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By: Lisa Chelenza - CapitalNews9
Here are some tips to keep your pets safe this Halloween:
Don't leave your pets out in the yard on Halloween or the night before. There are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen, even killed pets. If you have cats, it's best to keep them inside all year long, but it is especially important to keep them inside as Halloween approaches. The same goes for dogs and even the sweetest dog could bite an innocent trick-or-treater in a scary costume if the animal feels threatened. So it's best to keep them inside.
Tips to keep your pet safe this Halloween
Halloween is an exciting time for your entire family including your pets. Here are some helpful precautions to keep your pets safe this Halloween in this edition of Pet Pointers.
Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets. Chocolate is dangerous for dogs and could kill them and candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.
Be careful of pets around a jack-o-lantern lit with a candle. Pets may knock them over and cause a fire. Cats and Kittens are especially at risk of being burned around lit candles. It's not uncommon for a tail or a whisker to be singed. This year consider a faux jack-o-lantern. No carving or candle necessary.
Keep your pets in a separate room when answering the door. Sometimes strangers in strange costumes can be scary for a dog. Especially hats, wigs, masks and sun glasses. Watch out for open doors too, so your cat or dog doesn't dart out as you pass out candy.
Program your vet's emergency number in your phone. Having your vet's emergency phone number programmed in your phone is the easiest thing you can do to prepare for an accident any time of year.
Keep candy and other treats out of your pet's reach. Crinkling paper and yummy smells can be very tempting to cats, dogs, ferrets and even birds.
Andy West - American Chronicle
If you´re tired of constantly having to get up and open and close the door to let your pets in and out, patio pet doors are an easy and convenient solution.
Pet doors are available for cats and dogs of just about any size. Most of these doors have some kind of vinyl, weather-resistant flap that´s easy enough for the animal to nudge through but heavy enough to keep the weather outside. Electronic access systems, linked via radio frequency to your pet´s collar, help keep uninvited guests out. These units don´t even have to be near a wall outlet because, in some cases, they run off of a 9-volt battery.
Often used by cat owners to keep raccoons out, the electronic door locks and unlocks when the animal gets near the door. This way, raccoons, squirrels and stray cats cannot get in. Raccoons are quite common in suburban areas, as they can smell cat and dog food that´s been left outside.
One electronic cat door uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags for up to eight cats, allowing the owner to control the access of each tagged cat. This model, like some others, had a timer to restrict access at certain times of the day. This option comes in handy if you don´t want your cats prowling around outside at night.
The pet doors range from tool-free set ups for the typical patio dog doors that everyone has seen, to semi-permanent ones for wooden doors or brick walls. Some pet doors are designed for window installation. These are called ´sash window inserts´ and install like a room air conditioning unit. This is a good option for pet owners who own cats and dogs. This is a cost-effective way of letting the cat get out while restricting the dog to the inside or outside.
They also come in all kinds of styles to match just about any decor. Price will depend on what kind of features and installation you want. A custom French-door with electronic locks will be more expensive than a sliding patio-door style set up. If you go the custom door route, the larger the opening the more expensive the door will be.
Speaking of size, it´s always important to measure your dog or cat from the shoulders to the ground and make allowances for growth and pregnancy. Also, consider the number of pets you have and if they tend to race in or out at once. A larger pet door would be a better choice in this case. Also, consider ramps if you have older pets.
By DEBORAH WOOD - Newhouse News Service / Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Living with pets isn’t cheap. Everything from the basics (food and veterinary care) to the little pleasures in life (toys and the occasional indulgent purchase) seems to go up in price almost every day.
But put in a little time and some extra thought and you can save hundreds of dollars from your regular pet expenses every year — without sacrificing a whisker of quality. It can even be fun to find the bargains.
Here are some ideas to try:
Shop discount stores: You may already be going to Ross Dress for Less to, well, dress for less. Check out the pet section, and you’ll see an array of items, ranging from the practical to the playful. Their pet bedding, dishes and collars sell for about 40 percent of the manufacturer’s suggested price.
