It is imperative to clip your cat’s claws on a regular basis. When this isn’t done, a cat’s claws can grow into its paw pads, which may result in pain and infection. A veterinarian will be happy to show you how to properly trim a cat’s nails in a way that will not harm the animal. While many people choose to have their cats declawed, this is not the only way to eliminate its scratching. It can also be very painful for the pet. Felines can be trained to scratch only in designated areas, such as a well-designed post.
cat owners should do as much research as possible regarding the proper care of cats. They should also own at least one book or pamphlet on emergency first aid. By familiarizing yourself with emergency procedures, you could possibly save your cat’s life. Do not attempt to treat your cat with any medications, like aspirin, ibuprofen or suphedrine. Many medicines intended for humans can be poisonous to cats.
Dogs may be a man’s best friend, but many animal lovers adore keeping cats as pets because of the animal’s warm yet independent spirit. There are steps that you can take to keep your pet healthy and to avoid any issues or concerns. By using a combination of care, prevention and pet health products, you can ensure your cat’s companionship for years to come.
There are two important ways in which you can maintain your cat’s health and happiness. Scheduling annual veterinarian check-ups allow a professional to give special care and attention to your cat. This allows the vet to stay current with the shots and regular exams that felines require. Paying attention to any physical changes in your pet will give you a better idea of your pet’s health. Investing in a few specialized, approved pet health products can also make a significant difference.
Conduct an overall evaluation of your cat when you are petting or sitting with it. Take a quick look at the animal from nose to tail. It is smart to do this on a regular basis and at a set time, your pet will grow accustomed to it and you will not forget its daily check-up. Alert your veterinarian if you discover any potential concerns. Begin with your cat’s head. Are its eyes clear and alert? Are its ears pink and clean? Do the ears give off a pungent smell that seems abnormal? Have bugs appeared as a dark, thick formation inside the cat’s ears? Are its gums pink and teeth healthy, clean and strong? Does tartar reside along the gum line? Has your cat developed unpleasant breath?
Gently feel and inspect your pet’s body for sores, lumps, puffiness, bumps, scratches, parasites or irregularities. Keep an eye out for flea dirt, which is similar in appearance to black pepper and appears red when dampened. Check your cat’s paws, ears and tail.
Feel free to ask your vet any questions that you may have. Don’t be afraid to verify what is and isn’t normal.
Regularly brushing your cat keeps it looking neat and tidy. Rubber brushes remove dead skin cells and loose hair. Combs that are specially designed for a cat help lift fleas and small bugs out of its hair
for:htt://www.pictures-of-cat.com
2008年9月17日星期三
2008年9月5日星期五
More and more Pit Bull owners are realizing the benefits of training their dogs. There are several reasons why an owner would like to train their pet, other than just the obvious housebreaking which is mandatory. A pet which is well trained, no matter the breed, is a pet liked and admired by any and all that come in contact with him. All pets, and certainly the Pit Bull, can not only benefit themselves, but their entire breed by making a good showing around company.
Responsible Pit Bull owners are now seeing the light that the only way to combat the negative attack campaign the media has launched against our misunderstood breed is to make sure our pets make a good showing no matter where they go.
As a responsible Pit Bull owner, you have several training options available for your use. Which method you choose to use for training your Pit Bull is solely left up to your own discretion. It is highly recommended that before you train your Pit Bull that you are up to the task at hand, and fully understand the training method you choose to use.
Here are several popular training types being used by trainers today.
After The Fact Discipline: This type of training is not recommended because it is not effective. It has been used for correcting behavior after an act has happened, rather than focusing on the prevention of the act.
Clicker Training: This type of training is a method of teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors with a motivational style. The goal of clicker training is to teach the dog obedience while avoiding harmful punishments.
Eclectic Training Method: Combines several different training methods, while emphasizing the method which seems to deliver the best behavioral results. This method uses the different methods to reinforce each other.
Koehler Method: This method has been deemed a heavy handed style of dog training which to many is simply too harsh. This method combines physical correction with the after-the-fact training style.
Lure Training: Lure training is great for nearly all dogs. It uses something that the dog likes, such as a toy or a special treat to teach commands. Over time, the lure is slowly removed from the training. Lure training is great for puppies as well as timid or dogs which are difficult to train. This method of training often succeeds where other fail.
