Wednesday 30 June 2010

Holographic Pets by iRobot Vacuum

They have recently seen iRobot go public & its IPO did well. Each year iRobot is introducing new models in their consumer division & vacuum lines. Some say that felines & canines do not like these robots much, yet I find my animals often following the robot around the house & our cat stocks it & then pounces & then runs away.

So indeed our iRobot has in fact become part of the relatives & they would not need it any other way, besides I don't like to hoover anyway. Since the robotic iRobot vacuum models are so cold, I propose that they take them step further. Perhaps use a tiny of that IPO money for some actual research & development & get in to some of the latest state-of-the-art & bleeding edge technologies. How so you ask?

Well let's face it right now Holographic Technologies are getting closer to becoming reality & soon they can see the knowledge on our computers in 3D, 4D & 5D. They will enjoy Virtual Reality on our 360 X-Box in our living rooms. Great, great grandchildren will be about to meet their past ancestors & watch a holographic video. They will communicate in video conferencing with the picture of the other people sitting next us, but not actually there. All this is on its way & even more, as the applications are limitless indeed.


With that said I propose they take the top of the iRobot Hoover & make it a platform able to do holographic projection. For example, while you are gone, you might set it to display various animals that your cat might like to hunt? Such as a pigeon landing on it & then taking off again. Your cat will no doubt find this challenging & intriguing & it will hone their hunting skills. The vacuum might have a random projection set of 10-12 holographic images to keep your cat over occupied? Think on this.

Babby Turtle Housing Issues

Kid turtles require freshwater. if, a mature turtle can survive in a slightly dirty water that is not happening to the kid. So try to keep them in fresh shallow water on a regular basis. The water ought to be at least as deep as their shell's wide but be cautious not to be deeper that they can reach the surface basically. you'll also must provide them a basking spot. As i said, keeping a freshwater means changing it every day. you can also use a filter so you can alter the water every 2-3 days.

In the event you choose to make use of a water filter some issues might appear that you require to resolve. The filter will generate some kind of a current. If this current is to strong for the tiny ones than they will paddle against it in vain. So in some time they will get exhausted & that is not nice for them. The best way to resolve this turtle care issue is by placing some rocks or bricks for diminishing the current.
 possibility is to slant the tank slightly, to generate deeper water where the filter is & shallower water where the basking spot is. I use flat, round river rocks for resting spots.

In the event you keep your turtle indoor & the room temperature seems to low than you ought to try to cover a part of the tank to keep the air worm. But when you see that the condensation acumulates uncover the tank. In the event you don't do that then the turtles won't dry .

The turtles require Vitamin D3 & Calcium. These can be present in a variety of foods. But of you don't provide this sort of turtle food then you ought to get some kind of vitamin supplements. In any of the cases do not put your turtle tank directly on your window.

If the kid turtles are kept outside than also try to cover the tank because the felines & the crows will find your tiny ones as a great meal.

Keep in mind that in the event you decided that you require to keep a kid turtle there's plenty of turtle care issues involved. In the event you think that you cannot take care of all this turtle care issues like the housing issues don't keep the turtle. try to fin someone that can give her a happy life.

Poisoning Prevention for your Pets

The best process of poison prevention is knowledge. Know what items are hazardous to your pet & in case you have any of these in your home. Plenty of organizations such as Cat World & the ASPCA maintain lists of common household items that are poisonous to your pets. Here are a few often recommended steps to prevent household pet poisoning:

  * Keep prescription & over-the-counter medicine out of your pets reach. Vitamins, painkillers, cold medicines, etc can be deadly to animals, even in little doses.
  * Be aware of the plants you have in & around your home. Azalea, oleander, easter lily, & plenty of other plant species can be deadly if ingested.
  * Make positive your pets do not go on lawns or gardens treated with fertilizers, pesticides, etc until they have dried . Always store these products where they are inaccessible to your pets. In case you are uncertain about any product, consult your veterinarian.
  * Be alert for antifreeze leaking from your automobile. It tastes sweet & ingesting a little amount may cause an animal's death.
  * Think about using animal-friendly antifreeze products that use propylene glycol in lieu of ethylene glycol.
  * Be aware of your pet products, those containing pesticides like flea control products. Plenty of of these products are not interchangeable & can be deadly if used on the wring species. If a product is for use only on canines, it ought to seldom be used on felines & vice, versa.
  * When using rat poison, slug baits, or ant/roach traps, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your pet. Some bait contains sweet smelling ingredients such as peanut butter or sugar that can attract your pets.

What to do in case you suspect poisoning ?
The doctor that takes your call at the ASPCA is specially trained in poison treatment & has access to the ASPCA's extensive database of poison treatment information. They will research the poison in query & give you immediate corrective steps to take. At the finish of your call, the ASPCA doctor will give you a case number. Be positive to make a note of your case number. Your veterinarian will use your case number to get in contact with the doctor who has been treating your pet & discuss the information they have on the poison in query.

In case you are in doubt whether a product is poisonous, call a veterinarian immediately. The first minutes of a poisoning are critical so seldom wait for signs to create before getting professional advice. Successful poison treatment requires immediate action & plenty of antidotes must be given within 12 hours of toxin ingestion. I recommend that you call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Middle (1-888-4-ANI-HELP). immediately & head to your veterinarian as soon as feasible. If feasible, always bring the container to the veterinarian so that the ingredients can be properly identified.

Often your veterinarian will prescribe 1tbsp of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting, so it pays to keep a bottle on hand. But because plenty of chemicals (like gasoline) pose a greater risk to your pet on the way out, do not induce vomiting unless instructed by a trained professional.

