Melissa

New kitten pictures from yesterday

Thank you everyone for the kind words and warm wishes. I am loving being mommy! Yesterday, was bath day. There was just a little too much yucky to wipe off their coats, despite the washcloth and weenie dog tongue. So we got a warm bath ready in the sink, and they just sat on my hand in the water. I used baby shampoo to scrub them down and get clean. One at a time they went back into the basket, rolled in a towel, and on top of a heating pad. Now here's the funny part. I had this idea that I could put my makeshift 5 gallon light (50/50) that is in a clip on socket, and I clipped it to the side of their basket, and let it shine on them. They scooted right under it and stretched out like they were sunbathing. It doesn't get warm, but I guess makes it feel like the sun They have already gone thru almost the whole can of milk as of this morning, so I have to get more at lunchtime. I debated between the powder and liquid formula, but stuck with the liquid. I didn't like what the powder did to my foster pup. It seemed to have a hard time going to the bathroom and when it did, the powder was very visible in the poo. My two are doing very well on the liquid so I will keep them steadily on it. I also found a few kitten glop recipes that I am going to try out that are used by catteries, and vets when kittens don't want to nurse. I'm not too worried about their weight gain though. Each is a pig now, and eating almost 15 ml per sitting and increasing. Before it was about 6 ml, and 1-2 ml. I will get some more pictures of the cuties up this evening.

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I'm happy to say that the twins are doing great today. I was ecstatic to see their towel soiled.The warm cotton ball did work, but only for tinkle. They wouldn't go #2 at all. We had a little clean up session courtesy of Cowgirl the 14 year old weenie, and a warm wash cloth to get the yuckies off. Cowgirl is really cut out for this. She just went right to town. First she waited for me to say "it's ok" then she didn't stop till they both were "emptied" and for the most part clean, but they still need a bath. The twins rotate out with eating. First the little one, Cyclops, then the bigger one. Then we start all over with rotation until they are done. Cyclops has opend both eyes now, so the name will change lol. The other still has both eyes shut tight. I'm going to dig up my kitchen scale so I can weigh them. Anyhow, here are the promised pics

Well, I am having trouble making them go number 2. I started getting desperate. My weenie dog is an old female breeder my hubby got when he was 14. She got bit by a rattle snake when she was about 4 and needed an emergency spay, and surgery. She loves to eat field mice, so you can understand my concern. I let her sniff and she went right to town on being a mama. My shepherd just didn't get it this time. She "deflated" both of them, and groomed them just like a mama cat.

double post sorry

Oh the pictures will come for sure. I have them on another camera and am waiting to get home from work

For those of you that don't know the non fish side of me, I will straight up admit I am an animal nut. I know my husband gets that look on his face whenever I start shouting, " Stop the car! Stray!" I foster when I can, mainly cats right now, since we are in an apartment. But in our old house we always had a foster dog somewhere. I just placed my last foster cat a couple months ago and was taking a little break. So.. I responded to a plea for help from a wonderful lady who found 2 itty bitty kittens in a hole near her home yesterday. She waited all day for Mama cat to come back, but no luck. I went North and scooped them up last night and went into instant mommy mode. I had just got off of work, and was unprepared for the transport. No carrier, towels, nothing. So... into my shirt they went to keep warm. One was very lethargic, with one little eye open. I call him Cyclops. The other has both eyes closed still. We hustled over to Petsmart to pick up bottles and formula and some supplies. I get home and start inspecting them. I believe they are about 6-9 days old. One solid dark grey with a little white belly patch and pink toes. The other is lighter grey with tiger stripes coming through when he stretches, and a brown and white tiny head. I pierced the nipples, sterilized everything, heating the formula and then settled in to referee the "Battle of the Nipple". They put up such a fuss!! Cyclops just wanted to keep looking at me with his one eye, and not face away. It was like he was seeing light for the first time. Just kept turning his wobbly little head back to me crying. At least he's crying though. He finally latched on and drank a 1/2 tablespoon of formula. I burped him (yes you have to burp them like a baby) and put him back in the blankets. Then I worked on his brother, but he wanted nothing to do with that thing. But he liked what came out of it. He just wanted to suck it off my pinky finger for a bit instead. I tried offering the nipple again, and he ate a little. Not much, but something. After that I put them both down for sleepy time. Each feeding is progressively improving, even just overnight. I'm hoping the one that is refusing it the most will come to accept it, but I think he's crying for mama. My fat 19 lb cat Big Boy is (for the first time) very intrigued by these two. The last few fosters, he wanted nothing to do with them. But I truly believe that he senses how young they are, and that they pose no threat (at least for now lol). He's more of a dog than a cat, and is very loud and vocal, yet he sat very quietly watching the feedings, so I plan to use him later to help them cope with the loss of mama. At least some cuddling done by another animal. Even my German Shepherd is getting antsy. She has been a surrogate to many of the pups and orphans we've encountered. The kitten we had fostered before was always groomed, scolded, and cuddled by her. The only thing she can't do is feed lol. I will be keeping their progress documented so we can all (hopefully) watch them grow. Oh! last night, I said thank you to my husband for letting me do this, and he said "well, I really didn't have a choice in it. You already called them and set everything up. " I said, "yeaa.. you are right. You had no choice" lol. He knows me

