Congrats on the new doggie - very cute in a delightful mutt-ish way, looks kinda like a cross between a boxer (body+paws) and a desert fox (the animal, not the Rommel variety) in the oversized ears. "The better to hear you with, Bernie, erm, ich meine General Montgomery."

So, any visits to the local shelter to look for a new fishie on the agenda?

Maybe they're running an "adopt 10 fishes, get a cat for free" special.

We have a brand new 40 gallon (36"×18"×16") aquarium and sturdy metal stand, along with a [URL="http://usa.hagen.com/Aquatic/Filtration/Clip-On/A620"]nice filter[/URL], but we lack the motivation to set it all up. Maybe later?

:mike:

[QUOTE=Xyzzy;381713]We have a brand new 40 gallon (36"×18"×16") aquarium and sturdy metal stand, along with a [URL="http://usa.hagen.com/Aquatic/Filtration/Clip-On/A620"]nice filter[/URL], but we lack the motivation to set it all up. Maybe later?

:mike:[/QUOTE]

This sounds like a perfect "science project in the home" for some young-teens - go any? If not, consider bribing some local kids, maybe with "free future fish offspring" vouchers.

[QUOTE]This sounds like a perfect "science project in the home" for some young-teens - go any?[/QUOTE]There is a feral 13-year-old living with us that has been tasked with "making a plan" for the tank. So far the plans presented to us have been a bit too extravagant for our budget, and anything simpler is "too boring".

:mike:

[QUOTE=Xyzzy;381749]There is a feral 13-year-old living with us that has been tasked with "making a plan" for the tank.[/QUOTE]Might I suggest [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Man_in_a_box.jpg"]contortionism[/URL]?

Also, Dog2 should be in charge of camouflage.

[QUOTE=Xyzzy;381749]There is a feral 13-year-old living with us that has been tasked with "making a plan" for the tank. So far the plans presented to us have been a bit too extravagant for our budget, and anything simpler is "too boring".

:mike:[/QUOTE]

Give them a budget, say, "show me what we could we with that, and if El Jefe is pleased, the fund disbursement shall commence", and see how creative El Feral (or is it La?) is in terms of finding budget-minded shark-tank stuff on the intertubes.

Given how much fish-tank stuff I see "free to good home" on the local FreeCycling sites, as long as you're willing to drive around and pick stuff up, you should be able to snarf a lot of stuff free or on the cheap.

[QUOTE=ewmayer;381769]Give them a budget, say, "show me what we could we with that, and if El Jefe is pleased, the fund disbursement shall commence", and see how creative El Feral (or is it La?) is in terms of finding budget-minded shark-tank stuff on the intertubes.

Given how much fish-tank stuff I see "free to good home" on the local FreeCycling sites, as long as you're willing to drive around and pick stuff up, you should be able to snarf a lot of stuff free or on the cheap.[/QUOTE]Think outside the box (tank?) Consider keeping organisms other than fish in there. For isntance, African giant snails make fascinating pets, are easy to feed and, if they breed too profusely, are very nice with garlic butter.

[QUOTE=xilman;381795]For isntance, African giant snails make fascinating pets, are easy to feed and, if they breed too profusely, are very nice with garlic butter.[/QUOTE]I think the USDA might be a bit upset about that:
[url]http://phys.org/news/2014-08-usda-seizes-illegal-giant-snails.html[/url]
[quote]The giant African snail damages buildings, destroys crops and can cause meningitis in humans.[/quote]

[QUOTE=retina;381796]I think the USDA might be a bit upset about that:
[url]http://phys.org/news/2014-08-usda-seizes-illegal-giant-snails.html[/url][/QUOTE]Curious. They are popular pets over here. Perhaps the difference is that our winters are too cold for them to survive long enough to be a pest.

[QUOTE=retina;381796]I think the USDA might be a bit upset about that:
[url]http://phys.org/news/2014-08-usda-seizes-illegal-giant-snails.html[/url][/QUOTE]

One more reason for a "sauté on sight" policy.

The non-water-filled route sounds promising, though - maybe Mike could consider other critters like snakes, turtles, armadillos, jumping frogs, &c.

Retina, does the USDA have anything to say about keeping African goliath frogs? Not sure if Mike's tank would be suitably large for those, but maybe some suitably well-shaded and dampish portion of the backyard...

Between the giant snails and the goliath frogs, seems they grow 'em big in Africa -- "it's like a Willis O'Brien creature feature in your terrarium".