Putting Leash on Your Rabbit ?

Using a leash or harness on a bunny is a highly debated subject amongst long-time bunny owners & specialists for lovely reason. There's been lots of accidental deaths as a result.

You see, because rabbits are prey animals, they feel confined & trapped when on a leash. In the event that they become scaredwhich is simple with all the new sounds & sights outsidethey can basically break their necks, their backs or be frightened to death.

You never know when a dog might walk around the corner, scaring your rabbit & causing her to bolt.
Leashes that go around the neck are dangerous as they can suffocate your bunny if he pulls hard!
You'll also need to think about the other dangers of taking your bunny for a walk... bunnies can contract diseases from other animals, & you never know what they'll sniff or get in to when they are outside. You also must be cautious of pesticides, which can kill your bunny!

In the event you DO select to make use of a leash or a harness, you ought to keep in mind that walking a bunny is nothing like walking a dog. Bunnies usually don't like to be followed, so being behind her when you walk might make her nervous. If he gets frightened, be definite to take her inside right away.

Preventing Rabbit's Hairballs

Unlike canines and felines, rabbits are unable to throw up. Therefore, they cannot spit up a hairball. In order to prevent hairballs in your rabbit, you ought to brush your rabbit often, when they are shedding (which is every months.) Stopping hairballs is also reason limitless hay is necessary to your bunny's diet as it helps to move the hair/fur through the digestive tract.

Plenty of people give their rabbits Petromalt or Laxatone, an ointment that is designed to help prevent hairballs. In the work of shedding season, you can give the ointment one time a day then one time a week when your bunny is not shedding.

Some rabbits will basically stick their noses up in the air at the Petromalt or Laxatone. A surefire way to get your rabbit to ingest the treatment is to squeeze a tiny bit from the bottle onto her of her paws or her nose. Either way, she is going to require to neat it off, and the only way to neat it off is to lick the treatment.

Supplies to Prevent Rabbit Hairballs :
* Laxatone Hairball Treatment (two.5 oz.)
(Ingredients: white petrolatum USP, light mineral oil NF, corn syrup, malt syrup, soybean oil, cane molasses, water, gelatin by-products, sodium benzoate (preservative), iron proteinate, artificial flavor.)
Cost: Around $5.99
* Tender Touch Slicker Wire Rabbit Brush
(Groom and remove all dead un-wanted hair and mats when used every day.)
Cost: Around $3.99
* Petromalt Hairball Treatment
(malt)
Cost: Around $5.99

Expert Tips on Choosing Plants for Your Aquarium

A dozen different kinds of plants in a tank will compete for food and light, and before long the strongest will have gained all of the space, and leave the others dying off. So exercise self-restraint and limit your choice to only kinds. of these plants ought to be for massing in the background, and as a center-piece.

For of the plants to be placed in the background, I would recommend that be either Vallisneria or Sagittaria (not both in tank though, as they have an inclination to compete).

For the second plant, it always looks lovely to have of the bushy plants, and of these, Hygrophila is the simplest to grow. But also note that Cabomba-Limnophila or Ludwigia are more decorative for the tropical tank. These suggestions are also the best ones in case you are beginning a cold-water aquarium.

And your third plant, the center-piece, a Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus or an Aponogeton are recommended for warm water aquariums, and a Hottonia, Muphar or Ranunculus do well for the ic
y water. Not to mention they are all lovely to look at!

Healthy plants are plump, crisp and intense in color; refuse those that are limp and pale. Most aquatic plants are brittle when out of water and must be handled carefully. Seldom pick them up by the middle of the stem; the best way is to lift them by the base, so that they hang down from the fingers. Select young, half-grown plants than fully grown ones, and with as lots of leaves as feasible.
Lots of of the plants which propagate by cuttings will be seen to have fine, hair-like roots sprouting from the nodes from which the branches grow; pick these, as they will "take" more quickly.
Plants with crowns must have nice roots, and you ought to examine these to see that they are plump and bushy.

Of all of the aquarium plants available, the ones listed above have always proven to be the most reliable and pretty. Be definite to pick the healthiest ones of the bunch, and you will be making a great looking, and happy aquarium.

Ringworm in Pets

In humans, ringworm is a ring formed red rash on the skin, but in your pet it can look like most anything. A common human type of ringworm is otherwise known as athletes foott. Canines and felines are susceptible to forms of ringworm, and your cat can pass ringworm on to you, although only a small percentage of human cases are caused by the same fungus that infects canines and felines. The individuals who have the highest chance of catching ringworm from their pet are young babies, the elderly and people with a weak immune process. Most people will create an immunity and therefore will never contract the same strain again.

There's forms of ringworm that affect canines and felines. Felines tend to become infected with the most common form. A second form is carried by rats and can be picked up by canines who might dig in rodent burrows. A third form can be present in soil fungus.

How do you tell if your pet has ringworm?

 sign could be patchy hair or crusty bumps on the skin. If your pet is itching spot on a regular basis this might be a sign. In the event you suspect your cat or dog has ringworm, take him to the vet right away. Treatment needs to be speedy and aggressive, usually using topical dips or shampoos, clipping your pets hair and in some cases an oral anti fungal can be prescribed. In canines Ketoconazole is usually prescribed and in felines Itraconazole. Another flea control program, namely Program, may even be used and is given to felines and canines orally.

Treatment can last for 8 weeks or more and you require to continue it until your vet confirms that no ringworm is present, even if your pet looks as if it is getting better!Treating your home is also important in the control of ringworm. Fungal spores can persist in places like your carpet for up to two years. Hair tends to be the enemy, therefore getting rids of pet hairs in your home is the best way to rid the fungus from your home. Ringworm fungus like to grow in dark spaces like hair and debris, therefore regular emptying of your vacuum is essential. In the event you have ringworm in your home, empty the vacuum bag each time you vacuum.