Play Training: Play training is a motivational training method which takes two of the dog’s primary drives, play and prey, and combines it into a fun filled training session which the dogs love. You know your Pit Bull better than anyone, so it is up to you how you’d like to go about training him. By picking a method which you think would appeal to you both, you’ll insure a successful experience in training your Pit Bull.
Responsible Pit Bull owners are now seeing the light that the only way to combat the negative attack campaign the media has launched against our misunderstood breed is to make sure our pets make a good showing no matter where they go.
As a responsible Pit Bull owner, you have several training options available for your use. Which method you choose to use for training your Pit Bull is solely left up to your own discretion. It is highly recommended that before you train your Pit Bull that you are up to the task at hand, and fully understand the training method you choose to use.
Here are several popular training types being used by trainers today.
After The Fact Discipline: This type of training is not recommended because it is not effective. It has been used for correcting behavior after an act has happened, rather than focusing on the prevention of the act.
Clicker Training: This type of training is a method of teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors with a motivational style. The goal of clicker training is to teach the dog obedience while avoiding harmful punishments.
Eclectic Training Method: Combines several different training methods, while emphasizing the method which seems to deliver the best behavioral results. This method uses the different methods to reinforce each other.
Koehler Method: This method has been deemed a heavy handed style of dog training which to many is simply too harsh. This method combines physical correction with the after-the-fact training style.
Lure Training: Lure training is great for nearly all dogs. It uses something that the dog likes, such as a toy or a special treat to teach commands. Over time, the lure is slowly removed from the training. Lure training is great for puppies as well as timid or dogs which are difficult to train. This method of training often succeeds where other fail.
Play Training: Play training is a motivational training method which takes two of the dog’s primary drives, play and prey, and combines it into a fun filled training session which the dogs love. You know your Pit Bull better than anyone, so it is up to you how you’d like to go about training him. By picking a method which you think would appeal to you both, you’ll insure a successful experience in training your Pit Bull.
2008年9月1日星期一
Dog Fleas: Fido's Pesky Little Friends
When summer comes around, so do fleas -- those little creatures that can make your dog's life (and yours) miserable. There are things you can do to minimize the chances of flea infestation and other measures you can take if they have already invaded your home.
First let’s look at the steps necessary to keep the fleas away; without using chemicals. This natural flea prevention will work best to prevent fleas from taking hold and can also be used if you have a very light flea infestation.
Keep your carpets vacuumed! Vacuum daily and get some wide tape to seal up the vacuum bags as soon as you remove them from the vacuum cleaner. If you DON'T have small children around, use pennyroyal leaves either fresh (if available) or dried and spread them around your carpet to repel fleas.
Keep your dog's bedding clean by washing it in warm water and soap. When it is dry apply some cedar oil to the bedding to help repel the fleas. Keep the area around your dog's bed free of dust and dirt.
Give your dog a bath once a week with cedar shampoo (bathing more frequently may dry out its skin). If your dog does get dry skin it will attract fleas -- just what you don't want. Give a dog with dry skin some Linatone oil mixed with its food. Something else you can mix, in very small doses, with your dogs food to repel fleas is a mixture of garlic and brewer's yeast. With this mixture in the dog's system, it will give off a scent that you won't be able to notice but fleas will notice it and they hate it.
If you mix lavender oil (60 ml) with rock salt (2.8 liters) you will have a great flea repellent that can be spread around the places where your dog goes and can also be used as a dog shampoo.
Fill your outside flower beds with marigolds -- they have natural flea repellent properties and also repel other bugs.
Try boiling either lemon peels or orange peels in water to create a solution that can be used as a dog dip and can be used on the dogs bedding before washing it.
Another effective dog dip, if you are experiencing a light infestation, is warm water, shampoo and laundry detergent; immerse the dog’s body in this for ten or fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
If you have a heavy flea infestation you may have to resort to chemicals -- all these products can be used safely if you follow the directions that come with the products.
Advantage. Advantage is a flea poison made by Bayer. Apply the Advantage (liquid) to the dog's coat as directed. Advantage should work for about one month, Advantage's active ingredient, imidacloprid, upsets the nervous system of any flea that comes in contact with it. Advantage kills flea's fast and should kill all the fleas on the dog in about two days; but it is not absorbed into the dog's bloodstream or internal organs. The active ingredient, imidacloprid is a chloronicotinyl nitroguanidine, integrated from the nitromethylene class of a compound. The imidacloprid affects the nicotinyl receptor sites of insects and upsets the flea's normal nerve transmission, resulting in death. Advantage costs $15 to $20 for a set of two vials.
