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by Jed Borr
How to check aquarium water
Today, aquariums have advanced to the point that the tanks are self-sufficient. Water conditions are important to check, since in each area of the world, water is different. In fact, some area waters are more contaminated than other areas. The types of fish factors into water, as well plants play a role too. Tetras is a type of fish, which naturally habitats in rainwater, or when in aquariums the fish enjoys soft waters. Therefore, when you test waters for these fish make sure that the waters are soft.
Cichlid is another species of fish that prefer harder water. The specimens came from the Rift Valleys of Africa, which contains dissolved salt. The salt was available from natural sources, such as lakes and rock lining.
How do I avoid hardening the water?
If you want hard waters, then do not add limestone. Limestone should be avoided, especially if you intend to use it as rocks or gravel.
How can I tell the condition of waters after testing pH?
After you test the waters, pH readings should give you a figure. If the number is below seven, then the water is acidy. If the figure is higher than seven are then the water is alkalinity or alkaline. The neutral pH figure is pH7. If the water conditions are below or higher than this figure then your water is too alkalinity and/or acidity. If you maintain a correct temperature and balance of water, your fish and plants will live long and healthy.
Tip: Red Nosed Tetra prefers freedom to swim and density of plants.
If you have test water keep in mind that tap water has pH7 or pH8 reading usually. If the gauge reads higher or else lower, it means that the water is too alkalinity or acidy: Keep in mind that discus from the symphysodon aequifasciata specimen enjoy acidy waters. If you have cichlids from Rift Valley, these fish prefer alkaline.
How do I test water?
You will need to purchase a test kit. You can purchase test kits online or preferably at your local pet store. Of course, you can purchase the kits online, but if you are not familiar with the types, it is best to purchase at a pet store. The test kits will provide you a read out of chemicals in the water as well, such as chlorine. There should not be chlorine in the waters; however, tap water may have such chemicals. Water conditioners are ideal. When you setup your tank and each time you refill the tank you should use water conditioners.
Tip: If you have a heater in the tank, keep the volume low.
Living Room:
Typically, it is not recommended that you locate your aquarium in a living room. Since most living rooms are too warm, the fish will feel agitated. However, if you have tropical fish as well as plants you will have fewer problems. Plants and fish from the tropical regions tend to adapt well to higher water or room temperature. Using a heater in the tank can help you preserve your fish, yet you want to keep the heater on low volume. Maintaining a volume of heat will also prolong the life of your heater.
If you are heating your aquarium, take the easy way out. Some heaters include heaterstats, which will help you regulate heat. Heaterstats are thermostatically controlled devices, which fix to the corners of an aquarium. You can use suction cups to mount the heater. The heater has a small lamp, which will click on each time the heater is activated.
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About the Author
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If your pet attacked someone, you could owe tens of thousands of dollars -- or more -- and your insurer might not pay up. You could even land in jail.
The Santa Rosa, Calif., case was horrifying: A 90-pound American bulldog attacked a woman walking her own dog to a school bus stop to meet her children, biting off her nose.
The bulldog's owner insisted the animal had never bitten anyone or even behaved aggressively the previous times it had escaped from her yard. That didn't do much to sway the judge.
The owner was sentenced to four months in jail and 100 hours of community service.
The victim, who endured several surgeries to rebuild her face, was later awarded $900,000 in a civil settlement. Her husband and children were awarded $33,000 each, for a total settlement of $1 million -- the upper limit of the dog owner's insurance policy.
Clearly, this was a severe case, both in the intensity of the attack and in the consequences for everyone concerned -- including the bulldog, which was euthanized.
Understand your risks
But all dog owners need to understand their potential liability should their animal bite, maul or, heaven forbid, kill someone. A single bite could cost you tens of thousands of dollars -- a lawsuit hundreds of thousands -- and your insurance coverage might not apply. If the attack is especially serious, you could even go to jail.
Consider:
Dog bites make up one-third of all homeowner insurance liability claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute, and cost insurers $356 million in 2007.
The average cost of a dog-bite claim was $24,511 in 2007, the institute found. That's 11.5% more than the year before and 28% more than in 2003.
