Hello, everyone

[inque]

Hey Everyone,

I thought I'd introduce myself and say hello since I'm new to the forum.

Um... so a little about myself: I've always been interested in wildlife and plant life; I've kept a reef aquarium for a few years (very expensive hobby, by the way), and now keep carnivorous plants. I've recently taken an interest in cacti and succulents. I currently—and sadly—don't have any cacti under my care yet, but I hope to be able to procure some Lithops sp. and T. bridgesii specimens to start a collection of my own very soon.

Speaking of which, I'm on the hunt for the following bridgesii: Lumberjack, f. Monstrose clone B (clumping), and f. Monstrose/Crestate. So if anyone can lead me in the right direction for any of the above, please let me know!

Anyway, thanks for having me.

[laughingwillow]

Greetings, mon.

I started keeping aquariums at a pretty young age, too. I've always wanted to start up a salt water tank with reef. However, when I started working in a pet shop at the age of ten, I got to interact with such a wide range of creatures on a daily basis that I didn't feel the need to bring so many of them home. (Alligators, boas, pythons, electric eel, large oscars, kinkajou, squirrel monkeys, large birds, etc.)

Take your shoes off; sit a spell...

lw

[eccentro]

Welcome.

I've had a 50 gallon freshwater tank for about 10 years. Super easy on the maintenance but not near as beautiful as salt water. I've been tempted before but I already have too many expensive hobbies. Have fun and good luck with your cactus hunting. Let me know if you find beautiful 'eileen'.

[Glider]

Hey there.  I've operated quite a few freshwater tanks.  Never did a salt water one though.  I suspect the same is true for salt water though, the bigger the tank, the easier it is to balance the water quality.

Cacti are a lot of fun, but a large collection ends up consuming some impressive amount of time unless you happen to live in an area where they can be planted outdoors year round.

-G-

[inque]

Thanks for the welcome, everyone.

I got to interact with such a wide range of creatures on a daily basis that I didn't feel the need to bring so many of them home. (Alligators, boas, pythons, electric eel, large oscars, kinkajou, squirrel monkeys, large birds, etc.)

lw

Wow. That must have been one hell of a pet shop!

Let me know if you find beautiful 'eileen'.

Hey eccentro. You got it. Oh, and I spoke with the one guy that had it, but he unfortunately didn't have any cuttings available.

Hey there.  I've operated quite a few freshwater tanks.  Never did a salt water one though.  I suspect the same is true for salt water though, the bigger the tank, the easier it is to balance the water quality.-G-

The same is true for saltwater tanks. The greater the volume of water, the more stable parameters tend to be. I think generally though, that reef tanks are much less forgiving than their freshwater counterparts (nitrates/ammonia always have to be at undetectable levels, calcium and alkalinity must always be monitored, etc).

[eccentro]

I have to keep my cacti in pots and drag them in and out because of my climate.. So far it's just 2 busy days a year, a sore back, a mad wife, and a large closet full of cacti. Well worth the benefit of having such a great hobby and beneficial garden. Dormancy nd size limits are the main downsides.

[JRL]

Eccentro, how cold does it get where you are?  Trichs are more hardy than people think, takes a long hard frost to really hurt em.

[eccentro]

JRL, It usually gets into the low 20s F (wind chill upper teens) a couple of times every winter. Occasional upper teens F. The subfreezing episodes usually last 7 days or less. We get snow/sleet a few times also, which is usually only a few inches at most. This year was an exception and we broke a 50+ year record I think with over a foot of snow in 2 days and subfreezing temps for about 7 days. USDA zone map says 10-20 F is the lowest expected. I've just been to scared to chance it with my prized plants. It would be nice to skip the annual chore and get my plants in the ground.

[JRL]

You could leave one or two out and see how they do. Sounds pretty iffy though.

[Glider]

I've never lived in such a warm climate, but my money is on no joy.

-G-

[eccentro]

I'll just keep em in pots in the rock garden. I have new additions on the way and just reworked the bed to allow for them. This will just about max out my space. As of now I only have 3 that are heavy to lift, but that will change in a few years . I am working on adding a bed, but I don't know if the 'boss' will allow it.

[eccentro]

Inque...Sorry to hear your lead for Eileen fell through. Does anyone here at spr have this trichocereus or know how to find it? It's a bridgesii variant that originated in Australia, but has made it's way to the US. Good luck hunting Inque.