Tuesday Morning, a discount store that mostly carries home decor items, also has an extensive pet section. This chain often has quality brands at bargain prices. I’ve been looking for a pet carrier that I could sling over my shoulder and recently found a Sherpa-brand bag that would retail for $70 for $19.99.
Even the dollar stores sometimes have good-quality pet toys — it’s worth checking them out if you’re in the neighborhood.
The trick to discount store shopping is to look carefully for damage to the merchandise. Make sure it’s good quality — and something you need. Even if you’re spending only $5, that’s wasted money if you never use the pink leash or the princess doggie pillow.
Shop clearance sections: The best time to shop is at the end of a season. Pets are happy to play with toys that sport Santas in January. Now is a great time to find summer apparel for pets, and January will be a fabulous time to get a sale coat. Don’t feel guilty when you walk past the spendy stuff and go to the bargain bins.
Shop unexpected places: Sometimes the least expensive place to find pet supplies is the human section of a store. Baby gates (which keep animals or children confined to a room) often sell for dollars less at stores that cater to babies than they would at pet stores. Supplements (such as essential oils or glucosamine) often are less expensive in the natural food section of the grocery store than at pet stores.
Thrift stores are a great place. Many kids toys — available for a dollar or two — make wonderful pet toys. Some of my friends buy inexpensive squeakers and sew them into the toys they buy at Goodwill.
Urban dwellers usually pass by farm and feed stores. That’s a mistake if you’re a dog lover. They offer a much larger range of sizes for big dogs for half the price of the pet store. If you have a really huge dog like a Great Dane, go to the horse section and get a foal blanket.
Rotate toys: Sometimes the best toys are already in your overflowing toy basket. Most dogs and cats have piles of toys they never use. Pick up two-thirds of them and put them away. Every couple of weeks, rotate one-third of the toys back out on the floor. Your pets will feel the fun of new toys — and you’ll have the fun of giving them something — without spending a penny.
Save on food: When it comes to food, you don’t want to sacrifice on quality. You probably do want to reduce quantity. Because most pets are overweight, reducing their portions will save money on food bills — and on veterinary bills down the line.
Good-quality food actually costs little more than poor quality food per portion (because animals need to eat less good food), so don’t skimp on the good stuff. Sometimes discount grocery stores carry premium brands; it’s worth keeping an eye out for those bargains.
Save on veterinary bills: About a third of our pet expenses go to our animal’s health care.
Ask your veterinarian’s office about discounts. Many veterinarians offer them once a year (usually in February) for dental work. Some celebrate “senior pet month” by discounting the cost of routine blood work and exams for older pets. Also, see if your vet will give a discount if you bring in multiple pets at one time.
If your pet gets medication that’s also taken by humans, you might be able to get big savings by asking your veterinarian to write a prescription to your local drugstore. Many offer deeply discounted prescription rates.
It may also be possible to save money on expensive flea medications. If you have multiple dogs or cats, buy larger size tubes of flea medications and ask the vet to provide you with dosages and a syringe so that you can measure it for each pet. Because my dogs are very small, I was able to purchase a single dose of large-dog-sized flea medication and measure out the small-dog-sized dosage. It saved about $30.
Pet sitting: If you have multiple dogs, it may be less expensive (and nicer for the dogs) to hire a reliable person to spend the night rather than board your pets. A good place to look for qualified people is at your veterinarian’s office or your doggie day care. Also, you can find licensed and bonded pet sitters (including those who will stay overnight) at various Web sites.
Do it yourself: Clever cooks and crafters are finding the fun of do-it-yourself recipes and toys. Search for dog biscuit recipes on the Internet. Consider making your own dog toys using knots you find online and rope from a home-improvement store.
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Some people just won't leave Fifi at home.
A woman named Janine Franceschi and her Irish setter, Beau, have traveled 5,000 miles nationwide to promote Francheschi's Web site, luxurypaw.com, "the only collection of luxury, pet-friendly hotels on the Web today."