Frontline. Frontline is very similar to Advantage but it is not water soluble; this means alcohol is required to wash it off the dog. Frontline is safe for use on puppies as well as adult dogs, kittens and adult cats and it will work for approximately four months.
The active ingredients in Frontline include: Fipronil 5-amino -1- (2, 6-dichloro-4 [trifluoromethyl]phenyl) -4- (1,R,S)- (trifluoromethyl0sulfinyl) -1H-pryazole-3-carbonitrile 0.29% inert ingredients 99.71%. Fipronil, from the new phenylpyrazole class, is very effective at killing fleas by attacking their nervous systems. Fipronil is safe for use on dogs and cats that are not allergic to it. Tests have shown that Fipronil will kill up to 95% of a pet's fleas within two hours and all the fleas within the first 24 hours -- ticks are killed instantly on contact.
Knockout. Knockout is as effective as Frontline and works in the same way but Knockout can not be used on cats.
Knockout's active ingredients are: Pyriproxyfen: 21[1-methyl-2-(phenoxyphenoxy)ethyoxy] pyridine....0.05% cyclopropanecarboxylate 2.00% inert ingredients 97.95% Knockout also contains NYLAR, a flea-growth regulator.
Biospot. Biospot is used topically, like the other products and, in tests, killed up to three quarters of the fleas, ticks and their eggs; like Knockout, Biospot can NOT be safely used on cats. Biospot works for about one month and can also be used as a mosquito repellant. Biospot has been known to temporarily turn the white hair on a dogs coat to yellow.
Biospot contains permethrins and IGR.
Proban and Prospot. The Proban (cythioate) and Prospot (Fenthion) products are also for use on dogs only and they are very popular. Proban and Prospot are actually absorbed in the dog’s bloodstream, poisoning any fleas that bite the dog. The fact that these products are poisonous to fleas combined with the fact that you are actually allowing this poison to be absorbed in the dog's blood stream, may be cause for concern. There are no published (or known?) side effects. Another factor to consider about these last two products is that they do not repel fleas, they will only work if a flea bites the dog -- if the dog has a flea allergy this would not be the product of choice.
First let’s look at the steps necessary to keep the fleas away; without using chemicals. This natural flea prevention will work best to prevent fleas from taking hold and can also be used if you have a very light flea infestation.
Keep your carpets vacuumed! Vacuum daily and get some wide tape to seal up the vacuum bags as soon as you remove them from the vacuum cleaner. If you DON'T have small children around, use pennyroyal leaves either fresh (if available) or dried and spread them around your carpet to repel fleas.
Keep your dog's bedding clean by washing it in warm water and soap. When it is dry apply some cedar oil to the bedding to help repel the fleas. Keep the area around your dog's bed free of dust and dirt.
Give your dog a bath once a week with cedar shampoo (bathing more frequently may dry out its skin). If your dog does get dry skin it will attract fleas -- just what you don't want. Give a dog with dry skin some Linatone oil mixed with its food. Something else you can mix, in very small doses, with your dogs food to repel fleas is a mixture of garlic and brewer's yeast. With this mixture in the dog's system, it will give off a scent that you won't be able to notice but fleas will notice it and they hate it.
If you mix lavender oil (60 ml) with rock salt (2.8 liters) you will have a great flea repellent that can be spread around the places where your dog goes and can also be used as a dog shampoo.
Fill your outside flower beds with marigolds -- they have natural flea repellent properties and also repel other bugs.
Try boiling either lemon peels or orange peels in water to create a solution that can be used as a dog dip and can be used on the dogs bedding before washing it.
Another effective dog dip, if you are experiencing a light infestation, is warm water, shampoo and laundry detergent; immerse the dog’s body in this for ten or fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
If you have a heavy flea infestation you may have to resort to chemicals -- all these products can be used safely if you follow the directions that come with the products.
Advantage. Advantage is a flea poison made by Bayer. Apply the Advantage (liquid) to the dog's coat as directed. Advantage should work for about one month, Advantage's active ingredient, imidacloprid, upsets the nervous system of any flea that comes in contact with it. Advantage kills flea's fast and should kill all the fleas on the dog in about two days; but it is not absorbed into the dog's bloodstream or internal organs. The active ingredient, imidacloprid is a chloronicotinyl nitroguanidine, integrated from the nitromethylene class of a compound. The imidacloprid affects the nicotinyl receptor sites of insects and upsets the flea's normal nerve transmission, resulting in death. Advantage costs $15 to $20 for a set of two vials.