More than 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs annually, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly a million of them need medical attention. Some die. Last year, 32 people in the U.S. were killed by dogs, according to Los Angeles attorney Kenneth Phillips, who specializes in dog-bite cases.
Insurer drops dog owner
An insurance company cancels a policy after learning that the homeowner has a bull mastiff.A few fatal attacks receive national attention, such as the case of a San Francisco woman killed outside her apartment door in 2001 by her neighbors' two Presa Canarios. The married attorneys who owned the dogs were convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and the wife was additionally convicted of second-degree murder.
"Because of the death of Diane Whipple, there was a raising of consciousness" about the problem of vicious dogs, Phillips said. "That case was so notorious. . . . Here are two people (the dog owners) who supposedly have brains in their heads, and they were so stupid when it came to those dogs."
Prison sentences aren't the only sign that tolerance for biting dogs is waning. Some insurers have reacted to the rising cost of dog-bite claims by refusing to cover certain breeds. The ones most often blacklisted include:
Pit bulls.
Dobermans.
Rottweilers.
Akitas.
Chows.
Wolf hybrids.
Other insurers provide coverage for all breeds, but most change the rules once a dog has bitten someone. Then the companies might demand a higher premium or require the owner to sign a waiver that excludes the dog from coverage, leaving the owner uncovered in case of a dog-bite claim or lawsuit.
Legal standards for owner liability also vary. Some states have "one bite" laws that limit liability for people whose animals bite someone for the first time. Most hold owners responsible for any damage their animals do, whether or not there was a history of attacks or aggression.
And criminal charges, although relatively rare, can be filed if an attack was particularly severe and the owner is judged to have been unreasonably careless or negligent.
Pet Loss: 5 Ways to Prevent it from Happening to You
Author: Derek Wood
These days there are too many ways to lose our pets. We have to worry about dog snatchers, hit-and-run drivers, another neighborhood dog, animal control, or the accidental swallowing of household items, like a needle. And while no one likes to think that we could ever lose our pets, there are a handful of things we can do to help prevent some of these from happening.
Take care of your pets
By taking proper care of your pet you lesson the risk that anyone will have cause to take your pet from you. This means properly feeding, watering and housing your pets. Do not have 10 dogs living in one dog house. Make sure their living area is clean and free of feces and filth. If you have too many pets to care for, cannot afford them, or don't want them, then do them and yourself a favor and give them up for adoption. Do not be the next person we watch on Animal Planet being raided by the animal control officer.
Train your pet
Training your pet to come when called on a reliable basis is a requirement for keeping your pets out of trouble. This does not replace a leash law. If you are going to walk your dog on busy streets, then use a leash. Do not think that you dog could not ever disobey you. The desire to chase a rabbit might easily outweigh the desire to come to you. This training will also help to prevent any unwanted problems with other people. In this day of "suing happiness", why risk fines or worse because your dog jumped on someone.
Supervise your pets
No matter how well trained your pet is, when they are unsupervised they can and will get into things. They are curious natural explorers. They will find twig, sticks and anything that resembles one to chew on. If you left your favorite tools outside, these become a risk to your pet. Remember to look at things around your yard from a pet's perspective. They are low to the ground, sniff for bugs, chew on rocks and dig in the dirt. When they do this, they are looking for stuff to keep themselves occupied with. Make sure what they find is not a hazard to them.
Pet Proof your house
This goes hand in hand with supervising your pets, but is quite commonly missed or done incorrectly We always assume that since the dog never jumps on the counter when we are home that they will never do it when we are not. Well, you're wrong. If you have a dog that is large enough to reach stuff, then move that stuff, or risk losing it to the unsupervised curious dog. Pet proofing means eliminate all potential threats to your pet. Take away anything they can chew or swallow, remove things they can knock over or break, and cover anything that has sharp edges. Take the same precautions with your pets as you would a newborn baby.
Get pet insurance coverage
Many better insurance companies, and online companies like VPI Pet Insurance, offer direct pet insurance to you. These insurance carriers will cover your pet for a host of issues ranging from having your pet spayed or neutered to cancer treatments or surgeries. There is no way to know ahead of time if your pet will develop some medical issue that could cost you thousands of dollars.