Pet Carrier Apparel

Everyone who has ever owned a puppy or a kitten has experienced this issue: Their new pet suffers from separation anxiety. They need to be held constantly. & they need to go all over the place with you: To the kitchen ...to the bedroom ...to the bathroom ...out to the garage ...and all over the place else!

When they got our first puppy, a small Chihuahua named Koda. Like most puppies, Koda detested being alone. He would follow us around all over the place & always desired to be held. Obviously, holding him or carrying him around on a regular basis wasn't an option. & naturally, they could not get much done with free hand while they were carrying a puppy around. This was a pet issue begging for a solution.

They finally started wearing zip-up sweatshirts so that they could put our puppy inside & zip him in  for his head to pop-out. This experience sparked the idea to generate a pullover sweatshirt with a specialized pocket, or puppy pouch, for our puppy to snuggle in. They searched the net & looked in all the local pet stores, but not of the obtainable dog carriers worked as well as our makeshift sweatshirt solution. They also looked all over the place for sweatshirts with large pouch pockets which they could use to serve our own puppy carrying purposes, but none were up to the task. To our amazement, no had ever designed clothing apparel suitably designed for carrying puppies or small pets!

So they made our own. They constructed our first puppy carrier for our own puppy from an elderly pullover hoodie sweatshirt. Not suprisingly, our puppy loved it. Whether they were at Starbucks sipping a latte', or having dinner or lunch at an outdoor cafe, he loved getting in to his pouch & snuggling while they enjoyed our meal or coffee. They also found that our puppy was content to be carried in his pouch while they strolled the boardwalk at the beach or walked through local malls.

& they noticed something else. A puppy in a puppy pouch sweatshirt created plenty of excitement. Of coursework, everyone desired to pet the lovable tiny puppy who is face popped-out from the kangaroo-like pouch. But our puppy carrier sweatshirt itself stirred wonderful interest & curiosity.

It appeared that individuals who owned small pets needed only to see our puppy in his pouch ...and they became intrigued with the idea of carrying their pet in their clothing. The functionality of our pet carrier sweatshirts was immediately apparent to pet owners whose small pet tires quickly in the coursework of morning walks or basically needs a safe place to snuggle while their master goes about their business.
So the moral to this story is simple. In the event you discover a solution to a pet issue that no else has addressed, you may find yourself providing the solution if it is going to happen at all.

Importance of Spaying and Neutering

You've probably heard about spaying & neutering your pets lots of times before, but a subject this important bears repeating. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates on their web-site that "In seven years, female cat & her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 felines, female dog & her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 canines."

With these numbers, it is simple to see how our nation is facing an overpopulation issue among stray felines & canines. The saddest part is that the strays are the ones that suffer the most. The HSUS also "estimates the number of felines & canines entering shelters each year between 8 to ten million, with four to five million being euthanized." All of these pointless deaths were caused because people chosen not to spay or neuter their pets. It is ironic how such a simple decision can have such a massive impact.

If these scary statistics are not to persuade you of the necessity for spaying & neutering, then you ought to know that your pets will have longer & healthier lives after the procedure. Those pets who are not fixed live at a high risk of developing either testicular or ovarian cancer among other related diseases. Lots of people ask the query "why ought to I spay or neuter?". In light of this knowledge, the actual query ought to be "how am I able to not spay or neuter, when there is a lot suffering of innocent animals in this country?"

Puppy and Kitty Care

It is important to have the right pet supplies & knowledge for proper puppy care & kitty care. as a kid's body is different from an adult's, a dog's or cat's body is different when it is young. A young pet has special nutritional, physical & even mental needs, so a responsible owner must have the pet supplies needed before the tiny joins the relatives.

Aside from food, the other pet supplies that are a necessity are dog toys & cat toys. In addition to physical growth, puppies & kittens learn things in the coursework of their first year that stay with them for life.
The first year is crucial in molding a cat's or dog's behavior, so it is important to interact with them. of the best ways to interact with them is through playtime. Playing is lovely exercise for them (& you), & it teaches them that humans are friends & companions. Sadly, those pets abused in the coursework of this time are often scarred for life, & have serious trust issues. Whatever pet toy you get, make sure it is not tiny so that they won't swallow it. For puppies, a Kong dog toy is a lovely investment because it is long lasting & won't mess up your house. Playing "tug-o-war" with a rope puppy toy is a great way to build their strength & confidence

For kittens, try a cat toy with bright colors. It is important to get cat toys that will safely satisfy their natural curiosity.

Since house breaking & litter box training are essential, the proper pet supplies for this need to be on hand from day. Receive a tiny dog crate & hold your puppy in it overnight & for periods when you cannot watch them. They instinctively don't need to go in their own area, so you can use that to your advantage. Take them straight from the dog crate to outside, & they will finally get the idea. For felines, be sure to receive a quality litter box & give your cat their own space. Felines naturally need to dig when they eliminate, so keep showing them the litter box after they eat. It might be a lovely suggestion to receive a tiny pet crate for your cat as well in case you plan on travelling with him or her. An additional safety tip for cat owners is to keep felines away from the dryer machine. Felines like being in cozy, closed off places, & they will jump in the dryer when your not looking, which can lead to catastrophe. With these pet supplies & the proper care, any puppy or kitten will grow to be a happy & healthy pet.

