Oh Lordy! The aquatic forums I'm on runs contests for tank of the month and pet (non-fish) of the month and I got sucked in. When I posted the photo that is several post up where my bird and fish are facing off I had a bunch of people telling me that I needed to enter in the pet of the month contest. I gave in and entered. I really did resist as I sort of think such contest are sort of bragging that mine is better than yours but I did it.

Ya I said the contest was non-fish but fish can be involved as long as the focus is not the fish if that makes sense. Funny thing is that I REALLY think entering things like this a sort of like bragging but, now that I entered, I REALLY want to win.

As to the tank of the month contests several people also want me to enter and, since I broke the ice, I might when my tank size comes up again.

I know that I'm a bit weird all the time but this whole thing is bothering me a bit. I don't think that I really know how to exactly say it but every pet or tank is perfect to the person that lives with it. Say that I win the contest... Does not mean that I have the best pet. It just means that I got the best photo.

I really don't know why but I'm sort of weirding out about this.

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I can see how you think of the entry as bragging, but it is a fun kind of bragging. I hope that you win, too! Having the best photo as judged by those who view and vote is exactly what a win would mean!

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stephen boots
Microsoft MVP 2004 - 2020
"Life's always an adventure with computers!"

Grumble, grumble... Not much chance that I'll win. Here are the leaders. The first one of the dog I have no gripes about but the second with the big fish I question. There are fish in my photo also but they are not the main focus. This is supposed to be non fish pets and I think the fish is the focus as the dog isn't even involved. Still you have to love this buck tooth fish face. It is what is called a Puffer.

Actually I'm in a three way tie for second and a bit ahead of the puffer fish but the dog has twice the votes.

Personally I think my entry (third image) is better than either of the leaders but have to admit to being a bit partial. One problem is that some think it isn't a real photo but PhotoShopped.

I just want to play with this dog!


I want this fish but would need like a 100 gallon tank as a minimum. These fish get HUGE! The white shapes in the image are other fish.

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Yeah, the dog in the first shot is awesome. The second shot is too posed. If the dog were not held and was looking at the fish, it would be cool.

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stephen boots
Microsoft MVP 2004 - 2020
"Life's always an adventure with computers!"

Looks like I'm still in the running just 2 votes behind the cool dog.

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I'm now only one vote behind the cool dog now and 3 votes ahead of the big puffer fish thing. I almost hate to admit but I'm having fun with this contest stuff. Even if I end up coming in second I would think that pretty decent for a first try.

You should see some of the total tank contest entries! Some of the 'aquascaping' these people do os beyond belief! Here is just one example:

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I haven't been following this thread so i'm not really sure what it's about, but that picture of the dog looking back is super cool!

For reasons that i won't get into... Jay, your bird is the winner for me simply because it was around at a time when i was desperate for help during the darkest period of my life so far and oddly i can feel a connection with it.

Don't really know how to answer.

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There's not much you can say, i just jumped in because your bird and that dog looked super cool.

Doddie, the thread is just about my aquarium. I have also joined a fish and other pets forum but mostly fish. They run monthly contests for aquariums of different sizes and also contests for non-fish pets. While fish are permitted in the contest photo it is supposed to be about the non-fish pet such as my cockatiel. Site members do the voting.

Late votes are coming in for the contest and I went from 2nd to currently in 1st by 2 votes. 6 more days of voting to go.

I initially just posted the image of my bird and fish as I thought it was cool. I really had no intent to enter the contest as I sort of think it is sort of a way of bragging but I got a bunch of responses saying that I needed to enter so I gave in and did so. It is sort of funny in a way that I resisted entering but now want to win big time. I guess attitudes change when you become involved.

LOL! My bird and cichlids (the fish) have become quite popular. Actually with them facing off it IS a pretty cool shot. When my tank size comes up again for the monthly tank of the month contest I just may enter that too. Since you have not really followed this thread here is a full frontal of my tank. All the plants are live, not plastic or silk.

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OMG! Most people that are likely to do so have voted and I just might win this thing as I'm still 2 votes ahead. I don't exactly know why but I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I'm excited.

Oh, here is another contest entry that I REALLY like. The eyes are totally insane! Personally I think it deserved more than the only 2 votes it has gotten.

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That is the Geekazoid of the cat world, for sure!

Less than a day left for voting and I'm still ahead by 2 votes. While I sort of flip flopped on this and now really want to win I, at the same time, feel really bad for two entries that have zero votes. I think the issue with these two entries is that the photos are like a portrait, zero interaction with anything.

When this first came up I was a bit anti on the contest thing but am now finding it fun. Of course a lot of that may be that it looks like I'll win but we won't go there.

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We won by 3 votes.

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Congrats!! I'm not surprised...that was a fantastic photo.

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BB
http://barrypatch.net

Terrabit thanks you.

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Hooray!

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stephen boots
Microsoft MVP 2004 - 2020
"Life's always an adventure with computers!"

Thanks

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Actually the person that had the cool dog on the boat beat me to it by changing his vote from himself to the last person that had zero votes. I was actually going to do that but he beat me to it. If I had done instead of him I still would have won but by one vote instead of three. Would just hate to see someone get no votes at all.

@BB: You might actually like this aquatics forums. While mostly fish related they deal with all animals as indicated by the contest I just won. I have NO doubt that some of your nature videos would be quite popular.
https://www.fishforums.net/

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Jay, that is a very interesting website. And I thought the description you wrote of life with Terabit was very entertaining.

Most all of my nature videos and photos deal with wild animals....deer, fox, squirrel, opossum, and even an occasional skunk. Even though I get some great interacting shots, I just can't see them as being appropriate for your fish forum contest. But thanks for the recommendation.

Here is a photo of my pet fox....I call her Freda.


And the twin fawns that come around my yard.

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BB
http://barrypatch.net

I'm not talking about the contests. Shoot, those are a minor aspect of the site. Many members live in rural areas. Yes, the site is aquatic based but some of your stuff would fit in well. Your choice but I think that you would fit in well.

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Well done Jay I thought it was a great photo and well worth the win. Terrabit is looking well.

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Joan Archer
http://crossstitcher.webs.com

Thanks Joan. LOL! Even if I'm patting myself on the back it is a really good photo.

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Grrr! Spent too much time trying to find Clyde, my stupid rope fish that has been missing for two days. Wasn't in the pump or ceramic chambers of my secondary filtration for once. I plain out could not find him. Since they are escape artists I was looking under the tank's stand, couch, easy chair, etc.. No sign of the beastie. Gave up and sat down. Looked over and the creep is out and swimming around in the front of the tank. I think the pest was laughing at me... He must have been chilling under the plants at the back of the tank digesting the three or four meal worms he chowed down a couple of days ago... The plants are pretty thick so I suppose that he could have been buried in them to where I couldn't see him but I even hunted with a flashlight. I still don't really know where he was for sure but he is back.

Next water change I'm gonna tie the danged thing in a knot. That will teach him!

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stephen boots
Microsoft MVP 2004 - 2020
"Life's always an adventure with computers!"