Frontline. Frontline is very similar to Advantage but it is not water soluble; this means alcohol is required to wash it off the dog. Frontline is safe for use on puppies as well as adult dogs, kittens and adult cats and it will work for approximately four months.
The active ingredients in Frontline include: Fipronil 5-amino -1- (2, 6-dichloro-4 [trifluoromethyl]phenyl) -4- (1,R,S)- (trifluoromethyl0sulfinyl) -1H-pryazole-3-carbonitrile 0.29% inert ingredients 99.71%. Fipronil, from the new phenylpyrazole class, is very effective at killing fleas by attacking their nervous systems. Fipronil is safe for use on dogs and cats that are not allergic to it. Tests have shown that Fipronil will kill up to 95% of a pet's fleas within two hours and all the fleas within the first 24 hours -- ticks are killed instantly on contact.
Knockout. Knockout is as effective as Frontline and works in the same way but Knockout can not be used on cats.
Knockout's active ingredients are: Pyriproxyfen: 21[1-methyl-2-(phenoxyphenoxy)ethyoxy] pyridine....0.05% cyclopropanecarboxylate 2.00% inert ingredients 97.95% Knockout also contains NYLAR, a flea-growth regulator.
Biospot. Biospot is used topically, like the other products and, in tests, killed up to three quarters of the fleas, ticks and their eggs; like Knockout, Biospot can NOT be safely used on cats. Biospot works for about one month and can also be used as a mosquito repellant. Biospot has been known to temporarily turn the white hair on a dogs coat to yellow.
Biospot contains permethrins and IGR.
Proban and Prospot. The Proban (cythioate) and Prospot (Fenthion) products are also for use on dogs only and they are very popular. Proban and Prospot are actually absorbed in the dog’s bloodstream, poisoning any fleas that bite the dog. The fact that these products are poisonous to fleas combined with the fact that you are actually allowing this poison to be absorbed in the dog's blood stream, may be cause for concern. There are no published (or known?) side effects. Another factor to consider about these last two products is that they do not repel fleas, they will only work if a flea bites the dog -- if the dog has a flea allergy this would not be the product of choice.
2008年8月24日星期日
Can Aggressive Dogs be Re-Trained?
Having an aggressive dog is not only a problem to the dog owner, but also to other people. You will never know when your dog may attack or injure someone. In fact, dog aggression can result in injuries and even deaths of innocent people, and there are many laws and by-laws that are imposed to punish dog owners whose dogs are guilty of physical assault.
Find the cause of aggression before re-training
If you have an aggressive dog, you should know that it is possible to curb its aggression with the right training. With proper dog training, aggressive dogs will learn not to be hostile towards strangers, or your friends and relatives. However, if you really wish to understand the basics of re-training aggressive dogs, you have to know why dogs become aggressive.
There are numerous reasons why a dog can become aggressive. The main reason may be that it is territorial and feels that its territory is being invaded. Sometimes, it feels threatened with certain changes in the environment, and it will become defensive and react with aggression. This type of aggression usually comes about because of lack of security and confidence, and simple dog obedience training is not sufficient to curb the aggressive behavior of the dog.
Such aggression requires special dog training. The usual symptoms of dog aggression are barking and lunging at people. These symptoms have to be controlled before they become a serious problem that causes bodily harm on other people.
Ask your dog vet to suggest an aggressive dog trainer
Since a dog vet often meets with trainers and dog owners, he or she is the best person to approach when you are looking for the perfect aggressive dog trainer. A qualified trainer will have the necessary experience to control the aggressive behavior of any dog. However, remember that aggressive dog training costs more than normal dog training, and it is usually done with a special skill set. So, set aside sufficient money to pay for this kind of training.
Though you have to pay quite a large sum of money for aggressive dog training, you can be assured that you will get the results that you desire. It is not advisable that you enroll your aggressive dog for normal dog training classes because the trainers will not take any risk to train it with other dogs in the school.