Because your pets can be lost in so many manners, it is absolutely crucial that you take what steps you can to protect your pets. You are not trying to protect just from harm, but from other people, other animals and the ever rising costs of pet care. You want the best for your pet because they are a member of the family. Do the best you can for your loved ones, including your pets, and they should be with you for many years to come.
The Meaning Behind Pet Charms
By coolpet boutique
For many of us, pampering our pets by giving them meaningful gifts is deemed second nature. More and more pet lovers are seeking unique items to present their beloved companions as they tire of the conventional dog collars, cat bells and other common pet paraphernalia found in run-of-the-mill pet stores. For this reason, pet charms are becoming favorable gifts for pets. Pet charms bear a host of special meanings so whether you choose to purchase some for your own pets or present it to a fellow pet lover as a gift, your pet will be the center of attention wherever you go.
Feng shui pet charms are very popular among staunch feng shui practitioners and those who are casual believers in this concept. Most owners elect to buy attractive pet charms bearing symbols of the dragon and phoenix in the hope that their pets will be blessed with good luck, fame and recognition. Pet charms carrying symbols of the Chinese bamboo will not only bestow fortune upon your canine and feline friends but also upon yourself. A majority of female pet owners are fans of pink pet charms especially those imprinted with flowers such as iris, peony and magnolia. Understandably, this is because both the color and flowers will attract an aura of love and considerable wealth respectively to both the pets and their owners. And those who wish to have their four legged friends blessed with long and healthy lives will have them don pet charms with star symbols on them as the fire element-based symbol will generate energy and protect your pets from harm.
Other types of pet charms that are quickly becoming preferred gifts these days include the four leaf clover charm. You might find yourself enjoying good luck if your pet wears this charm just like carrying a five leaf clover pet charm will prolong the relationship between you and your furry companion. Strong believers of good luck charms will want to purchase an ID tag with a symbol of the Hamsa. The Hamsa is a palm-shaped Judaic symbol with Middle Eastern origins which can protect your pets from forces of evil. The ID tags bearing the Hamsa symbol are most often made from metals such as iron or gold. This is to ensure that the reflective surface will bounce off evil aura directed at your pet as well as ward off elements of misfortune.
Conclusively, whether you choose to believe in pet charms or not, you can still buy them for your pets because they make unusually good pet accessories. This is your chance to break away from the norm, so do consider letting your pets wear a unique pet charm or two today!
Keeping Your Kitten Free of Parasites
By CS Swarens
If you have recently added a cute little kitten to your household, you certainly want to make sure it leads a healthy and happy life. As such, there are several things you should watch out for in order to make certain your kitten doesn't become ill. Namely, there are several different parasites that can make your kitten ill. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to prevent the parasites from causing harm to your kitten.
Ticks
Ticks can attach themselves to your kitten and cause infection while sucking away its blood. There are several oral and topical medications, however, that you can use to help prevent tick infestations. If you do find a tick on your kitten, however, you can remove it with a special tick removal instrument or tweezers. Just be certain to remove the tick carefully so you remove its entire body and head. In addition, you should either burn the tick, rip it in half, or dump it in a bottle of alcohol in order to make certain it is dead.
Fleas
It is important to take steps to prevent fleas rather than trying to get rid of them once they have established themselves on your pet and in your home. In fact, once they have infested your home, you may need to call in a professional to get rid of them. By using oral and topical medications, however, you can minimize fleas and prevent them from becoming a problem. When selecting flea medication, be certain to select a product that is safe for a kitten.
Heartworms
Heartworm can be transmitted to your kitten through mosquitoes, which means your kitten is at a greater risk of becoming infected during the warmer months. By giving your kitten preventative medication each year, however, you can reduce its chances of becoming infected.
Intestinal Parasites
There are a number of different intestinal parasites that can infect your kitten. These include:
• Coccidia • Giardia • Hookworms • Roundworms
It is generally necessary to deworm kittens, as many are born with roundworms. After the initial deworming, it may be necessary to deworm the kitten on a regular basis. By treating your kitten early, you can reduce the chances of your kitten becoming seriously ill.