(www.monaco-seattle.com)Wednesday, they'll be in Seattle, holding a press conference at the prestigious Hotel Monaco.
Didn't know the Monaco was pet friendly? They treat pets better than most hotels treat people. For starters, the hotel offers sitting and grooming services, pet massages (just $55 for 45 minutes!), a six-item pet menu -- including dessert -- and monogrammed dog coats, so Beverly Hills Rover doesn't catch cold in this awful weather.
Oh, and to those who really did leave Fifi at home, the Monaco hands over Guppy Love, a complimentary goldfish, free of charge.
Here's the Web page the Monaco devoted entirely to assuring potential clients that they can continue to spoil their pets within their walls. And here's a PDF with even more gory details.
P.S. -- The Hotel Monaco is the only Seattle hotel listed in the LuxuryPaw directory. Watch for a "paw print" Honda Element. According to the Web site, that's what Franceschi's driving on the tour.
Fox News
The years a British woman spent with her pet parakeet 35 years ago has led to a debilitating respiratory disease.
Carol Dawson, 58, was diagnosed with allergic alveolitis, also known as bird fancier’s lung, which has left her hooked up to oxygen 24 hours a day, the Daily Mail reported Wednesday.
Dawson grew up with parakeets and kept one up until 1973 when she was forced to give up her bird “Ricky” due to breathing problems.
“At first I just thought it was asthma because it runs in the family,” she told the Mail. “I went to the doctor's time after time and they gave me inhalers. But they didn't work.”
She was finally diagnosed with allergic alveolitis in 2000.
The condition, caused by inhaling spores in bird droppings, is generally not serious, but in rare cases can lead to severe respiratory problems.
“Bird fancier's lung is a progressive disease that causes irreparable damage unless it is caught in early stages,” Dr. Jas Palmer, consultant transplant physician at Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire told the Mail.
Buying A Parakeet
Author: Bart LeToad
Parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus) are one of the most common birds purchased as a pet bird. These delightful pets are usually friendly and relativly easy to handle. Although they can sometimes be difficult to understand, with a little hard work they have been known to mimic our sounds.
Parakeet Facts:
Life span: 10-15 years (up to 20).Origin: Australia. Colors: the normal wild coloration is green with black bars on the wings, back and head.
Determing Sex: The area around the nostirls is called the cere. You can use this as a way to distinguish between males and females. Mature females will have a beige colored cere. Males will have a blue tint to their cere.
Temperment: Known for being a very doscile and friendly bird, they are easily tamed if you aquire them while young. I've found that having more than one parakeet resulted in the parakeets being hard to handle and less vocal. When I have just one parakeet, the bird looked to me for interaction and was much easier to handle and actually could say a few words. I placed a parakeet mirror in the bird cage and was amazed at how much my parakeet played with his own image in the mirror.
Choosing a Parakeet
I highly recommend you choose a young bird that has been handled regularly and has been hand fed. The extra costs you experience buying a hand raised bird will be worth it in the long run. While their is nothing wrong with a store bought parakeet, my experiences have taught me that they are slower to adjust to being handled.
Use the same techniques you would use when buying a pet dog or pet cat. Look for a parakeet that is active and has shining and smooth feathers. A bird that is inactive and its feathers are puffed up may be a sign it is sick. Take note of the birds feet. Make sure the scales are smooth and the nails are in good shape. Don't forget to inspect the birds beak for any problems.
Parakeets are playful and active and do well in large cages. We always kept our parakeets on top of our refrigerator. We bought a cage that would fill the entire top of the frig. Add a couple of rod perches and maybe a bird swing along with your water and feed bowls. Even with a large cage, parakeets need a little time outside of the cage as well. Letting them out once in a while to stretch their wings is a good idea. The exercise is very benefical for your pet bird.