Worms : Elongated

A worm is an "elongated" invertebrate soft-bodied animal. The most widely known of all worms is the earthworm. The earthworm is a member of phylum Annelida. A side from that famous worm there's hundreds of thousands of different species of worms that live in a massive array of differet habitats.

Major worm categories include:
1.    Acanthocephala - spiny headed worms
2.    Annelida - segmented worms
3.    Gnathostomulida - jaw worms
4.    Chaetognatha - arrow worms
5.    Nemertea - ribbonworms
6.    Nematoda - roundworms
7.    Nematomorpha - horsehair worms
8.    Platyhelminthes - flatworms
9.    Onychophora - velvet worms
10.    Sipuncula - peanut worms

Throughout history worms have also beeen called helminths. This was true in zoological or medical terminology. Some insects such as larvae are often called worms. This Larvae include: the railway worm, woodworm, glowworm, & the bloodworms.

Sometimes animals such as a canines & felines, are mournful to have worms. This means that the dog or cat is infested with parasitic worms. Parasitic worms are usually roundworms & tapeworms. Each worm species differes in it is abilities to move around on their own. Plenty of worm species are bodied with no major muscles, thus stopping them from moving around on their own. These worms must be moved by outside forces or other animals in their surroundings. On the opposite of these species there's several other species that have bodies with major muscles. These muscles let them move about on their own. These worms are a kind of muscular hydrostat.

Monday 28 June 2010

10 Care Mistakes for New Rat Owners

1. Getting rat. A person might think that getting rats is much additional work...or that a pet rat will bond with a human owner more readily if there is no other rat around to become friends with. The truth is that rats are highly social creatures. They need to have other rat-friends to play with and to "talk" to. Furthermore, looking after rats is not much more work than caring for.

2. Getting the wrong kind of bedding. Sometimes a rat owner will need to cut corners and use newspaper or cheap bedding. Rats are sensitive to the chemicals in the ink and cheap bedding can often have dusty particles that will irritate their lungs. In the event you see a red discharge coming from their noses, chances are, there is an irritant present in the air. Pine wood chips are not safe!

3. Feeding the rats an imbalanced diet. No, it is not cute how your furry friends can eat  as much pizza as you. Look, there is no excuse. Fruits and veggies are not expensive items to buy; also, be sure they get their share of lab blocks, seeds, and a every day dab of a vitamin supplement.

4. Not cleaning the cage often or thoroughly . Their urine will decompose and produce ammonia. This, along with the decomposing bedding can irritate their lungs. Yes, it is a pain to do. But putting up with the disagreeable aspects will only help you to appreciate them more. Neat and disinfect with bleach-water one time a week, or up to weeks, maximum.

5. Not taking them out to play often . Rats will finally get depressed in the event that they stay cooped up inside their limited cage surroundings. In the event you make play time fun and challenging, you will be looking forward to the bonding time as well!

6. Deciding to breed for the wrong reasons. Breeding responsibly is not a profitable or simple hobby to get in to, at the beginning. Don't get stuck with a litter of rats that wind up becoming snake-food at a pet store. In lieu, try investing some time volunteering for or beginning an apprenticeship with a breeder.

7. Not giving them toys. In case you bore your rats, they will become boring. Rats not only love to play, explore and solve issues, but they actually require to be constantly stimulated by a challenging learning surroundings. Provide them with a variety of toys and games and switch things around constantly. They are going to love you for it!

8. Entering them in to a fancy rat show before researching it. You may love your rats and think they are the most ideal rats you have ever seen, but the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association (AFRMA) has very strict standards and those judges have seen hundreds--if not thousands--of rats in their day. Before deciding to enter your rats in to a show, visit first. Interview a handful of judges and learn exactly what makes a rat top in its class. Then select.

9. Procrastinating on researching a qualified vet for little animals. The moment of your rats becomes ill, you will require to have the phone number of a nice vet handy. Not all vets will treat little animals or rats. Do the searching beforehand and spare yourself the frustration and desperation an emergency situation can sometimes bring about.

10. Underestimating the importance of belonging to a rat club or rat society. Belonging to a rat club or rat society such as AFRMA will go a long way in getting your key rat questions answered. Moreover, doing so will connect you with a community of rat lovers who are likely to require to share what they know for the sake of advancing the hobby as a whole.

Thursday 24 June 2010

12 Essential Aquarium Tips

1. Location of the tank in a spot which is draft free and has a moderate amount of light for 8 to 10 hours. This will ensure the safety of the tank and the inhabitants.
2. Location of the aquarium tank where water spillage a day will do no damage, at a height convenient for working, and in a place where it will not have to be moved.
3. Proper sand gravel (not too large, not too fine).
4. Conditioned water - free of chlorine, dirt, excess hardness, excess acidity, or excess alkalinity. Hard, acidic, dirty water is not suitable for an aquarium. It will make life uncomfortable for fish and leads to constant fish death.
5. Availability of plants properly place is highly essential.
6. Proper, even temperature for the fish species.
7. Decoration and furnishing if you desire them.
8. Aeration to supply additional oxygen.
9. Filtration to remove excesses waste products.
10. Fish which will live peacefully together.
11. Food to keep them health.
12. Kits and utensils to make maintenance easy.

