like 2 bucks a piece

But 40 bucks for 1 CRS is murder >.<"

I was expecting to see a more intense red when you told me the price O.O

Anyway that is a very cute and nice set-up you have there :P

Maybe you will move on to the bigger monsters which I like heheheh

 

I'm not interested in shrimps but I"m very very tempted by Dwarf Lobsters

They're the latest craze here and cost like 65 bucks (this is the low side price) a pair. Apparently very very peaceful and won't try to attack the fish and won't grow bigger than 4cm

wah, nice! but 40 bucks per tiny shrimp... >.<

Looks tasty.

Originally posted by av98m:

wah, nice! but 40 bucks per tiny shrimp... >.<

it's a pet NOT food >.<

All too tiny to eat la

But the aquarium hobby can be very 'poisonous'

I'm too deep into it already ><

Actually come to think of it, I'll be super depressed in Oz if I cannot get my exotic fishes or relocate my pets if we move over :O

very nice ...

Originally posted by elindra:

Actually come to think of it, I'll be super depressed in Oz if I cannot get my exotic fishes or relocate my pets if we move over :O

I'll help eat piggy

Originally posted by elindra:

Actually come to think of it, I'll be super depressed in Oz if I cannot get my exotic fishes or relocate my pets if we move over :O

Well, there are other exotic creatures and fishes  you can get here, I suppose.

But be prepared for ridiculous prices like AUD 3.95 per guppy, AUD 6.95 - 7.95 per bumble bee goby, and even my teeny tiny amber tetras cost bloody AUD3.95 each!! 

And that little pinch of moss cost me AUD 6.95.

And don't get me started on the little heater I had to get which bloody cost me AUD 60!! 

Since I moved to Australia, my concept of 'expensive' and 'far' has changed considerably.    How not to? 

Originally posted by av98m:

I'll help eat piggy

    

How can you wanna eat such a cute turtle!!! Look at his innocent & sweet looking face!!!

Originally posted by av98m:

I'll help eat piggy

  Yipers!!

You know, I saw these awful looking salamanders in the pet shops!  Eeeeee yerh!!  They look utterly gruesome! 

They had another kinda salamandar that was called the "Mexican Walking Fish", equally repulsive.  Eeeeee yerh!! 

And the pet shops here are very interesting - tarantulas, spiders, scorpions, yabbies, snakes, lizards, frogs, etc etc.

Originally posted by Rhonda:

Well, there are other exotic creatures and fishes  you can get here, I suppose.

But be prepared for ridiculous prices like AUD 3.95 per guppy, AUD 6.95 - 7.95 per bumble bee goby, and even my teeny tiny amber tetras cost bloody AUD3.95 each!! 

And that little pinch of moss cost me AUD 6.95.

And don't get me started on the little heater I had to get which bloody cost me AUD 60!! 

Since I moved to Australia, my concept of 'expensive' and 'far' has changed considerably.    How not to? 

Wah liao eh

Do me a favour.

The next time you drop by the aquarium, ask them how much does the EHEIM Pro 3e 2078 filter cost

Originally posted by elindra:

    

How can you wanna eat such a cute turtle!!! Look at his innocent & sweet looking face!!!

Piggy IS cute.

But you know what, all turtles, when cooked, looks the same, cute or otherwise. 

Originally posted by elindra:

Wah liao eh

Do me a favour.

The next time you drop by the aquarium, ask them how much does the EHEIM Pro 3e 2078 filter cost

I'd safely say at least double what you pay over there. 

Originally posted by elindra:

I'm not interested in shrimps but I"m very very tempted by Dwarf Lobsters

They're the latest craze here and cost like 65 bucks (this is the low side price) a pair. Apparently very very peaceful and won't try to attack the fish and won't grow bigger than 4cm

Soooooooo kawaaaaaiiiiiiiiii!! 

I want also!  But I don't t hink they have that here.  If they do, it'll cost at least double what you pay for them back there.

Originally posted by elindra:

    

How can you wanna eat such a cute turtle!!! Look at his innocent & sweet looking face!!!

cute defenseless animals are good to eat. not cute one, also good to eat.

Originally posted by Rhonda:

They had another kinda salamandar that was called the "Mexican Walking Fish", equally repulsive.  Eeeeee yerh!! 

 

Cute mar

The Axolotyl is very cute leh

I want one but these will be illegal in Singapore

It's an amphibian but not a salamandar

Originally posted by Rhonda:

I'd safely say at least double what you pay over there. 

Btw this filter ...same thing from same company can cost from 500 plus to 700 plus here in Singapore

You must know where to buy if not sure kenna carrot head

I just wanna know how much it costs in Oz :X

Originally posted by av98m:

wah, nice! but 40 bucks per tiny shrimp... >.<

Yeah... very ex.  I had to take a big gulp and quickly pay for them before I changed my mind.     What to do... they ARE rare over here, and I've never seen them in any other aquarium that I've been to and I really really wanted them. 

I admit I wish I had bought baby yabbies instead cause they are cheaper, but oh well, I already had the Crystal Red Shrimps and the yabbies will just makan the shrimps. 

I wish I can clear the space for a larger tank...

Originally posted by elindra:

Cute mar

The Axolotyl is very cute leh

I want one but these will be illegal in Singapore

It's an amphibian but not a salamandar

Oh are they?  They looked very salamandar like.  They actually look albino / very naked with exposed gills.  Quite ugly. 

Pinky, you know what, I think ah, like what Paul said, I should move out to the suburbs where for the same price, I can get a much larger townhouse with a backyard and frontyard so I can have the space to keep cats, keep at least two fish tanks or one huge one, and build my dream library and hobby room. 

Originally posted by elindra:

I'm not interested in shrimps but I"m very very tempted by Dwarf Lobsters

They're the latest craze here and cost like 65 bucks (this is the low side price) a pair. Apparently very very peaceful and won't try to attack the fish and won't grow bigger than 4cm

i love this pic!