What to Give to Cat Lovers This Christmas
by James Winsoar
Christmas in just around the corner, and what best time to express your thoughtfulness to your loved ones and give them something that they would cherish for a long time than this season. But despite the wide array of merchandise displayed in the stores, it is still not easy to find something that could tickle their fancy and at the same time practical enough to use every day. If you're still confused, just think about what they love to do --- their hobbies and interests --- and start from there. If a friend or a family member loves pets, especially cats, how about giving them the revolutionized Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap! Or you can even get one for your own pet!
This revolutionary product, made especially for your pet cats, uses a pre-existing microchip that will instantly recognize your cats. What's good about this innovation is that it doesn't require a special microchip because you can still use the existing ID chip implant. This means you will not have to spend a few more bucks on another microchip that serves basically the same function. If you own more than one cat, don't worry because this amazing product lets you program up to 12 cat microchips. This product is mostly recommended for owners of cats with Identichip, Bayer Tracer, and other 15-digit UK or European microchips.
Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap features a 7-inch wide super strong door that automatically locks out other cats. It has been tried and tested to endure hard and strong rams so even if other cats will try to break it down with their body strength, it will still be resilient for up to 13kg of force. It is big enough to allow bigger cats like Maine Coons or Norwegian Forest Cats to get through easily.
Installation on a window or a wall is easy. You only have to plug it to a 12-volt adaptor so you won't have to worry about replacing weak batteries, and it would be perfectly safe for your cats. Simply pushing the red and green buttons will set the program of your choice.
Your cats will love this new innovation because they no longer have to wear big collars, attachments, and any kinds of magnets that can get lost or detached anytime. With only an undetectable microchip on them, your cats will be able to move with ease without a heavy thing around their necks. It would definitely give them a light feeling.
Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap has a patented Pet Porte Light Sensor or the Night Mode that can automatically lock the door to prevent your cats from going out especially late at night. This holiday season will be a time of fireworks and noisy activities, but this time you will finally be able to admire the fireworks display without having to worry about your pets going out. Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap will do the job for you.
You can choose to lock or unlock the door of the flap by programming the light level. It is easy to program because all you have to do is press the buttons. You can also deactivate the Night Mode simply by pushing the red button.
This mode can also protect your cats from being preys to other animals that roam and hunt for food in the night. You can be confident that your cats are safe when you are away or out of the house. You will never have to worry that while your cats are walking on the street late at night they might get hit by a passing vehicle.
Though this cat flap can prevent your cats from getting out, it can't prevent them from coming in. The door will open for them when it detects their chips, and they can get in anytime of the day unless you will turn it off. It is highly recommended that you switch this mode at dusk and dawn to prevent your cats from hunting rodents and other animals and stop them from bringing dead animals in your house.
In addition, you will be able to keep stray cats away from your house because this cat flap will only allow your own cat to enter when it detects the microchip. It will remain close for other cats to prevent them from entering your house. Stray cats that enter your house can cause a lot of trouble for your own cat and can even destroy things inside your house. Common damages include stains in your couch and sprays on carpets, scratches on your walls, curtains, bed, clothes, and other furniture. Just imagining this kind of damage is enough to get you irritated. But don't fret, Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap can save you from all the worries.
Aside from that, stray cats can also increase or even double your expenses on your cats' food because they will be sharing their foods with other cats. If you shop cat food for two weeks, it will only last for a few days so you will have to buy again. Owners of Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap say that they have saved around 10-20% of cat food budget since they started using the product. That's a great deal, don't you think?
The Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap is recommended by most vets in the UK and the Cat Protection. This amazing product was also featured in The Cat magazine for their Spring 2008 issue as the "Best Product" for 2007-2008. Owners are highly recommending this product to all cat lovers. They are really happy about the performance of the cat flap.
Now if you can't wait to grab one of these cat flaps, you can order online or by post at your convenience. It is a risk-free investment since it offers a full refund within 30 days if you're not satisfied with the product. It also comes with an 18-month warranty so you can be sure you'll be getting a quality product.