Prevention Through Vaccinations and Nutrition
In addition to using oral and topical medications to prevent parasites, it is also a good idea to get your kitten vaccinated. There are several vaccinations available to help prevent parasites as well as other illnesses that commonly affect kittens, including feline leukemia, gastrointestinal viruses, rabies and respiratory infections. These vaccinations generally need to be started when the kitten is six to eight weeks old and then given every three to four weeks until the kitten is sixteen years old.
Proper nutrition can also help to prevent illness and is particularly important for kittens. If your kitten does not receive the proper nutrition, it may not grow properly and can experience nutritional illnesses and developmental problems - all of which can be prevented with proper diet.
About the Author
CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065
For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com
Research over 45 cat breeds at http://www.findapetonline.com/cat_breeds_a_z.html
5 Minute Guide To Choosing A Pet ID Tag
By D. Marie Ratliff
Buying a Pet ID tag is like buying insurance - you do so with the devout wish that you're never going to need it. The "possible cost" of not having a pet ID tag is more expensive than the "actual cost" of buying the pet tag itself.
The type of pet identification tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively choosing a collar tag because it's cheap or cute often proves to be unwise, long-term.
Consider the following before purchasing any pet id tag:
1.What is the level of risk to your pet?
Lost pets are certainly common - we've all seen "Lost Dog!" signs tacked around town, or dead pets lying by the side of the road. If your pet is a master at escaping the fence, or a breed of dog that cannot resist following a scent, or a young pet that's full of energy, or a new pet that isn't properly trained, the risk of a lost pet is high.
But losing your pet isn't the only risk.
Some pets are stolen. A pet thief may snatch Fifi or Fido in hopes of getting a reward for its return, or to use in dog fights (even small or gentle dogs are susceptible - they can be used as "bait"), or for use in cult rituals.
And what is the risk to your pet if something happens to you, its owner?
If you're a senior adult with a pet, particularly if you live alone or are in ill health, there's a good chance that at some point someone else will need to care for your furry friend, perhaps with little notice. And anyone can be struck by tragedy or disaster which leaves you unable to care for your companion.
In this instance, will your pet's new or temporary caregiver know that Rover hates cats, or that Fluffy needs medication, or even whether or not Max is housetrained? A pet ID tag that contains more than your name and phone number would be extremely helpful.
2.What level of risk are you comfortable with?
Some pets are simply more important to their owners, and the risk of losing that particular animal warrants a specific, more expensive type of pet ID tag. Risk is proportionate to value.
Note that there is more than one way to assess the value of your pet. It may be monetary (a rare purebred dog) or functional (a guide dog or herding dog).
But for most pet owners, the emotional attachment they have to a particular pet determines its value. For many people, cats or dogs are family members, dearly loved and impossible to replace.
3.Based on your answers to the two previous questions, what do you need in a pet ID tag?
Pet ID tags come in varying shapes, sizes and materials and hold varying amounts of information. Some contain logos or artwork, too. Most pet ID tags are designed to be hung from a collar.
At a bare minimum, a pet ID tag should contain the name, address and phone number of the pet owner in a durable, legible format. Plastic tags are lightweight but easily chewed. Stainless steel tags are durable and don't rust or fade. These traditional types of tags can purchased from any veterinarian or pet store. They're inexpensive but the amount of information they hold is limited to the size of the tag.
Fortunately, you have many more options in pet tags these days, such as microchipping, tattooing, digital display tags, pet registry web sites and voice recorded pet id tags.
One of the newest entries in the pet identification market is the high-tech USB drive that hangs from your pet's collar (or is attached to their cage) and which holds 64MB of data (including complete medical and diet information). The tiny USB drive is encased in a sturdy plastic case and can be plugged into any computer, where it is easily updated and easy to print sections for sharing with your vet or pet sitter.
No matter what pet ID tag you choose, making sure your pet wears some type of pet identification tag brings peace of mind that far outweighs its costs.
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