Aquarium Aeration Basics

Rivers and lakes have huge surface area which makes maximum provision of oxygen for fish survival feasible. On the other hand an aquarium is not like river or lake, it's a smaller surface area and there is limited movement of habitats.
This makes the provision of alternative means of oxygen for fish to breathe important. This artificial method of providing oxygen is called aeration. It is a simple method of re-oxygenating the water in aquarium tank.
The Aquarium Aerating Technique:

An aquarium aerating aystem made up of a series of materials that increases the supply of air (thereby increasing oxygen concentration) they are:
-the air pump
-t-pieces
-rubber tubing
-clamp or regulator
-diffusers or airstone

Air pumps come in different shapes and sizes but the most popular ones are tecax air pump from Taiwan together with 'dyna free, and the dragon' another popular is tremendous 555 from India though cheaper, but not as rugged. Occasionally available are the more expensive whisper and rens air pumps from Uk and rance respectively. Always place air pumps above the water level hooked to a non-vibrating material.

You can accomplish aeration in your aquarium tank by using the above listed aeration materials.
  • For tiny tanks all you need is to attach a simple aquarium air pump to airstone by means of a rubber air tube. The technique will be blowing air in to the water which causes motion in aquarium tank and thus provide the necessary oxygen your fish needs to breathe in the aquarium.
  • Sometimes people complain that the airpumps are loud. A tricks to keep the air pump calm is to insulate it is vibrations by placing the air pump on a immense sponge.
  • I have even heard of some individuals who have buried the pump in cat litter with a air tube jogging to the surface from the air inlet... but you don't must go to that extent. A immense sponge ought to do the trick.

Aquarium Tank Basics

Aquarium Tank Fundamentals
Any new aquarium tank ought to first be given a thorough check to be definite that it is watertight. If after 12 hours there's no leaks, it may be emptied & placed in its final position.
Now all is prepared to set up the aquarium, for this work they shall need various items such as sand, rocks etc. These will be death with in order.

For making a bottom soil, you need, initially some sand, the most suitable is called 1/16th grade & it is about the size of the average pin-head:
The gravel to be used must even be graded; that is, the gram must be of uniform size. Sand & gravel's sold in aquarium supply stores are always graded, but in the event you buy elsewhere they may nor be. Gravel grains 2-5mm work best.

In the event you use nothing, but sand, it must be well washed-in buckets, under walking water until no more dirt or foam comes to the surface - & spared out on the bottom of the tank in a layer walking from 3- 6cm thick sloping upwards from front to back. In the event you choose to mix the sand with gravel to make at least a layer 6cm deep on top of the subgravel filter since less than this amount reduces the filtering capacity of the tank.

Your tank is the basic element, & is of the most important in building an aquarium. The size of the tank depends on the number & size of fish you plan to have in it. That is why proper planning is essential when you need to set up aquarium.

But then it is important to make it as massive as you can afford. By all means avoid a globe tank as much as feasible. Rectangle shape is always nice because of various reasons you will discover later.
Option one: You can buy prepared made glass tanks already sealed professionally set up aquarium tank at any aquarium store.
Option two: Buy ready-made plastic models through distributors or mould-extrusion manufacturers & put your aquarium tank together yourself.

Furnishing Aquarium in 4 Easy Steps

1. Add aquarium gravel
Gravel is essential to your aquarium most in case you are using natural plants. It will help in holding plant roots and provide the foundation for the biological and under gravel filtration. Since gravel comes in different sizes and colours, the advised size is four to 6 millimeters because it provides flow for an undergravel filter and the most popular is quartzite or granite.

2. Add Rocks
Adding rock is very important to your aquarium as it provide isolated home for territorial fish. Add rocks can upset your aquarium ecosystem thus it is advisable that you take measures to prevent this.
Also since you may not know how save rock you require to add is, it is very important that you tidy them up to remove contaminants.

3. Add Bogwood
This is another essential factor that adds to the beauty of aquarium and it can last long time. Not only that, aquarium habitats need shelter and bogwood provides this. When adding bogwood makes positive that it is well cleaned and it is not infected. To be positive that its infection free takes it through process of poly-vanish.

4. Add Plants
Plants also add to the beauty of your aquarium. There's types of plants - plastic plants and live (natural) plants.
It is very simple to make use of plastic plants because they need tiny or no maintenance. You tidy them up with tidy water and add. On the other hand live plants helps in biological process of aquarium and helping to keep your tank tidy and healthy.

Poisonous Substances in Aquarium That Can Cause Fish Death

Aquarium water becomes dangerous to fish when it is over-saturated, due to nitrogen cycle in the water. In this short editorial, they shall look at the causes & the simple way out to limit continuous death of aquarium fish.

As they are all aware, atmospheric air is made up of about 23 percent oxygen & 76 percent Nitrogen together with host of other gases in minute quantities. It follows that when they put on the airflow method of our aquarium, the air pumped in contains a tiny oxygen & lots of nitrogen.

This atmospheric nitrogen can deadly to fish when the water is over-saturated (over 100 percent) saturation with this gas.

Research has shown that nitrogen embolism otherwise known as NITROGEN GAS BUBBLE DISEASE can occur with 103-118 percent nitrogen saturation & cause lots of fish casualties.

This condition can affect an aquarium fish when is replacing the elderly aquarium water with slightly warm freshwater. The infection is characterized by the presence of tiny bubbles of nitrogen beneath the skin in the fins, tail or mouth, behind the eyes, & in the blood vessels.

One can prevent the disease by aerating the water to be introduced for some time in order to clear the excess nitrogen. Affected fish would be placed in a tiny bucket of water in to, which has been passed an airstone tool to properly aerate the water. The fishes are bound to recover spontaneously if the aquarist takes an immediate remedial action.

Filter System in the Aquarium

Fish excrete waste constantly like any other living things as they swim around the water. This waste is a feasible poison to fish thus it is highly essential to discover a way to remove this toxin from the aquarium tank.
The method of removing this excess food, decaying matters, risky chemicals, fish waste products and free floating particles from aquarium water is called filtration. And the tools use is called filter.

