Pets

It’s tempting, when you’re just starting out in the aquarium-keeping hobby, to keep things small. It seems logical that a goldfish bowl or a small tank will be easier to maintain than one of those wall-sized monsters, but in fact it’s just the opposite.

The bigger the tank, the easier it is to care for. A larger volume of water helps minimize the effect of temperature changes, pH swings, and the biological toxins that come from decaying plant and fish wastes. With toxins more widely dispersed in the water, your filters have more time to do their job, while your fish stay healthier. All of this means that beginning aquarium hobbyists don’t have so much to fear from common early mistakes.

Also remember that small fish are generally more active than bigger fish, and are much happier with more room to swim around in, so don’t get a small tank just because you like small fish!

In my opinion, the best size to get you started is a standard 40 or 55 gallon rectangular tank. These are easy to find, have lots of standard accessories, are relatively inexpensive, and they’re easy to take care of. It doesn’t take too long to change the water or do other standard maintenance, all parts of the tank are easy to reach, and you’re less likely to have problems with algae growth than in a smaller, narrower tank.

Do yourself a few favors when looking at tanks to buy. Start with glass, because acrylic has its own tricky issues to master. Check the glass or packaging for a safety symbol, certifying the strength of the silicone caulking used to hold the panes of glass together. Also be sure to get a snug-fitting cover that’s easy to clean – you’ll need that to keep both feisty fish and evaporating water in the tank, and it’s inevitably going to get filmed or crusty over time.

Buy a stand that’s sufficient to support your tank’s weight – remember that a 40 gallon tank can weigh up to five hundred pounds when it’s full of water and gravel! Choose the location of your tank carefully, to make sure the floor is level and strong and, that direct sunlight doesn’t fall on the tank during certain parts of day (this will throw your temperature maintenance off).

Set up the stand, and do anything you need to in order to make sure it’s absolutely level – anything out of kilter will put pressure on your tank’s glass or joints, and they WILL give eventually. Not a pretty picture!

Speaking of which, most modern fish tanks are never going to leak, break, or fall, but accidents do happen, and it wouldn’t hurt to add a rider on your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to cover potential water damage to your carpet or floorboards.

The miniature or the teacup pug is a little known breeds of pugs. Many people don’t believe that such a breed exists and that the teacup pug is just a smaller version of a normal pug. If you go into any pug forum people will tell you that they have spotted teacup pugs and that they have a much different appearance than the normal pug. So is there really a breed of pugs known as teacups?

The Facts

Basically a teacup pug isn’t actually a purebred of pugs, instead they are in fact half breeds. It’s common to see a pug crossed with a Chihuahua and the appearance can be somewhat amazing. Basically you would mistake one of these half breeds a just a smaller version of a pug. The only semi noticeable difference being the length of the snout is a little longer in a teacup pug then in a normal purebred.

So is it safe to breed a pug with another dog such as a Chihuahua? The answer is a little yes and a little no. Most of these teacup pugs need C sections. One thing that may be beneficial for this type of pug is the fact that they have a slightly longer snout which will reduce the likelihood a possible breathing complications later on down the track. This is a common flaw in purebred pugs.

Although there may be some benefits of cross breeding pugs, there are usually more complications involved and it is not recommended that people should do so. There is a common term in dog society named ‘designer dogs’. These are dogs that are purposely cross bred to create new unique breeds that no one else will have. This is one of the worst things that people could do. It’s not safe to experiment in cross breeding dogs unless of course you are a trained vet who knows what you are doing.

In Summation

Basically there is no actual purebred of teacup pugs. We all know that there are many different types of cross breeds out there and you may be mistaken if you see a teacup pug because usually it’s probably just a normal pug that’s just a little smaller than usual. One of the things you could do is the next time you come across a smaller than usual pug, ask the owner if it is in fact a teacup pug. If they say yes than ask them what it is a cross of. Most people will just tell you that it is purebred but as you now know, there is no such thing as a purebred teacup pug.

As morbid as it sounds, the death of a beloved pet and trying to figure out what to do with it, is something all pet owners have to face.

Growing up, my parents consented for us to bury our loving pets in the back yard. For that matter, and in most cases, they even helped with the burial. We also grew up in the country which probably made it easier. For those folks that live in the city, it’s probably a harder situation to deal with.

Back to where I was_ By the time I was old enough to leave home, we had a complete plot in the back yard for all the pets we’ve owned. They ranged from many species and sizes. There was dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, mice, birds, turtles, and even fish. Yes, I said fish. We were smart enough to know that if you flushed your fish down the commode, it didn’t go out to sea.

It usually depended on the type of pet we were burying, to whether or not we had some sort of service for them. With the dogs and cats, we always made sure they were layed out into a nice sized box, with their favorite items such as a blanket, toys, food dish, and even some food. Then we would wrap the box in a large or several large garbage bags before placing it into the ground to be buried. This was more so to keep other animals from possibly smelling it through the box and dirt, and later digging it up.

We made wooden crosses constructed of sticks tied together with wire. Placed flat rocks at the foot or head of the area as markers, and a small handful of flowers. If you stood back to view it all, it really did look like a cemetery, so we finally named it Pet Cemetery_ after Steven King’s Novel.