Some training schools may harm your dog
Instead, your dog has to be sent to a special dog obedience training school where qualified trainers have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle aggressive dogs. You can use the yellow pages to find the best training school for your dog. One thing you have to consider when choosing the right trainer for your dog is the training method employed by the training school. You should avoid training schools that use obsolete training methods that can cause harm to your dog.
It is always better to choose a more experienced dog training school. This is because such a school will have the necessary experience and knowledge to train aggressive dogs effectively. As such, it will produce better results with the re-training of dogs.
With the right aggressive dog training techniques, it is possible to train your dog to control its aggression. Once your dog stops its aggressive behavior, you will find that it is indeed a loving companion, and you can spend valuable time with it. Without the aggressive behavior, you need not worry about the safety of your family or that the dog will bite other dogs or people.
Use websites for dog training tips
If there are no aggressive dog training schools or trainers in your vicinity, you can also search the internet to learn some tips on how to curb your dog's aggression. There are some sites on the internet that provide these tips. However, whether or not such tips are effective depends on how you understand and implement them on your dog.
Find the cause of aggression before re-training
If you have an aggressive dog, you should know that it is possible to curb its aggression with the right training. With proper dog training, aggressive dogs will learn not to be hostile towards strangers, or your friends and relatives. However, if you really wish to understand the basics of re-training aggressive dogs, you have to know why dogs become aggressive.
There are numerous reasons why a dog can become aggressive. The main reason may be that it is territorial and feels that its territory is being invaded. Sometimes, it feels threatened with certain changes in the environment, and it will become defensive and react with aggression. This type of aggression usually comes about because of lack of security and confidence, and simple dog obedience training is not sufficient to curb the aggressive behavior of the dog.
Such aggression requires special dog training. The usual symptoms of dog aggression are barking and lunging at people. These symptoms have to be controlled before they become a serious problem that causes bodily harm on other people.
Ask your dog vet to suggest an aggressive dog trainer
Since a dog vet often meets with trainers and dog owners, he or she is the best person to approach when you are looking for the perfect aggressive dog trainer. A qualified trainer will have the necessary experience to control the aggressive behavior of any dog. However, remember that aggressive dog training costs more than normal dog training, and it is usually done with a special skill set. So, set aside sufficient money to pay for this kind of training.
Though you have to pay quite a large sum of money for aggressive dog training, you can be assured that you will get the results that you desire. It is not advisable that you enroll your aggressive dog for normal dog training classes because the trainers will not take any risk to train it with other dogs in the school.
Some training schools may harm your dog
Instead, your dog has to be sent to a special dog obedience training school where qualified trainers have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle aggressive dogs. You can use the yellow pages to find the best training school for your dog. One thing you have to consider when choosing the right trainer for your dog is the training method employed by the training school. You should avoid training schools that use obsolete training methods that can cause harm to your dog.
It is always better to choose a more experienced dog training school. This is because such a school will have the necessary experience and knowledge to train aggressive dogs effectively. As such, it will produce better results with the re-training of dogs.
With the right aggressive dog training techniques, it is possible to train your dog to control its aggression. Once your dog stops its aggressive behavior, you will find that it is indeed a loving companion, and you can spend valuable time with it. Without the aggressive behavior, you need not worry about the safety of your family or that the dog will bite other dogs or people.
Use websites for dog training tips
If there are no aggressive dog training schools or trainers in your vicinity, you can also search the internet to learn some tips on how to curb your dog's aggression. There are some sites on the internet that provide these tips. However, whether or not such tips are effective depends on how you understand and implement them on your dog.
2008年8月19日星期二
When The End Is Near
Having experienced several of my beloved pets passed on, it never gets easier when a pet passed on and all experiences are equally painful grieving process. Writing this chapter allow me to bring back memories all my furry friends who have gone to rainbow bridge. Each one of them so special and holds a special place in my heart. No one pet gets replaced, the memories of each and every one of them stays with me in their own special compartments thru my life.
Death is a natural part of life and we must learn to let go especially when our pets are suffering from pain and illnesses. Dogs are sensitive and would not want you to be unhappy about their passing and may hang on to their dear life and suffering in ailing body just because we are not ready to let them go. We end up causing our pets to be in horrible pain to hang on longer then necessary just to please us.
Talk to your pet and tell them it is ok to go on and you will be fine. Stay as positive as you can as your emotions are clearly felt by your pet. We do not want our pets to feel sad, so be happy that this is part of nature and appreciate your pet for the joys and laughter it has brought to you and your family no matter how long they have been with you.
