I want you all to worry about Toby with me

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 01/30/2019 at 10:37 • Filed to: None

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I have to take him to the vet this morning. He has been limping. I am terrified that this is some awful joint problem because shepherd. I want to drive the Sunchaser, but it is gray and damp, and rain is coming tonight.

My pond is still foamy due to all natural koi/goldfish meds . I am going to backwash and treat with bacterial cultures (good bacteria) this weekend. Unlike an aquarium, which is sterile, a pond is an ecosystem and it needs to be kept in balance or it turns to green slime.

I don’t know if the issues some of my fish are having are disease or old age. That plant I pulled out was killing the pond by forcing the fish into an increasingly smaller space and by growing on its own rotting roots. (Yeah, that plant did not work out too well).

But then again, some of these fish are almost 10 years old. Who the hell knows about old age and goldfish? I think most get flushed within 36 hours of coming home. Remember, I have a couple of koi, but most of these fish are elementary school carnival survivors and their progeny. Think about going from being a feeder goldfish to living in backyard pond for a decade, and producing offspring. That is the goldfish Super Lotto.

Since I can bury my shame at the bottom of this post, I must make a confession. I have been very committed to weight loss and good health after my heart attack, but alas, I have gained back a little weight. Ice cream got the better of me. Without beer in my life, I have found myself with a sweet tooth I never had before, and well...you know the rest.

So I am determined to get back on track and attack sugar and sweets like the stubborn fool that I am. Let’s look at this like an 80s Toyota that anyone in their right mind would pass on as fast as they could. With enough irrational determination and ill-conceived expenditures, that baby can become a gem. I will overcome sweets like a Chico meth addict’s abused 5-MGE. (The Cressida is not pretty, but she purrs like a kitten. All she needs is a power steering pump to be a daily driver. I have a Cressida savings account with a few thousand dollars in it. Hahahaha....you see what I am talking about?)

I have issues.  Please root for Toby to just have a small boo boo. It's not his fault that I am a problem.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 10:39

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:( I painfully remember when my dog started developing a hip problem. Nothing but good vibes and hopes for toby

jimz > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 10:44

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he doesn’t look like he has the “traditional” GSD stance which gives them hip dysplasia.  

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 10:50

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I shall worry with you, my dog has had 2 knee repairs from torn MCL’s. Thank god we have pet insurance. Mine is half German Shepherd and half American Staffordshire. He just rain like a maniac in the backyard then came back limping. Vet told me that he sees more knee injuries than anything these days, it used to be dogs getting out and getting hit by cars, but with under ground fences and traditional ones these days he sees a lot more “running the fence line” injuries, like hurt knees.

Good luck, here’s hoping for just some rest on it.

Cash Rewards > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 10:59

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Good lucky Toby! My girl has had leg surgeries each of the last two summers for tor n ACLs. I hope it's not serious

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 10:59

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I’ve got nothing but good vibes for Toby. He’s seems pretty young. Here’s to it being something like a sprain for enthusiastic squirrel chasing.

$kaycog > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:00

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Anxiously awaiting vet report on Toby.  Hang in there.

CaptDale - is secretly British > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:02

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I hope it is something small like maybe a fox tail of a thorn. Something easy etc. 

Mercedes Streeter > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:05

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*Hugs you and Toby* Here is for it being something small !! <3

vicali > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:05

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Hey IM, hang in there. W ishing Toby all the lucks and speedy recovery.

Chariotoflove > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:15

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Fingers crossed for Toby.

We don’t keep ice cream at home  now for the same reason.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:26

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Hang in there, Toby! Watch out for your wallet, IM!

As for your pond, foam is an indication of excess proteins. A protein skimmer/ foam fractionator would help. Replacing the water will also help. Do it no more than 1/3 of the total volume at a time.

Goldfish will live a loooong time. Ten years is easy. I’ve read that they can live 25 years or more.

The key is a clean environment and to avoid overfeeding them. Most pond/aquarium owners feed too much, leading to a really filthy environment and problems like algal blooms. Goldfish are generally considered a filthy fish, but I believe that people think this because they a) over feed; b) have a poor filtration system; and c) don’t clean their aquariums properly.

If you’re looking for a fun, easy project, build your own protein skimmer. The key parts are a good air pump and an air diffuser that produces tiny bubbles. The standard Walmart air stone doesn’t create a small enough bubble. You’ll have to get a good diffuser from a store that sells salt water aquarium supplies. From there, it’s just PVC pipe and fittings. There are plenty of articles out there showing how it’s done.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:40

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Feeder goldfish are the hardiest goddamn fish on the planet. Period. I used to have a ( much bigger) pond.

We had a nickel feeder that grew to over 10" long and lived at least 15 years, including through multiple hard freezes. Koi came. Koi went. Catfish came. Catfish went. Feeders just shrugged and kept gobbling all the food you’d give them.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 11:52

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Keep us updated on Toby. I hate to think he might be hurt.

wkiernan > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 12:03

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I hope Toby gets well, and it turns out to be just a thorn in his paw that goes away. Meanwhile, on the beer-vs.-ice cream question, my suggestion is, put down that damn ice cream and drink wine instead of beer. All the French drink wine all the time, and they tend to be stylishly slender. It’s worth a try, anyway.

Besides, just imagine you driving that Sunchaser, wearing a beret.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 12:03

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The pond looks so naked without any tree in there taking the majority of it up. Do you plan on putting any kind of plant back in there?

Also, what’s with that white streak on the GTI? Is that a scratch or a reflection of a chem trail?

Good luck to Toby. I’ve been there with a few of my dogs over the year, and the limping is usually something minor, like an irritant or bug bite. Here’s hoping it’s not serious.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 12:05

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Rooting for the both of you! Ice cream is a cruel, yet delicious, mistress ...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ImmoralMinority 01/30/2019 at 12:34

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Toby doesn’t look like he has the classic german shepard hips, here’s hoping it’s something minor.

I like ice cream too, I passed 200 this winter and am not happy about it.