If you choose to purchase this as a gift, not only will you make a loved one, a relative, or a friend happy, you will also make their pet cats ecstatic because this will definitely make their lives more comfortable and free!
The Pet Porte microchip cat flap is available from http://www.microchipcatflaps.co.uk/
About the Author
Microchip Cat Flaps
The Key to Preventing a Poorly Trained Dog
Author: Steven Resell
One of the main reasons for an unhappy dog owner is a poorly trained dog. Having an unruly dog can be a serious nuisance and be very destructive on its environment and the relationship between the dog and its owner.
So what is the key to preventing a poorly trained dog? Simple, just start training them as puppies. Puppies don't know the difference and if you make the training fun they will be more responsive as well. Conversely, if you start them when they are older they have grown into bad habits and the training will stress both you and the dog out. Not to mention the fact that the dog will be a lot more difficult to control.
If you start your dog late (particularly with leash training), they will control you. You often see people being taken for a walk by their dog as they are pulling their owners around the block. And what inevitably happens is that the owner will reprimand the dog by shouting and yanking at the leash. This isn't fair to the dog since the reason they behave this way is because you allowed them to pull on the leash as puppies (or because of no leash training whatsoever...)
When leash training your dog, be sure to never allow for them to pull on the leash. Gently tug the leash if they start to pull and get eye contact with the puppy while you repeat their name. Also be sure to give them positive reinforcements.
The best thing to do when starting out with leash training is to allow the dog to get used to the feeling of having a collar and a leash attached. Another thing to keep in mind is to initially do the training in a familiar environment.
This reduces stress on the puppy and allows for minimum distractions. Puppies are quick to learn and you can introduce them to new lessons relatively quickly.
Once your puppy has become comfortable with the basics of leash training and knows some of the basic cues and commands like sit and heel, start taking them to the park and different areas to practice. Again, start by introducing them to a little bit of distraction, then increase the amount of distractions present while going over the same training that you exposed them to with no distractions.
Just remember that it is very important that you socialize your dog. This is often a neglected part of a dog's training and causes dogs to become shy and/or fear aggressive. So, be sure to take your puppy to the park and other busy areas to interact with other people and dogs too!
Although this may seem like a lot of work, it is well worth the effort, as you will have a very well trained dog at the end of it all.
Basic Horse Care
Author: Fran Black
Horses are amazingly beautiful and sensitive creatures. Horses require not only understanding and patience to have a horse as a pet, it also requires a whole lot of care.
Herd Mentality:
Observe horses in the herd system, each horse's welfare in the wild depends upon an instinctive submission to the discipline of the herd. The instinct is for immediate action. To the horse, action is survival. When horses live in an herd environment, they often take turns sleeping and standing guard for any predators. When the leader of the herd signals danger they take flight.
Learning respect and ascending to authority starts on the first day of life for the foals, there is a distinct pecking order in herds of horses.
It is important to keep a quiet profile around horses. Horses naturally do not like unnecessary noise because in the wild their survival depends on detection of predators with their hearing. Extraneous noise interferes with this predator detection. This predator detection is tightly coupled with a horse's flight reflex. Due to these survival genetics, horses have a physiological wiring in their brains that predisposes them to prefer quietness and to become bothered by unnecessary noise. Many horses can get startled easily from abrupt noises and this could result in injury to the horse, the rider, or people around the horse. Talk to your horse in a quiet, reassuring voice.
Relationship With Horses:
A horse will love you if, first and foremost, you treat it fairly, and secondly, if you allow yourself to develop a relationship with it in the same way you would a human partner. There are too many who will look after the horse's material needs but put nothing back into the partnership itself. The horse born in captivity will identify with an alternative provider and companion, resulting in a healthy relationship from the beginning. A healthy relationship with your horse requires: trust, coupled with respect, fondness with compliance, and a desire to please.
