#replicantgrl

Thank you! He is indeed adorable, and greatly loved.

He’s sending you and your sister some snakey kisses!

Depending on where you are in the world, Fetlife can be a great resource for finding like minded people to become friends with and get to know about the type of local stuff available to you. It’s like Facebook but for kinksters and with a more ethical stance on not selling your data or listening in on your conversations via your messenger app. Also you have to be over 18 to join. That’s a hard fast rule right there, thankfully.

Some folk can find the bigger groups on Fetlife to be a little bit cliquey at times (this is like, the number one complaint on reddit lol) but looking into local munches is a good way to get to know people on a casual basis without jumping into a kink convention or an actual sex dungeon which can be hugely intimidating when you’re just starting out. Munches tend to be held in bars or cafes—neutral spaces where the emphasis is strictly not on play or scenes, but on meeting new friends and people interested in the same things as you and expanding your circle and learning about events and shows in your local areas.

If you’ve already got kinkster friends? Going to these types of things together can be fun too, as can going to things like conventions or club nights when they are hosting shows or even workshop nights, which is also a thing you can look into.

Reddit may also be a valuable resource, for trying to source things out, as their kinkster boards are fairly active and there’s usually someone who can tell you “oh this is happening in this state/country soon.”

Just y’know keep yourself safe online and don’t give out too many details, and absolutely do not let anyone intimidate you into trying to share more or force you into a role or position you don’t want to be in. And if you do go to munches, let a friend know (treat it like a blind date almost) where you’re going and what time it’s supposed to be ending and for the love of heck if anyone gives you creepy vibes don’t feel obligated to stay just cause you showed up. There will be other groups and other munches. There always is.

Hi! :) So I don’t have a lot of experience with parrots & adoption myself - minimal experience from a pet store job & a couple of (temporary) parrots at my wildlife rehab.

That said, I have to admit, my recommendation preference is to look for an older bird to adopt. There are a LOT of them out there due to the number of people who get a parrot without knowing what they’re getting into, as well as people whose life circumstances changed, or people who passed away & their family didn’t want to deal with a large parrot (especially one who’s also grieving). 

But honestly, it does depend a bit on your situation & what possibilities you have available to you. I’ve seen a few posts recently that discuss pros & cons to both sides of this & would be well worth reading & thinking about:

https://wordsonbirds.tumblr.com/post/166822404900/flockdynamics-lookatthisbabybird-fiskeorn

https://wordsonbirds.tumblr.com/post/165809922805/disagree-about-not-getting-from-a-breeder

Basically, rescue/rehome birds may be dealing with grieving past families, may have bad behaviors learned from previous families, and may have health issues if they weren’t cared for correctly. Older birds are also more likely to have health issues, so that’s something to be prepared for. But older rescue birds are also not going to go through the same hormonal stages babies will. As with most animals, each side does have their pros & cons, so you’ll have to see what works best for you.

@replicantgrl​

Oh thank you so much!

I personally wouldn’t consider axolotls to be low maintenance. While not inherently difficult in their actual care, getting started and generally keeping tank conditions perfect is where id say at least some experience is needed. Axolotls are cold water animals, despite what you may assume with them being native to mexico and all. 

Axolotls prefer around 60°F (15°C) water, and while that sounds easy because room temperature is around 75°F its not in all cases. Chillers sell for a fortune, and even used ones cost a pretty penny. There may be a cheaper option, but those are still pretty expensive and require you to be able to drill a hole in your tank for installation. Aquarium fans also only do so much, cooling the tank down about 5-10 degrees if you’re lucky. 

**All animals are an investment, do if you’re willing to invest in a chiller, new or used (please clean it very well if the chiller was used in a saltwater aquarium), please disregard these questions.

Here are some things to consider:

What temperature do you set your ac to?

What is the temperature of the actual house/apartment? 

Where will the aquarium be situated?

What is the temperature of that room it will be in? 

Are there any places away from windows you can place your tank?

Will you be able to keep your tank cool when you have to heat your home in the winter?

Will you be able to keep it cool in the summer?

I know it’s a lot to think about, but I have no clue where you live; so being specific in my questions may help you determine the right choice for you. If you like it cold in your house and room temperature water is 72°F and a fan can help you get those vital few degrees, then go for it. If it is very cold where you live and room temperature is very cold to the point where you have to use an aquarium heater in the winter to keep it at barely 60°F, then buy a small heater in advance. If you live in Arizona like me and the weather gets in the 120′s and the ac cant work hard enough to cool you off, then a chiller is your best option. Despite these examples, everyone’s living conditions are different which is why you should test your water temperatures to make sure you have it right before the axolotl gets here.

Continuing from there to another paragraph for ease of reading, test the water temperatures. I recommend digital thermometers because they’re easier to read, so get yourself one of those and run some tests while your aquarium is cycling. Test the temperature at room temperature, write it down. If the tank is not cold enough get some fans. I’m sure there are diy fans, i know of diy aquarium fans made with old computer fans. you can also use those fans that clip to the side of your desk, i used to use one of those before i bought my nicer looking aquarium fans. Write that temperature down. if its still not enough, then a chiller is your other option.

**Of course there are other options for cooling an aquarium, but they may cause potentially dangerous fluctuation in temperature. Here is a good video on how to chill your aquarium with the King of DIY.

In regards to lighting, axolotls are sensitive to light so they prefer a dark tank. If you cannot control the lighting or wish to plant the tank and require some lighting, providing them with ample hides to shield themselves will combat this. But no, a light is not needed. Please be aware excess light can add heat to the aquarium, so plan accordingly. (planted tanks, natural light in front of a window)

20 - favorite non-fish animal?

I honestly can’t choose a favorite animal? I love p much any sea life though. Nudibranchs be cool.

22 - what common myth about fish do you wish you could dispel?

Probably the idea that fish are unfeeling/unthinking, as it leads to a lot of their mistreatment and being seen as just an object or decoration.

25 - what do you think is the most beautiful fish?

Buddy they’re all beautiful. One in particular that comes to mind is the gulf signal blenny!