Many people mistake some of the animal species in my tanks for plants.
Some of the similarities between the two, excuses these errors with no fault intended. Here are a few similarities.
A great many of the upper reef corals are sustained through photosynthesis. This process is carried out through an even smaller life form that lives within the coral.
Different propagation methods are the same in some plants as in saltwater animal life.
There are similarities in how we see them in regard to coloration, how we describe both as "branching", etc.
So don`t worry if you make a mistake, all reefers do. This animal, & many people would be fooled, looks like a flower, but it`s tentacles have a sticky substance on them that could put the Damsel fish in the background in peril if it was ever in proximity to it. These feelers have a substance with medicinal properties but many scientists seem to discount first hand accounts by reefers of reputation.
This "Ladies Night" presentation is to honor one of the Lifetime Achievement Award members, the lovely KINA.
At the header( love it) a pair of newcomers to my place. Go click the morning ritual.
And on Planet Earth, the Blue Dancer is doing 2 shows per night. (2 drink min.)
Have a nice day, & please stay cool. I understand the heat in most of the country is extreme. Please check on your elderly neighbors.
14 comments:
the newcomers look like Western Kingbirds. They're not as common in eastern ND as they once were, but I have heard them recently, but sorry to say not at my country residence.
They're usually the first to start singing in the morning. So whilst partying outdoors, when the kingbird sings, we figure it's time to head for home.
Very cool NDD,
My wife Teri is always looking up the birds in her books.
She`s the one her alerted me to them. One of them sits around while the other one flys out a few feet, catches a bug & brings it back for the other one. I`m not going to speculate here, as to who I think is the chauvinist male & who is the obedient female, but she sure can catch flies.
Another great (natch) shot.
Your shots are so amazing that it's often hard to imagine how you take them. It would be really interesting some time to have a step by step description of what you had to do to get the shot.
good morning knucklehead, ndd, and ANDI!!
knucklehad. Wow. This is a wonderful photo and what I'm learning about the environment through your explanations is really fun and interesting.
But are you ACTUALLY living with these creatures in your house? And how do you take care of them? Do you ever have to change the water? And where do you go to acquire them?
I don't mean this in an aggressive way. I used to have an aquarium and even my little effort seemed like a lot of work and worry. It seemed like a fragile situation. So I'm curious.
Morning Head. Another beautiful image -- the colour is amazing. I agree w/ Andi -- a step by step description of how you take your shots would be my next request too ... :)
And I love your header image ... Morning Ritual, how fun! :)
Thanks Andif,
As an exercise in observation, I have a habit of looking at my tanks just walking by or I will be distracted to look, by actvity in them. It seems some fish are designated attractors.
In any case & I`m sure it`s likewise with all reefers, I know immediately if something is going on in a tank, at the slightest change in activity. Most of the interesting action shots are a result of this. While trying to take a shot, often another image presents itself inadvertantly, & you`ve just taken a great shot by mistake of a subject you hadn`t intended. I`ll post one tomorrow & explain it.
Good morning Katiebird.
Yes these animals live in three different areas at my compound. I call it a compound as I have different buildings that encompass my living areas, plus a large workshop & attached tool room.
At one end of the place I have a 5 tank system with viewable life in 3 of the tanks. The other two tanks in that system, although filled with different life are more set up as natural filtration tanks.
In the main living area, I have another reef that is completely covered 12 hours of 24. A reef in the wild gets no more than that, & it`s important to follow a natural regimen. During the other twelve hours, an increasingly intense series of lights come on, peak after six hours & decrease to off.
This is important because the process of metabolism in many of the reefs` species depend on it being completely dark.
As in plant life, the change from day to night is necessary to sustain life. Plants reverse their intake & exhaust of Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide, as an example.
Then I have another set of three tanks in my office, another detached building with a porch also.
I do water changes all the time but I have water constantly mixing. Once you set up the system it`s as natural as feeding the cat. One must walk the dog, feed it, pick up after it, take it to the vet or any other responsibility one has, to assure the proper health of your charges.
We also have a one eyed cat, a rescued dog & 7 parrots that seem to require more personal attention than any of my fish do combined.
The mechanics of my systems, I liken to building a car. Once it`s built, one only has to put water in the radiator, gas in the tank, air in the tires, to have it ready to roll, but if you don`t know how to drive, you shouldn`t be behind the wheel.
So yes, they are fragile systems, a perfect incentive to take as much care as the wild system that allows us to live on the blue planet. Once people living in this "throw away" culture realize there`s only one to throw away, ever, maybe we`ll survive.
I do have high hopes.
How`s that Katiebird?
Good day to you, Olivia.
I took the image yesterday evening. I`ll explain this one tomorrow along with the shooting sequence of the post. I figured out which image would be best to explain the luck sometimes associated with some of my shots.
I`ll also explain in more detail the example I used to show how people are easily confused about plant or animal.
.
Morning Ritual, a nice little show yesterday from these little beauties. Teri says the male has a little orange crest. It should be easy to identify him as the one sitting on the wire. I could be wrong, ladies.
Hi Head.
Between the aquarium, flowers and birds I don't know which is the best. I'm with Andi and Olivia, step by step would be nice.
It's been scalding down here. At the moment my outside thermometer is reading 104.7 in the shade. Yep it's sweater weather in the South. :)
FM,
Do me a favor & stay in the shade & keep as cool as possible. Check on any elder family members often & drink plenty of fluids in small increments. Be safe.
As far as the images go it`s all done with smoke & mirrors. You just have to know how to place them.
I`ll do a post on the "how" tonight.
It will definitely have useful tips that will apply to everybody, but some of the stuff I do involves experimenting that I`ll explain, but cannot guarantee the same results. I commit most of my test results to memory, until they become intuitive.
LOL Head, are you sure it's safe to give us the step by step on this image ... ;P
Olivia, I`m going to do the technical aspects of the image, but hopefully you can give the visual ramifications of it on your blog. I know I can count on you. HAH.
No, I`m kidding. but you can always explain in emails to members of your blog that may be interested.
How to pass the buck.
LOL
Olivia,
Wait & see if I can pull it off without too much trouble. I think I can.
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