Check Your Horse:
Examine your horse every day and especially prior to riding the horse. Carefully examine the horse's legs and back for any unusual heat or lumps. Make sure that the horse's eyes are alert and not glazy. Listen for any excessive noise or gurgling sounds coming from your horse's stomach. Catching problems before they become serious is critical to keeping a show horse sound and alive.
Exercise caution and discretion when around stallions and mares when they are in heat. They are dealing with hormones on an order of magnitude that you probably can not comprehend. Stallions typically bite and some may be easily triggered into violent behavior.
Grooming Horses:
Keep your horse clean. Keep your horse's entire coat free from dirt, mud, sand, and sweat. Brush your horse every day. Pick out your horse's feet every day. Wash out any sweat residue from the saddle pad or girth every day. Wash out any dirt or sand residue, as from the riding arena, on your horses legs every day. A number of different problems can result if a horse's coat is not kept clean.
Barn Care:
Keep your horse's stall clean. Make sure that your horse's stall is cleaned every day. Be sure that any wetness is removed with the manure. Replace the removed bedding with fresh, clean, dry bedding. Water should be dumped from buckets every day without exception. Unhealthy dirt and bacteria can build up in a bucket if it is not cleaned on a daily basis. Clean water is essential to maintaining a healthy horse. Make sure your horse always has clean, fresh water available.
Training A Horse:
The intelligence of the horse increases rapidly with education. An intelligent trainer can make an intelligent horse. A kind but firm trainer will result in a disciplined but pleasing horse.
Horse Feed:
Feed your horse(s) at the same times every day. A horse may get upset and colic or injure themselves by kicking the stall or pawing, if not fed when feeding is expected. You should not make radical changes in a horse's feed program. If you must make a change in the feed program, make the change gradually. Drastic changes in a horse's feed program can cause the horse to colic and in some cases, may die. Your horse's stomach is a highly sensitive bio-reactor that maintains a delicate balance of the organisms that digest food in your horse's digestive track.
Visitors should not feed a horse that you do not own without the owner's permission; no carrots, no apples, no treats, nothing. The horse could potentially, get sick if they have an allergy or sickness.
Pay attention to everything that goes into your horse; that means all feed, all hay, all water, all treats, all supplements, all pills, and all shots. This knowledge could save your horse's life in an emergency situation. Post this information on your horse's stall door so that it is available to a vet if you are not around in an emergency. Make sure that your horse gets high-quality feed and hay. Your horse's health and soundness depends on the nutrition that you provide for them. Take good care of your horse. A rider without a horse is no rider at all.
Vet Care:
Make sure that you have a good equine veterinarian. A good vet will save you money in the long run and may save your horse's life some day. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make sure your horse has all the vaccinations that are normal for your geographical location. All horses should be on a good worming program to control intestinal parasites. A horse should be wormed by a vet at least twice a year.
Horse Flies:
In the summer spray your horse trailer down with fly spray about 10 minutes before you load the horses. The flies should leave, and your horses will be without those pesky flies!
Cooling Horses:
Never spray a hot, sweaty horse with cold water immediately after working the horse. This can cause muscle spasms and binding, or shock that can lead to death. Wait until the horse is breathing regularly, and use warm water if it is available. If a horse has heat shock, consult your vet and the vet may instruct you to cold hose the horse, even if still hot and sweaty. Never put a horse in a stall or confined area while sweaty or while they are still breathing heavily. This can result in shock and/or colic that can lead to death. Walk the horse until the horse is cooled out and the breathing is normal.
Shoeing:
Horses' hooves generally grow approximately 1 cm in a month, and take nearly a year to grow from the coronet band to the ground. Horse's hooves need to be trimmed regularly (about every 6-8 weeks). Shoeing a horse does not hurt them. If you were to grow out your finger nail, you could put an earring/pin through it without causing discomfort; however, if you pushed the pin through the part of your nail that is attached to the soft tissue of your finger, it would hurt. When horse shoes are nailed in, they are nailed at an angle so which the horse doesn't feel it.