Filters for aquariums come in all sorts of shapes, types and sizes, but they perform the same basic function, and that is to circulate the water through some type of straining or cleansing medium at such a rate that the water is kept tidy physically and biologically.

Filters are categorized as 'inside', 'outside' and sub gravel; based on the location around the aquarium, but the location is not as important as the way in which it operates.
The major categories are mechanical, biological and chemical.

Mechanical filters remove undesirable materials from the water by straining and /or the use of absorbent materials. It helps maintaining water clarity doing so.

Biological Filtration : - Unlike mechanical filtration method biological filtration involves bacteria and other microorganisms converting your fish's waste in to less poisonous substances through a method call running. Biological filter will convert your fish's poisonous waste ammonia in to Nitrite, and from nitrite to nitrate, which is comparatively harmless.
This running reduces the necessary maintenance in your aquarium.
Chemical filtration as the name implies can remove toxins and other chemically induced material from your aquarium process with the use of activated carbon. It is necessary to change activated carbon ought to be changed often to have a save community.

Effective Solutions for Aquarium Algae

Eradication of encrusting algae could be completed basically by periodically scraping the sides of the aquarium or scrubbing the rocks.

For those with plastic plants as well as a white gravel bed, the situation could be more tasking as it would be necessary to bleach the rocks to remove all traces of algae.

However, in case you do this, do make definite that you rinse the gravel thoroughly afterwards. Bleach is highly poisonous, and even small amounts can have a extreme effect on the aquarium fish.
Since the primary cause of green algae is much light. The fist step in the treatment schedule ought to be light reduction then partial water changes and an adequate stocking with natural aquarium plants. A final treatment with an algae treatment ought to make definite that the issue is eradicated and is at least kept at bay for some time.

One of the factors mentioned above is the use of natural aquatic plants as a technique of algae control. This is more effective than lots of people think.

For a start, luxuriant plant growth will filter out some of the light keeping algae in check. In addition plants absorb a huge variety of chemicals from the water, thereby starving algae of some of their essential nutrients e.g. nitrates (not nitrites).
Surprising as though it may appear, an adequate plant stocking level is about 50 small plants per square root of available space.

The treatment I mentioned is the use of an algaecide. I must stress the word "use:" it is different to "abuse"!
Yet despite this difference, I do know that some people will still persist in pouring the chemical treatment in to their aquarium and expect the issue to disappear overnight, although they have completed absolutely nothing to fine-tune the conditions in the tank that brought about the issue in the first place.

The conditions I said above must be adhering to for any lasting effect to occur! Now that they know how to curb the menace of the green algae, in another news story I shall discuss it is ugly "sister" brown algae (the brown encrusting algae whose case is the reverse of green algae).

Wednesday 23 June 2010

Picking The Right Aquarium Types

Starting in the 1850s (when the predecessor of the modern aquarium were first being developed as a novel curiosity) the ranks of aquarium keeping has grown as more sophisticated systems including lighting and filtration systems were developed to keep aquarium fish healthy.

When you get to the pet store or specialized aquarium store you will have plenty of aquarium tanks to choose from:
Metal Framework:
Most of the elderly style aquariums are made with sheets of glass, which are held in a metal framework. This is usually constructed of pieces of angle iron or stainless steel, which are welded together at the corners. Leakage between the glass and metal is prevented by putty aquarium cement, acrylic or silicon sealant.

Battery Jars:
Fish Globes or Bowls: This type of aquarium is useful for emergency purpose, but is not to be recommended as a permanent features. The glasses are cast in piece and a crack, however small, may suddenly expand and cause a floodwater. This not only ends in a loss of fishes but also necessitates the purchasing of a brand spanking new tank, as it is impossible to repair the elderly.
Also, when looking through the walls of this type of aquarium, there is distortion, which adversely affects one's view of the fishes. Similar disadvantages apply in fish globes or bowls.

Plastics:
With the ever-expanding applications of plastics, it is not surprising that these synthetic that these synthetic products have been used to replace glass for aquarium. Plastics have advantage of being unbreakable, but are soft for the surface to become scratched. This is in time will spoil transparency.

Vitorlite:
This glass-like material is obtainable in plenty of different colours and some very pleasing effects can be obtained by applying it to the sides to back up the aquarium. Moreover, being opaque Vitorlite will hide the wall and any ugly wires or other equipment behind the aquarium.

Wood:
Aquarium frameworks with wood are desirable chiefly for aesthetic reasons. The wooden framework however will must be constructed from plywood to prevent warping.
The advantage of the wood lies in the fact that it can be polished, covered with upholstered rug, stained or coated with colours to harmonize with the furnishing of the room.

Mini guide of Plants and Lighting for Aquarium

The most important thing to bear in mind with plants is to form an attractive background, leaving ample space so the fish can swim undisturbed & be seen. The tall, grassy type is best planted at intervals in rows, while the feathery ones look better when they are bunched in to small clumps, which makes them to appear like branching bushes.

When planting rooted plants, hold the tips of the bunch of roots between the thumb & second finger & rest them on the sand. Now with the first finger push the upper part of the roots (where they join the stem) about 2cm in to the sand. Without moving this finger scrape with the thumb & second finger some sand over any uncovered portion of the root.

When putting in rootless plants in bunches, the process explained above is repeated, but this time the lower ends of the stems are placed together & treated exactly as in the event that they were roots.
It is important that the water surface ought to be right up to the lower fringe of the top angle iron of the tank, so that looking from the front the water surface can not be seen & the viewer gets the impression that there is no water in the aquarium. If the level is allowed to fall below the top angle iron the tank looks like a container holding water.