When making a decision weather to euthanize a pet that is suffering in pain, use our intuition to help us make the right decision. It is not going to be easy making such decision but when we do what our heart tells us, we will feel at ease with the choice we made.
When euthanizing a pet, it is best to have the vet pay a house call and have the procedure done at home so your pet need not get stressed from traveling and going to the vet. This way, our pet can go in peace and in the comforts of their home with everyone he loves. It may be too painful to watch the process, but I feel that pets would like us to hold them and be with them while they are passing on. Be brave and say a little prayer for your pet as you let them go.
Similarly, we may pass on ahead of our pets. So it is never too early to make arrangements for new care givers to care for our pets should we leave before our pets. Have this arrangement made even if we are in pink of health as we really do not know when our time is up. Many beloved pets of humans who have passed on are put down, placed in pet shelters or even thrown to the streets when their human companion passed on.
Immediately, ensure you let couple of people know whom should care for your pets and exactly how they are to be cared for or at least, identify someone you trust who will assist to rehome your pet to a new family. If possible, leave sufficient money for the care taker for the remaining of their life.
It is never too early to prepare for unexpected events like this. We love our pets, obviously, we do not want them to suffer when we leave. So, do your pets a favour today and make sure you get the necessary arrangements done. Update your will on this as well to ensure it is being carried out.
Death is a natural part of life and we must learn to let go especially when our pets are suffering from pain and illnesses. Dogs are sensitive and would not want you to be unhappy about their passing and may hang on to their dear life and suffering in ailing body just because we are not ready to let them go. We end up causing our pets to be in horrible pain to hang on longer then necessary just to please us.
Talk to your pet and tell them it is ok to go on and you will be fine. Stay as positive as you can as your emotions are clearly felt by your pet. We do not want our pets to feel sad, so be happy that this is part of nature and appreciate your pet for the joys and laughter it has brought to you and your family no matter how long they have been with you.
When making a decision weather to euthanize a pet that is suffering in pain, use our intuition to help us make the right decision. It is not going to be easy making such decision but when we do what our heart tells us, we will feel at ease with the choice we made.
When euthanizing a pet, it is best to have the vet pay a house call and have the procedure done at home so your pet need not get stressed from traveling and going to the vet. This way, our pet can go in peace and in the comforts of their home with everyone he loves. It may be too painful to watch the process, but I feel that pets would like us to hold them and be with them while they are passing on. Be brave and say a little prayer for your pet as you let them go.
Similarly, we may pass on ahead of our pets. So it is never too early to make arrangements for new care givers to care for our pets should we leave before our pets. Have this arrangement made even if we are in pink of health as we really do not know when our time is up. Many beloved pets of humans who have passed on are put down, placed in pet shelters or even thrown to the streets when their human companion passed on.
Immediately, ensure you let couple of people know whom should care for your pets and exactly how they are to be cared for or at least, identify someone you trust who will assist to rehome your pet to a new family. If possible, leave sufficient money for the care taker for the remaining of their life.
It is never too early to prepare for unexpected events like this. We love our pets, obviously, we do not want them to suffer when we leave. So, do your pets a favour today and make sure you get the necessary arrangements done. Update your will on this as well to ensure it is being carried out.
2008年8月12日星期二
Is Your Aquarium Balanced?
The world as we know it is in balance. Animals breathe in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Plant absorbs carbon dioxide and give off oxygen as part of there process of photosynthesis. Animals eat plants and animals wastes, feed plants. Water evaporated from the seas and come back to freshen the earth.
The absolute balance of an aquarium world is not usually possible for a beginner. Usually the fish give off more waste matter (both in gas and solids) than the plant life can absorb. And plants almost never provide sufficient food for fish life in an aquarium tank (the things that the aquarium keeper must provide to maintain plant life). But too much encourages the excess growth of algae, causing green water and green-coated tank walls.
Below are the 4 things you as an aquarium keeper must learn to balance:
Food:
It must be a balance of vegetable and animal matter. The reason is that insufficient food stunts the growth and lowers the resistance of fish to disease. On the flip side too much food can also harm the fish by polluting the aquarium.
Size of tank:
The tank must be larger enough to provide space according to the number and size of the fish. It mustalso have sufficient surface so that oxygen can be absorbed to satisfy them.