Make sure that you have a good farrier, especially if you show your horse over jumps. The concussion from landing from jumps amplifies any problems in a horse's shoeing. If a horse gets sore feet or legs from bad angles or bad shoeing, the horse can not just take his shoes off, sit back on a couch, and rub their feet, or find another pair of shoes like you can. Bad shoeing can result in your horse becoming lame due to a number of problems including: bowed tendons, popped splints, or shoulder/back soreness or spasms. Bad shoeing can ruin a good horse, so don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish where shoeing is concerned. A laid-up horse is far more expensive to maintain than a good farrier. And remember not all horses need to have shoes, only if they are competing, walking on hard/rocky surfaces, or have hoof problems.
Sleeping:
Horses do lay down to sleep, but only if they feel completely comfortable in their environment. It is not enough to provide a dry stable, food and water. Horses will often sleep standing up by locking their knees. Horses are one of the few animals that can put one half of their body asleep while the other half is wide awake. Emotionally and mentally, all horses need to feel they have and be comfortable in their own space!
To fully enjoy a horse's finer qualities you must treat them with both kindness and quality care. In the end, a happy horse will mean a nicer ride and a happier rider.
Franklin Pet Memorials“Remember them with a custom solid bronze memorial.”
Contact: Cynthia Linnon
191 Howard Street Franklin, PA 16323
clinnon@franklinbronzeplaques.com
814-346-7205 ph 814-346-7047 fax
Goldfish Care And Fish Tank Maintenance
Author: Alison Stevens
Fish tank maintenance is the first step in goldfish care and is an important part of owning a tank of healthy fish. If maintained regularly, aquarium and goldfish care is relatively easy and takes little time.
If you prefer you can hire an aquarium maintenance service to come to your home or office and care for your fish tank and its occupants. On the other hand, taking care of your aquarium fish yourself can be a satisfying and rewarding experience.
The Steps In Goldfish Care
The most important piece of equipment in your fish tank is the filtration system. There are several different types of filtration system. A type of filter that you will frequently encounter is a box that fits over the side of the tank. The water circulates through the filtration system, which usually uses charcoal or a similar filter media to filter out the impurities in the water. Another type of filtration system is a biological filter. Biological filtration can be used in conjunction with a charcoal filtration system, and permits good bacteria to grow in the tank which helps to keep the tank clean.
The number of fish you have in your aquarium can impact on the water quality, especially if you have too many fish in a tank that is too small. It is important to ensure that you have the correct goldfish population for the size of tank you own. Do not overcrowd your fish. After overcrowding, the next most likely cause of problems with your goldfish is overfeeding. Fish should only be fed an amount they can eat within a few minutes. If you feed your goldfish too much, the uneaten food will fall to the bottom of the tank and turn into sludge which will not provide a healthy environment for your fish to live in. Uneaten food can also lead to algal growth.
Partial Water Changes
You will need to perform partial water changes every two weeks or so as a central part of your goldfish care. This keeps the algae level down and helps to maintain a healthy environment for your goldfish. Typically, siphoning off about 20 percent of the water is adequate. Replace with fresh water. If your tap water contains chlorine it is imperative that you add a chlorine neutralizer when adding fresh water to your fish tank.
Observe Your Fish Daily
Observe your goldfish on a daily basis. Ensure that all your equipment is running properly. Always make sure your filter is running as it can sometimes lose its prime if there is a power outage. Make sure your air pump is working properly, too, to ensure your goldfish have plenty of oxygen. Goldfish don't need a heater but if you have tropical fish they will require a heater to maintain the water temperature.
Just keeping an eye on your fish on a daily basis and observing their behavior can help with your goldfish care and tank maintenance. If you notice any behavioral problems with your fish, take a proactive approach to determine what is wrong with them and treat the symptoms immediately. Sick fish should be put into a quarantine tank if possible while being treated.
Maintaining a clean aquarium and a healthy living environment are not difficult tasks in goldfish care, and a little preventive fish tank maintenance on a regular basis will keep your fish healthy and disease free.
