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Featured: Saltwater Aquariums for Beginners |
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 Did you ever wonder why those beautiful fish tanks you see in the movies look so much better than your freshwater tank?
The answer lies in the fish! Saltwater or marine aquariums are made to house tropical fish that you find around reefs in the ocean. These fish come in shapes sizes and colors that make a dramatic impact. The freshwater fish simply cannot compete with these natural beauties.
If you want these same gorgeous fish in your living room, you can setup and maintain a saltwater tank with only a bit more effort than your freshwater tank. They key is to choose hardy fish that will last as saltwater fish are much more fragile and more expensive than their freshwater counterparts.
Some hardy fish you may want to consider for a saltwater tank include damsels, mollies and clownfish.
Damsels are probably the most hardy fish and should certainly be considered for a new tank as well as for beginners. These fish are fairly inexpensive, are not finicky eaters and can withstand poor water conditions better than any other marine fish. Although they are not the most colorful of fish, they are certainly your best bet until you become experienced and have a stable tank. The only caveat is that some can be aggressive so you should limit yourself to 2 per tank.
Mollies, the same fish that you use in freshwater tanks, can be acclimated to salt water tanks and are quite hardy. These fish are very inexpensive and a great way to start off your marine tank. If you buy mollies in the pet store from a freshwater tank, acclimate them by dripping salt water into the bag over a period of 8 hours or so - removing excess water when the bag gets too full and slowly increasing the salinity.
While damsels and mollies may not be the most beautiful fish, the clownfish is certainly a colorful and interesting fish for your tank. These fish are fairly hardy but a bit more difficult to acclimate to a tank so you may not want to use them as starter fish. Clownfish are territorial but will only be aggressive with other clowns and are good for a community tank. Although clowns do like to live around a seas anemone, the will do fine without one which is good for the beginner since the anemone is fairly difficult to keep.
While starting off your tank with these 3 types of fish can be fun and exciting, you will eventually want to move on to other fish. Other fish you may want to try include hawk fishes, grammas, dotty backs, wrasses and basslets. The fish that are more difficult to keep and should probably be avoided include seahorses, butterfly fish, blue ribbon eels, stonefish, and mandarin fish.
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Chris and Cindy Curtis are the owners of C-Double Web Development and have been doing web design and development since 1997. They began offering affordable web hosting and design in 1999 when they started their own business. http://www.c-double.com
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Like people, dogs need to be healthy to enjoy life. Dogs are our friends, companions and often our guardians, but since they are also totally dependent on us for their well-being, it is our responsibility to look after them properly.
One of the most prevalent 'diseases' in dogs these days is one that also affects humans. Obesity. A fat dog is an unhealthy dog and is likely to suffer from arthritis and heart failure. Remember, in the wild dogs eat fresh meat that they have killed themselves. They also eat certain types of grass and may eat wild fruits like berries if these grow in their natural habitat.
Milk, custard and cake are the worst things you can give your grown dog and, though a puppy may benefit from the calcium in milk, there are commercial milk products available that are especially formulated for a puppy's needs.
Dry dog food, or kibble as it is sometimes called, is said to have all the nutrients that your dog will need for health, but the dearer brands are often better. Dogs fed on cheaper brands may constantly chew grass to supplement whatever is missing from their diet. Tinned food can be given as a treat.
A healthy dog should have a smooth, shining coat, clear eyes and a moist nose. Its breath should not smell foul. It should be slender, though not thin enough to see its ribs sticking out. If your dog's breath is disgusting, it could be due to the tartar on its teeth. Chewing on a big bone will help to clean your dog's teeth.
Regular worming will also help to keep your pet in top condition. Shots for distemper, heartworm, parvovirus and kennel cough are a must. Kennel cough is not likely to be a problem unless the dog is kept on cement. Your vet will need to administer the shots, but you can worm the dog yourself. The tablets should be pushed down the side of the dog's mouth until he swallows. If this is too difficult, crush the tablet into some tinned dog food and offer when the dog is hungry. Watch to make sure he eats it all.
Parvovirus breaks down the digestive system and eventually affects the heart. It tends to come in outbreaks when people forget to have their animals inoculated. Symptoms include bloody stool and the animal is quickly unable to move and in obvious pain. It almost always fatal. Luckily, it is not transmitted to humans.
Symptoms of distemper include runny eyes and a dry nose. It is rather like flu in humans.
A dog with worms may have a poor appetite, and will often - though not always - look to be in poor health with a dry coat that is harsh to the touch. If your dog drags itself along the ground in a sitting position, suspect worms immediately. Worms can sometimes be seen hanging from the anal passage. The problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible, because worms are easily transmitted to humans.
Fleas, which will happily jump from dogs to humans, can be another problem. These bloodsuckers can actually kill a tiny puppy, simply through blood loss. Puppies too young to wear a flea collar may be washed in a suitable preparation from the vet. Pat it dry afterwards, or keep it in a warm place so it doesn't get cold. Always be sure to keep kennels and yard clean to reduce the flea problem. If they get out of hand, you may need to spray all bedding and surrounding areas to kill the fleas and their eggs.
If you live in a tick prone area, be sure to keep a tick collar on your dog at all times. Mark the renewal date on the calendar so you don't forget to renew it. Your pet's life may depend on it! Grass ticks cause itchy lumps that can become infected when scratched. If not removed quickly, the paralysis tick can cause death in three to five days.
If your dog seems to suddenly have weak back legs and falls over often, inspect it immediately for a tick and get it to the vet as soon as possible. Luckily, the tick vaccine works well and quickly and can save a dog that looks like it is gasping its last breath.
With attention to these few details, your pet should live a long and happy life, rewarding you with years of fun and companionship.