Aquarium Lighting is also important for aquarium plants
This relies greatly on whether you intend to successfully grow plants or not. Lack of light causes colorful fish to fade & clanch-reds to pink, green to white. The main methods of lighting aquarium are by the INCADESCENT & FLOURESCENT.

The total amount of light necessary is a matter of trial & error. much light will turn the water green; small will stunt plant growth.

The lighting can be natural or artificial or a mix of both. The best position is near a north facing window. This ought to provide the ideal amount of indirect lights which an be supplemented by artificial light.

The lighting ought to be housed in wood constructed stylishly with the furniture & placed above the tank. if there is no natural day light, the lights ought to be left on for about eight hours per day.
If the water turns green, you cut down on the light.
The best light for showing off an aquarium comes from behind.

Choke Collar Training

Choke collar training collars are among the most popular and most often used tools by both professional dog trainers and people like you and me. These collars are often known as a choke collar, choke chain, training collar, correction collar and slip collar.

It is vital to pay attention to how the collar fits the dog. It is essential that the training collar be properly fitted to the dog. A properly fitted training collar is simpler to make use of and safer for the dog.
There is a right way as well as a wrong way to fit a training collar, and putting it on wrong will make it both ineffective and potentially dangerous.

As with any dog training device it must be used responsibly to make sure effectiveness, and safety for your dog.

A training collar ought to be used as a sharp reminder to the dog, not as punishment. It is important that constant pressure be avoided when using a training collar.

Pay attention to the weight of the chain and the size of the links on the training collar. It is important that the weight and size of the chain be appropriate to the size and weight of the dog.

Determining if the training collar is the right size is comparatively simple. The ideal size training collar ought to fit snugly, yet comfortably over the dog's head. It is important that the training collar not fit tightly, but it ought to not be loose either. A training collar that is tight will be hard to put on and off. On the other hand, a training collar that is loose can accidentally fall off of the dog's head when it lowers its head.

It is also important to know that a training collar that is long for the dog requires a great deal of finesse to make use of properly. A collar that is long can still be used, but it will need more skill on the part of the handler.

It is best to measure the dog's neck with a tape measure, then add two to three inches to that measurement. So if your dog has a neck 12" in diameter, you would need to buy a training collar that is 14" in length. Chain slip collars are usually sized in inch increments.

When fitting a training collar, the loop of the chain which is connected to the leash ought to be on the top of the dog's neck. This ensures that the collar releases the instant the leash is loosened. Training collars work most effectively when they are able to tighten and loosen quickly. Tightening the collar is the first part of the correction, and loosening it is the second part of the process, by way of reinforcement for your dog. It is the transient nature of the tightening that gives the dog the message that the tightening will occur immediately there is an undesired behavior.

If the loop of the training collar that is attached to the leash is not on the top of the dog's neck, the collar can still be tightened comparatively basically, but it won't release back to a loose state as quickly. The more constant pressure on the dog's neck which results, initiates a counter response on the part of the animal, and your dog will then react by pulling and straining against the leash.

If the worst happens, and your dog's training collar does break, it is important not to panic. Most canines will be unaware that they have broken the collar, at least for a few seconds.

Finally, it is important to make use of a training collar that is well made and strong. Purchasing a top quality training collar, slip collar or choke collar can be vital to the safety of yourself and your dog.

10 Bunny Rabbit Facts

1: Rabbits are crepuscular (most active at dawn & twilight).

2: Neither wild nor domestic bunnies hibernate.
3: A rabbit may tear apart her cage out of mating frustration? If your bunny is not spayed or neutered, you ought to get her/him altered as soon as feasible.
4: Bunnies cannot throw up. They can gag, but they can not vomit.
5: Rabbit can snore!
6: Bunnies can jump 36 inches & higher. Bunnies are excellent at leaping.
7: Wild bunnies can be found on every continent except Australia & Antarctica. (While rabbits are not indigenous to Australia, there IS now a sizable population of feral rabbits brought to the continent by European ancestors.)
8: Wild rabbits sleep in burrows.
9: A group of bunnies is called a herd.
10: Less than ten percent of all abandoned wild kid bunnies survive.

Popular Rabbit Name


As part of our research we looked into the most popular bunny names, so we thought we'd share them with you.
Here are rabbit names from our collection in random order:

* Bailey
* Bugs
* Thumper
* Puddles
* Midnight
* Riley
* Stormie
* Pippin
* Noel
* Piper
* Holbrook
* Willow
* Cocoa
* Maybelline
* Oreo
* Dezzi
* Pepper
* Cherub
* Bunny-Bunny (fun name when said in a very high pitch)
* Chance
* Satine
* Shadow
* Snuggles
* Thumbelina
* Hopper
* Nutmeg
* Smokey
* Patches
* Sadie
* Tyler
* Duchess
* Harvey
* Pumpkin
* Angel
* Binky
* Hopkins
* Snowball
* Peanut
* Dakota
* Dash
* Dutch

* Flopsy
* Marshmallow
* Gatsby
* Jade
* Frodo
* Arial
* Rex
* Mittens
* Zuzu
* Halo
* Onyx
* Sabrina
* Belle
* Noir
* Q-Tip
* Nibbles
* Daisy
* Merry
* Tricycle
* Romeo
* Hershey
* Juniper

* Jazmin (name for girl bunny-rabbit)
* Princess
* Rox
* Oscar
* Zoey
* Pepper
* Sundance
* Hopson
* Ripley
* Trance
* Sweetpea
* Charmin
* Noah
* Bunster
* Silver
* Bumper
* Rascal
* Hayley
* Velvet
* Tinkerbell
* Tuxedo

