Bart the mudpuppy 1 year update!

[i_love_necturus]

Hi folks,
The months before I got my mudpuppy was when I found this great site and joined. I probably would have never gotten Bart if it wasn't for this forum. Anyway, 1 year ago today (Feb. 7th) I got my mudpuppy. I just felt it appropriate to make an year later thread so I can show everyone how well along she is. She has grown over an inch since I got her (now over 10 inches) and her half bitten off gill has nearly fully regrown. She has been feeding on mainly nightcrawlers with a few fish in between. I have an order of those Ragen salmon pellets on the way that I'll try out as well.

I attached some pictures of her and her tank. If you can find my first posts you can see how much the plants have grown and how much she changed over the year. (I wish cleaned away that algea in the pics, oh well, anyone who has a tank knows it's a pain)

Also, later I'll add bigger versions of the second and last pic to the gallery.

 

[freves]

Well Ryan you have certainly done a good job of taking care of your mudpuppy. Keep up the good work.
Chip

 

[Otterwoman]

I was just thinking about her yesterday and wondering how she was. I must be psychic! I was reading about Necturus. The more I read about them, the cooler I think they are! She's a beauty!

 

[Kaysie]

Not to mention, Bart was a star in the calender!

 

[Otterwoman]

Yes, when I changed the calendar to Feb. I waved goodbye and said, "Goodbye, Bart!"

 

[i_love_necturus]

Haha, thanks everyone.

 

[NewtWorldOrder]

Ryan, nice animal!!

I'm new in Rhode Island, where do you normally get your pets? Did you get your Mudpuppy around here?

 

[i_love_necturus]

Welcome to RI! No, I ordered mine from a biological supply center. They are wild in some parts of RI though, as an introduced species.

 

[dane_zu]

awesome ryan, I remember when you got it, I was a little jealous, I've wanted one for a while but I probably wont get one until im done with all my schooling, however long that will take

in the meantime I'll get to enjoy yours!

 

[Slimy2]

How costly was the tank, getting Bart, ect.? How hard was it to care for her the past year?

 

[i_love_necturus]

I'm not sure how much the tank and the lid with the light cost (im guessing near $50). The filter was somewhere around $45 and the gravel/elodea probably totaled at $20. Bart was also around $20 with shipping cost. The major thing was the air conditioning that we bought over the summer. That was like $120. So for this stuff it was around $250, probably a good bit more too, included other things I've bought along the road. She isn't that difficult to care for, just keeping her cool in the summer was hardest.