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Chris and Cindy Curtis are the owners of C-Double Web Development and have been doing web design and development since 1997. They began offering affordable web hosting and design in 1999 when they started their own business. http://www.c-double.com
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Member: Keeping Chickens As Pets |
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There are many different types of hens. The silky bantam hens are prolific layers - some even lay eggs with a pretty, pale green shell. They make quiet, quaint pets for the children.
Other hens are larger and more robust and come in a variety of colors; black, brown, white or speckled. They all eat bugs, snails and slugs - good news if you are trying to reduce the number of these pests!
Did you know that chooks (hens) are able to eat the Sydney funnel web spider without any ill affects? How good is that? They make your yard a safer place to be and double as a pet for the children...
Chickens can be bought as "day olds" (under a week old) or "week olds" (over a week). You can buy them fully grown too, but they make better pets when bought young. Make sure you buy from a reputable breeder who can tell what sex they are. The neighbors will not be pleased to be woken at dawn by a rooster crowing.
A young chicken will need to be kept inside where it will be warm, until it is older. A newspaper lined cardboard carton with sawdust or straw in the bottom is fine. A day old chicken will benefit from the extra warmth of a pretend mother. To make this, push many strips of fabric through a strong piece of cardboard and hang it so it dangles to the floor of the box. This is a good job for the children. Chicky will run straight into it and be perfectly content. Alternatively, you could use a new mop head.
To make a drinking trough that the chicken will not fall into or tip over, take an empty food can (tin) and hammer a hole through each side just under the rim. Fill with water and place a saucer over it. Invert the whole quickly and you will see that water trickles out of the holes, but stops when the level rises to the rim of the saucer. It's a fascinating experiment for the children. Another tin to hold the special chicken growing mash is all you will need. Of course, keep the bottom of the box clean and dry.
When the chicken is grown up, change the food to laying pellets and gradually introduce chopped kitchen scraps. It will eat what it wants and leave the rest to be discarded with the soiled sawdust. If you have a garden, this is excellent fertilizer.
The hen will need a warm, dry place to live outside. An old aviary is fine, but it's not much trouble to hammer in some stakes and wrap wire mesh around them. This will keep the hen safe from stray dogs while you are away. If it flies out, cut the long wing feathers back to about half, on one wing only.
This will not hurt the hen, but will prevent it from flying.
Remember that a hen is actually a bird and it is natural for birds to roost in trees. Make a perch for your hen by poking an old broom handle through the mesh of its cage under the roof, but about one metre (3 feet) from the ground. Check on whether your hen is actually roosting. Some hens need to be taught. Dusk is the right time to gently pick up the hen and place it on the perch. It will soon realize what it is supposed to do.
A small drum, box or even a dog kennel filled with straw will make an ideal nest for your hen to lay eggs. If you use a larger dog kennel, it can double as a nest and a night shelter too, with the simple addition of the perch. Or if you have a garden shed, the hen will not mind sharing with a few rakes and spades. If you live in an area where the winters are snowy, it will be best to keep your hen in the barn or shed.
As with any hobby, take your time, enjoy and learn along the way!
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Member: Hop to It! - Rabbits Make Great Pets |
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Want a great pet that's cute, cuddly and won't grow from a cute little ball of fur to a 100 pound beast?
Then consider a rabbit!
Here are just a few reasons why you should consider a rabbit for a pet.
1) Plenty of choices
There are 45 different breeds of rabbits recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA).
Do you want a small rabbit? Consider a Netherland Dwarf, Polish or Jersey Wooly.
Do you want a large rabbit? Then choose a Flemish Giant that can weigh up to 20 pounds.
Are you attracted to the “lop” eared rabbits? The Holland Lop is a popular choice because of its smaller size, but you can also choose from a Mini Lop, French Lop, American Fuzzy Lop or even an English Lop. An English Lop's ears can be up to 24 inches long.
Are you picky about color? Rabbits come in a variety of colors. You can undoubtedly find one or more colors that will appeal to your tastes!
Do you want a rabbit with a lot of fur? Then choose one of the Angora breeds, or a Jersey Wooly. But be prepared to spend extra time grooming the rabbit!
So the choices are endless, and for many of us, the choices are hard. Like the potato chip commercial says, “You can't choose just one”!
2) Rabbits are quiet
It's guaranteed: You'll never have neighbors calling you to quiet down your rabbit. It just won't happen.
3) Rabbits can live indoors or outdoors
Obviously, there are rabbits that live in the wild, but they can adapt to living inside as well.
If you keep rabbits outside, you need to make sure they have adequate shelter and are well-protected from predators. These include the neighborhood dogs and cats that may wander through your yard.
They need to be protected from the elements and have plenty of ventilation. When hot weather comes, you need to take special measures to keep your rabbit safe because hot weather bothers them more than cold weather.
Many people keep their rabbits inside, and that's fine as well. If you keep your rabbit inside, you'll need to spend some time preparing your home for your new friend.
Be sure to keep electrical wires away from your rabbit. Rabbits love to chew, and those wires are tempting...and lethal.
Rabbits can be litter box trained, and are very clean animals. So feel free to keep them inside if this is what you want to do.
4) Rabbits are fun to have around
Just watching them play in their cages is great fun, but let them out, hold them and pet them, and you'll be hooked!
5) Rabbits are extremely cute
Have you ever seen an ugly rabbit?
With rabbits, the babies are very cute and adorable, and they stay cute and adorable when they grow up.
Now I like dogs, but so many of them are cute as puppies, then grow into huge ugly dogs.
That won't happen with rabbits. They'll stay cute their whole life.
6) They can be low cost to keep
Rabbits are a low cost pet. Shots at the vet are unnecessary and you can easily take care of your rabbit yourself. If you care for your rabbit correctly, there will be no need to visit a vet at all.
So, pick out a rabbit for your very own to take home and love today!
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