Temperature:
This poses no problem for us in this part of the world as the range of 24 degree centigrade to 30 obtainable here is most ideal for tropical fish.
Gravel:
One or two inches of sand gravel is all that is required to anchor plants. However be carefull because too much gravel accumulates waste matter that tends to pollute the aquarium.
Master balancing these 4 elements of your aquarium and your tank will look great and your fish will live a long happy life!
The absolute balance of an aquarium world is not usually possible for a beginner. Usually the fish give off more waste matter (both in gas and solids) than the plant life can absorb. And plants almost never provide sufficient food for fish life in an aquarium tank (the things that the aquarium keeper must provide to maintain plant life). But too much encourages the excess growth of algae, causing green water and green-coated tank walls.
Below are the 4 things you as an aquarium keeper must learn to balance:
Food:
It must be a balance of vegetable and animal matter. The reason is that insufficient food stunts the growth and lowers the resistance of fish to disease. On the flip side too much food can also harm the fish by polluting the aquarium.
Size of tank:
The tank must be larger enough to provide space according to the number and size of the fish. It mustalso have sufficient surface so that oxygen can be absorbed to satisfy them.
Temperature:
This poses no problem for us in this part of the world as the range of 24 degree centigrade to 30 obtainable here is most ideal for tropical fish.
Gravel:
One or two inches of sand gravel is all that is required to anchor plants. However be carefull because too much gravel accumulates waste matter that tends to pollute the aquarium.
Master balancing these 4 elements of your aquarium and your tank will look great and your fish will live a long happy life!
2008年8月11日星期一
The Importance of Being A Responsible Dog Owner
To many people, pets are like members of the family. They are often given gifts at Christmas and on other observed holidays, taken on family vacations, and treated like those around them. They are capable of giving back as much love as they are given, and that is why it is important that dog owners be responsible both in how they treat their pets, and in how they allow them to behave.
While it is certainly true that a dog owner cannot necessarily keep a dog from behaving a certain way, there are steps that can be taken to insure the dog will behave in an acceptable manner. Likewise, it is just as important to be sure you are responsible for how your dog reacts to various surroundings.
If you own a dog that will reside outside, be sure it is properly contained. The best way to do this is to put up a fence. This keeps the dog within specified boundaries, while allowing him or her to still walk, run, or play. If you are going to have an outside pet, try to be sure you have adequate space for your dog to play, because, like humans, dogs need their exercise. It is just as important for their health as it is for peace of mind.
If you are unable to build a fence, when outside, your dog should be properly chained so as to insure his or her safety, as well as the safety of others. If chained, the dog should still have enough room to move around, and should not be restrained in a way that is painful or harmful to the animal. Failure to properly restrain a dog can result in his or her running away, unduly attacking another person, or being injured or killed by a car.
If your dog resides mostly indoors, it is important to make sure he or she is well-behaved. This is important even if your dog resides mostly outdoors, but you do want him or her to respond favorably to commands given by you, and to get along well with all who live in the household. Give your dog as much love and affection as you can, as this helps to promote a healthy relationship between you and your pet. Treat your dog well and he or she will most likely respond the same to you.
While it is certainly true that a dog owner cannot necessarily keep a dog from behaving a certain way, there are steps that can be taken to insure the dog will behave in an acceptable manner. Likewise, it is just as important to be sure you are responsible for how your dog reacts to various surroundings.
If you own a dog that will reside outside, be sure it is properly contained. The best way to do this is to put up a fence. This keeps the dog within specified boundaries, while allowing him or her to still walk, run, or play. If you are going to have an outside pet, try to be sure you have adequate space for your dog to play, because, like humans, dogs need their exercise. It is just as important for their health as it is for peace of mind.
If you are unable to build a fence, when outside, your dog should be properly chained so as to insure his or her safety, as well as the safety of others. If chained, the dog should still have enough room to move around, and should not be restrained in a way that is painful or harmful to the animal. Failure to properly restrain a dog can result in his or her running away, unduly attacking another person, or being injured or killed by a car.
If your dog resides mostly indoors, it is important to make sure he or she is well-behaved. This is important even if your dog resides mostly outdoors, but you do want him or her to respond favorably to commands given by you, and to get along well with all who live in the household. Give your dog as much love and affection as you can, as this helps to promote a healthy relationship between you and your pet. Treat your dog well and he or she will most likely respond the same to you.
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