* Ebbie (stands for the initials E.B., short cut for Easter Bunny)
* Emma
* Sophie
* Einstein (name for smart male rabbit
* Muffin
* Mopsy
* Honey
* Dopey (cute name for small cute pet)
* Charlie
* Smores
* Ollie
* Willow Jett
* Jessee (for a girl or a boy rabbit) * Buttons (when you'll see baby bunny's eyes you'll understand this)


* Fern
* Snickerz
* Dandelion
* Thumper
* Zypp
* Tinker
* Sunny
* Hocus Pocus
* Houdini
* Treacle
* Milly
* Amber
* Max
* Lola
* Gadget (probably the name for rabbit who love to play with toys)
* White Chocolate (in case the rabbit is brown and white)

Indoor and Outdoor Bunny

Most rabbit lovers insist the only way to properly house a rabbit is inside because the outside, though not impossible (as we'll speak about) poses way plenty of hazards.

If you are going to keep your bunny inside, we'll must speak about bunny proofing. Bunnies love to chew, & they are keen on phone cords, computer wires & Web cables. (Keep the remote & phone out of bunny's reach .) It is hazardous for your bunny to chew live wires.

Rabbits are social animals, & like humans, they can become depressed in the event that they don't get attention. Having an indoor bunny is the most popular & safest way to take care of a rabbit, & it is the best way to make your bunny a actual part of your relatives.

There is a simple fix to protect your bunny (& the wires in your house). You can purchase plastic tubing from Home Depot or Lowe's. You can also get spiral cable wrap from Radio Shack. Or, you can basically make positive all wires are out of reach.

Bunnies also love to chew the baseboard & the edges of doorways. You can try spraying bitter applewhich you can buy at any pet storeon the enticing areas, but most bunnies are not bothered by the taste. (Kind of like how they might feel if someone sprayed bittle apple on a hot fudge sunday! Annoying, but not a stopper!)

Ivory Soap is usually more effective. Basically take a bar & rub it along the areas your bunny likes to chew. (Only Ivory Soap though is safe for your bunny - others have hazardous chemicals which will irritate Thumper's technique.) Reapply after a few weeks (it wears out).

You might also need to get the plastic protectors that cover baseboard & corners purchase these at any home improvement store.

Bunnies also love to chew wood, so you might find they require to gnaw at your table legs, chairs and bookshelves. You can use Ivory on these as well. (Do you think the makers of Ivory had this in mind when they went in to production?)

Lots of bunnies will also love chewing on your rugs. If your bunny is going to have free run of the house, you don't have lots of options to keep away from this. However, this is by no means a reason not to permit your bunny run time or to permit your bunny free range. The key to stopping bunny destruction is to make definite your bunny has lots of toys and entertainment. The more they must do, the less destructive they are going to be. (You can also supervise them around the rugs and make a loud noise when they go to chew them).

Basically put a board around the base of your bed and couches. (Some people recommend a flat cardboard box, but bunnies finally chew their way through).

 like with children, you'll need to cover all of your unused electrical outlets. And bunnies love to hide under beds and couches, then dig their way in to the underside of that furniture, curl up and go to sleep. At first, you might think it is cute and a pleasant tiny hideaway for bunny. But, the bad news is when bunnies snuggle away in the underside; they also tend to pee and poop.

Finally, you need to keep your plants out of reach of the bunnies since the huge majority of them are poisonous to bunnies if eaten. And be cautious in the event you hang your plants from the ceiling. If the leaves fall, you'll need to make definite they are well out-of-reach of the bunny.

Rabbit cages and Hutches

Before they look at the different housing options, you ought to understand that the more room your bunny has when she is confined, the better. You might think because a specific bunny is a dwarf, they doesn't need as much room as a bigger bunny. Not true. Dwarfs have lots of energy, and therefore, need lots of room to move, roam and run. The cages you see at pet stores claiming to be for guinea pigs and dwarf rabbitsll for any rabbit, no matter what size.

Your bunny's housing will need lots of room for a full-size litter box (think about having in case you have bunnies,) her hay box, her food bowl and either a water bowl or a water bottle. In addition, you'll be wanting to make positive your bunny has lots of entertainment, so they doesn't get bored when she is confined. (For an idea of the kind of toys bunnies love, read the section Exercise and Entertainment.nt her to have lots of roomnot  room to turn around. Make positive her cage is at least times her size.
There's lots of fun cage options your bunny will love: NIC condos and exercise pens are the most popular housing for bunnies who don't have free reign. Other options include giant dog carriers, cages designed specifically for rabbits and hutches.
Since they don't have room to speak about all of them in an electronic mail, let me confine myself to the best in my view - Neat Idea Cubes! (They are roomy, fun to put together, and cheap).

NIC condos are simple to put together, but it is a time consuming method. (In case you make, let your bunny watch you. She'll love to sniff and inquire in to what you are doing.) In case you need to make a condo for your bunny, you first need to choose how giant you need it to be. How lots of floors? Let's say you choose to make a four-floor condo for your bunny. Here's what you'll need to start:
  • You'll need packages of Neat Idea Cubes (assuming they come eight in a package) because you'll need at least 47 pieces to build the condo. You can get the Neat Idea Cubes from places like Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, and you can check with Home Improvement and Lowe's.
  • Package (you may find you need more) of cable ties.
  • A pair of scissors
    Then, do a search on the net (they like Google) for "Neat Idea Cubes Articles" and you'll find about a half dozen sites with step by step instructions.