A death, an acquisition, a laying, and another death.

[jdsteward]

Eventful day at le zoo de Dan:

(1) Woke up this morning to find Gary, one of my African Dwarf frogs, dead on the bottom of the tank. The poor froggies havn't been doing well for the last few days. I've been distracted, and let the ambient temp of my apt get too high (80F). I personally like that temp, and hadn't noticed until I checked the thermostat. Felt like an asshole, and resolved to clean tank later.

(2) Got my mail, and found that my Mantis Ootheca (egg case), had arrived from the UK safely and intact. Wrote Karen, told her I got the Ooth, thanked her.

(3) Arrived home in the evening, and looked in on Butterfingers, my female african flower mantid. I noticed an odd, styrofoam-like deposit the size of a pen cap, attached to a branch. Upon closer examination, I saw that there were ~10 rice-sized eggs within it, and realized she has laid her own
Ootheca. As she hasn't had anyone to fuck, this ootheca will likely be infertile, although there is an outside chance it will hatch females.
This puts my mind at rest, as I was becoming increasingly concerned about her sudden "fatness", and was concerned she was dangerously overeating.

(4) After changing some of the water in the fish tank, I noticed that the other African Dwarf, Emanuelle, was missing. I wasn't sure when he'd gone missing, so proceeded to tear my room apart, on the off chance he was still alive somewhere. I found him, dry as a bone, 4 feet away from the tank, below the radiator. At some point, I'd left the covering ajar, allowing him to escape (From what was probably an unbearably hot fishtank for him).
Felt like an even bigger asshole.

Keeping animals is a big responsibility. I'd hoped to give these two froggies a cushy and happy life, but my negligence killed them...
Although I don't think I should get more frogs, I pretty well have to, as
I've got blackworms in tank, specifically for frog food, and if not et up, they'll grow big and disgusting, and cause problems for my other friends.

[Kasaii]

An uncanny similar story:

My mother-in-law, who has a few problems upstairs and a slight speech problem, was taking a trip with a bus load of ladies from her church. She is quite fanatic when it comes to religion, which makes this all the more amusing to me.

As they were driving down the road, my m-i-l saw the restaurant Fudpuckers.
She had heard about it before, and was excited to see it. She announced to the entire bus load of ladies, :Look, look, it's PuckerFuckers!!!"

She recanted the story to me because she did not understand the laughter and shock of the ladies. I as well, just about died laughing.

[CountFunkUla]

Well it happens - sometimes even with our best intentions it doesn't always work out.

At least you have admitted whats happened and understand the responsibilities involved so you can take this with you now as a learning experience and though sad that you lost the frogs I guess you'll be an even better keeper now )

Good luck with the Mantis eggs and your new frogs!! ))
(Let us know when the eggs hatch!)
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[gemuesekrieger]

That must have been really a awful day. At least you have mantis eggs. My condolences to your frogs.

[spreadhead729]

Hey , Dan , I have a technical question : How light do you have to seat on the mantis eggs to hutch ? And how do you manage it at work ?

[spreadhead729]

sex education considering the up-coming marriage ... as for who fucked the mantis ,,, only you know , body ! You and your video camera , lol ... you are sooo funny today , sorry ...

. I found him, dry as a bone, 4 feet away

[hatfield6]

I've always wondered about the genesis of that name...

[Okage Higumara]

On a totally different topic, my grandmotherly mother-in-law calls
Fudrucker's "that motherfucker place." *snicker*