that was an awesome vid. I liked the dance as well. I had the Benny Hill theme playing in the background while I watched the second time.

Well, as much as I wanted a six line, I knew he couldn't come home with me. Especially since there are firefish in my tank lol. I can't believe how fat it is! I think everyone here who went the FB wanted to see the famous wrass. I was one lol.

Mark I saw your fat six line up at Fishy Business last week. I asked Shane if this was the famous killer, and he just rolled his eyes and shook his head, and said "yup"

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I hope that he is able to pull thru this.

And I would nab the clown as PM'ed. He would have a great home<br>

That's how I came to my conclusion about the first one being a Collonista lol. The limpets were the hardest for me to figure out, because I didn't know where to start. I like them because they come out no matter what, though I really have to look to find the collonista. From what I read the Limpets only get to be about an inch right? And the collonistas about 1/8-1/4 inch?

I added a light from our new 40 gallon,and within a week, a little green algae patch has sprung up in the front of the tank, on the glass, and they ALL migrated to the front. I figured since they haven't moved from there, they are eating it. I think they are cute

I've been seeing tons of little (what I think are) baby snails. After looking thru the endless websites about them, I've come to think that they are Limpet Snails or . I have at LEAST 50 that I can see!! I do believe that one, at least, is a Collonista snail, as he is white with a reddish almost checker pattern. The others are all 2-3 mm across and solid white. I borrowed the pics from the net as my camera is dumb and can't capture such tiny things. I want to know, are these guys ok to keep in here? I know such a large number isn't a necessarily good, so if I find that these guys are good, I can eventually pass them out if needed. Learn me please!

Thanks Mama!! Keeperofthezoo, I am not sure honestly. What are the benefits of the sumps vs. the HOB filters that came with it? I know that's a dumb question, sorry

My friends parents had a 40 gallon freshwater setup and while out of town, the big fish in the tank splashed enough to short out the wall socket. Had the wall not been stone, the house would have burned. They are never home anymore, having a beach house and all.... (lucky lol) and my friends mom said she wanted it out.... sooooooo...... Knowing what a fish nut I am, they called and asked if I would want to drive out to Dripping Springs and pick up the tank. The hardest part was trying to coordinate when they would be in town long enough for me to go out. So I picked it up on Monday!! I am so excited to finally be able to start and do this right. We are not going to rush this and we are going to take our time. I learned my lesson with my current saltwater tank. Here's a few pictures of my goodies I got. I know it's nowhere complete, but it's a start. I have to thank Mcallahan for helping me thru all my idiotic questions too. I also added a couple pics of the future inhabitants of this new (soon to be) beauty, my firefish. There's two, but one is it his burrow.

Hmmm... Izzy?

awww i think he's awesome!! I saw one in person and couldnt move away from the tank. If I didn't have to save up for new lights, then he would be at home eating the only thing I can seem to grow. Aptasia..

I know just where you are located too! I will see you tonight with my precious cargo Thank you so so so much.