why this hobby is good for families

daisy · 12-18-2007, 12:46 AM

So at the frag swap, i picked up a non-photosynthesizing red gorgonian (I have named it george) from House of Fish. I love this animal - its color and shape are just SO cool, and it adds a real bit of coral character to the tank...

I also got a LOT of other stuff.

so my daughters, who are 5 and 7, see the tank the next day after I've put everything in, and they're all excited about all the new animals - they ask for all the names, ask me what everything eats, worry about whether each coral will get enough light and enough flow (they use the word "flow")...

The next day, my 5-year old starts screaming to me to come see something in the tank - something about aptasia. I come to the tank and she's looking at, pointing at george.

"your new coral is covered with aptasia!" she says, and she is truly sad about this. i look and see that george has a bunch of polyps open - not aptasia, but beautiful white polyps extended...

so i had a great conversation with Sara about how the shape of aptasia and the shape of coral polyps are pretty much the same because that shape works in the sea. she totally got it. five years old and she understands more about the animals in the sea than i did ten years ago!

when i got into this hobby, i did it for me, but now I continue to do it for me and for my daughters. every day i see them staring at the tank and I KNOW that it is only good!

happy reefing, everyone!

Froggie · 12-18-2007, 12:58 AM

you're a good mom.

House of Laughter · 12-18-2007, 01:16 AM

precious - every moment of that should be cherished -

House

JLAudio · 12-18-2007, 09:30 AM

Thats an amazing story, maybe a baby nano for her xmas gift? Just a thought

masterswimmer · 12-18-2007, 09:42 AM

Tahl, great story......as usual. Now you have to teach them that each of them are like sponges! See if they can get that analogy

R

**Chiefmcfuz** · 12-18-2007, 10:23 AM

Starting them off early is a great thing! Good Job Tahl !!

jejton · 12-18-2007, 01:13 PM

I tell my wife the same thing - its all about our baby's education. Actually when I first took him to the aquarium at 6 months old, he would nudge people out of his way if they were blocking the exhibits and it was the one thing that calmed him down when he was colichy.

Tito · 12-18-2007, 01:28 PM

Just be careful with the toxicity of some corals around the children.

EDIT: LOL ooohhh mom - get your hands out of that tank!

inkblue · 12-18-2007, 02:15 PM

famiLy at home and reeF famiLy...

daisy · 12-18-2007, 05:13 PM

...in terms of toxicity - the kids KNOW that they are NOT allowed to even THINK about getting their hands wet!!!

...if only their mom ascribed to the same philosophy....

12-18-2007, 12:46 AM	#1
daisy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Yonkers Posts: 767 Reefer Ratings: (5) Friends: (8)	why this hobby is good for families So at the frag swap, i picked up a non-photosynthesizing red gorgonian (I have named it george) from House of Fish. I love this animal - its color and shape are just SO cool, and it adds a real bit of coral character to the tank... I also got a LOT of other stuff. so my daughters, who are 5 and 7, see the tank the next day after I've put everything in, and they're all excited about all the new animals - they ask for all the names, ask me what everything eats, worry about whether each coral will get enough light and enough flow (they use the word "flow")... The next day, my 5-year old starts screaming to me to come see something in the tank - something about aptasia. I come to the tank and she's looking at, pointing at george. "your new coral is covered with aptasia!" she says, and she is truly sad about this. i look and see that george has a bunch of polyps open - not aptasia, but beautiful white polyps extended... so i had a great conversation with Sara about how the shape of aptasia and the shape of coral polyps are pretty much the same because that shape works in the sea. she totally got it. five years old and she understands more about the animals in the sea than i did ten years ago! when i got into this hobby, i did it for me, but now I continue to do it for me and for my daughters. every day i see them staring at the tank and I KNOW that it is only good! happy reefing, everyone!

12-18-2007, 01:16 AM	#3
House of Laughter www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ossining, NY Posts: 10,290 Reefer Ratings: (124) Friends: (36)	precious - every moment of that should be cherished - House __________________ House of Fish (914) 424-0366 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

12-18-2007, 09:42 AM	#5
masterswimmer www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orange County Posts: 9,184 Reefer Ratings: (86) Friends: (16)	Tahl, great story......as usual. Now you have to teach them that each of them are like sponges! See if they can get that analogy R __________________ House of Fish (845) 610-3114 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

12-18-2007, 10:23 AM	#6
Chiefmcfuz Big Nosed Lazy Reef Dummy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 11,803 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (30)	Starting them off early is a great thing! Good Job Tahl !! __________________ Brendan Condo For Sale Northern Westchester Click here, My reef tank 24 gallon Aquapod

12-18-2007, 01:28 PM	#8
Tito Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Perth Amboy, NJ Posts: 190 Reefer Ratings: (3) Friends: (0)	Just be careful with the toxicity of some corals around the children. EDIT: LOL ooohhh mom - get your hands out of that tank! Last edited by Tito; 12-18-2007 at 10:15 PM.

12-18-2007, 09:30 AM	#4
JLAudio Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Flushing Posts: 1,227 Reefer Ratings: (19) Friends: (1)	Thats an amazing story, maybe a baby nano for her xmas gift? Just a thought

12-18-2007, 01:13 PM	#7
jejton Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Suffolk Posts: 1,511 Reefer Ratings: (10) Friends: (1)	I tell my wife the same thing - its all about our baby's education. Actually when I first took him to the aquarium at 6 months old, he would nudge people out of his way if they were blocking the exhibits and it was the one thing that calmed him down when he was colichy.

12-18-2007, 02:15 PM	#9
inkblue Muro Ami Captain Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Williamsburgh, Brooklyn Posts: 7,767 Reefer Ratings: (86) Friends: (20)	famiLy at home and reeF famiLy...

12-18-2007, 05:13 PM	#10
daisy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Yonkers Posts: 767 Reefer Ratings: (5) Friends: (8)	...in terms of toxicity - the kids KNOW that they are NOT allowed to even THINK about getting their hands wet!!! ...if only their mom ascribed to the same philosophy....

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