Some folks sometimes desire to keep their pets right with them, and so they have them cleaned and stuffed by a taxidermist. It is best to put the pet on ice and keep it frozen until you get it to the taxidermist, or make plans to get it there right away. For a long time, I considered this with one of my dogs, which when I first acquired it, my husband brought it home to me in his pocket. That’s how small she was. She liked it so much, I ended up wearing large sweaters until she was a year old, because she always liked to sleep in the pockets. She was the runt and the noisiest of the litter, and no one wanted her.

This little dog was more than just a furry child as some may call them. She was with all heart and soul a guardian to me. She wouldn’t let people touch me if I was holding her, and on a few occasions if I decided to take her with me anywhere, I had to be very careful because she didn’t like people of different races. After that, I decided it was best to keep her home until I returned, but I found out from neighbors that the dog cried continuous until my return. I had to believe them, because the dog was hoarse and had trouble barking when I finally entered back in the house, and it got so excited to have me back home, it would wee-wee all down the front of me when I picked her up from crying. And let me tell you, this dog had real tears rolling down it’s face. It made me cry.

She only grew to be 8 years old, and passed away shortly after having pups of her own. I knew she had been ill soon after, but I wasn’t sure why. I took her to the vets to see what they could find and suggest, and what they told me, broke my heart in two. She had liver cancer and there wasn’t anything they could do for her. We took her home, and she passed away quietly in my arms about 4 days later. It was so traumatic for me, that I asked my husband if we could get her fixed up and stuffed, so that I could always have her with me. We kept her body frozen so it didn’t decay, but by the time it was time to take the dog to the taxidermist, I realized that this would be selfish of me and decided to bury her in the front yard, with an alter included. Many people believed I needed to see a doctor because of this, but all it was, was complete love for an animal that loved me just as hard.

So you see, different people have different perspectives on what to do in this situation. But you must decide these things for yourself, and not let others push you into something you really don’t want. Everyone is different in his or her beliefs and what they think is the right thing to do, or whether it’s proper or improper.

The Oscars, or Astronotus ocellatus, from Cichlidae family, are fairly easy fish to breed. All you need is pretty much leaving them alone and letting them do their thing if you lucky enough to get a pair. If not, breeding might be very hard. They are a very long-lived fish, probably one of the reasons they are so popular today. Originally from Amazon.

Oscar Fish obviously requires a large tank due to their large size. They prefer clean and clear water with a deep sand bottom, and a few large rocks. If you keep plants with you Oscars they will be dug up however there are some people that believe that Oscars like to have plants that they can dig up in the aquarium and this might be true since many large cichlid like to have toys when kept in aquariums not to get bored. And since Oscars are large and very smart cichlids, you can actually teach them tricks, they might want something to do like digging up plant.

Be careful, they are enthusiastic eaters and they love to eat smaller fish. Thus, only keep them with other fish that are of the same size. Temperature is important, and should be kept stable somewhere in 79-86°F range. Feeding Oscars is not a problem since they will take every food you give, including flake frozen fish, prawns, pellets, earth worms, crickets, kitchen scrapes…and of course live food.

The most trying task to do is finding a mating pair. If your Oscar is adult in size, it becomes a really trial-and-error process. However once they form pairs they will stay together for the rest of their life. Probably the most common and effective method of finding pair of Oscars is to buy 6 or 8 young specimens (about 1 inch in length), and allowing them to grow up together. A mating pair can be identified from their mating play, which is a seemingly aggressive behavior towards each other; lip-locking, tail-slapping…. If one of the fish is overly aggressive, and it is a one-sided aggression and you should separate them or risk loosing one of them.

During their spawning process, they will use their mouths to clean a flat rock, and the female will lay her eggs there. Not all the eggs are laid at once; the female will take breathers, at which time the male moves in and fertilizes the eggs. A female usually lays 1,000-2,000 eggs. The eggs are opaque at first, turning transparent in 24 hours. After the eggs are laid, both parents watch over the eggs, wafting the eggs with their fin and guarding them against predators. Occasionally they take the eggs in their mouth, which keeps them clean and turns up bad eggs, which are then destroyed.

If a constant tank temperature is maintained, the eggs should hatch in about 36 hours. At first, the fry cannot swim, but they squirm “en masse” on the rock, living off the egg sac, for about 4 days. The parents constantly attend to their young at this time. Feeding these fry is easier than other breeds, because of the baby Oscar’s relatively large size. A good and simple plan is to crush regular processed flake food in your fingers, and just drop it in. Turn off filtration during fry feeding time to make it easier for them to find their bits of food.

How the parents act towards their fry depends entirely on each fish personality. Some have numerous spawn and never bother their fry; others easily eat their young. To be on the safe side, you can separate the fry from their parents. However I do not recommend this until the parents have had a few unsuccessful spawnings. The fry will reach 1.5 to 2 inches after 12 weeks at which time they can be sold.

I recently read a story online about a goldfish that died at the ripe old age of 43. I marveled at the story because my goldfish only seem to last a couple of months. What caused this fish to live so long? No doubt he received great care and was raised in optimum water conditions.

Goldfish are actually hardy fish but they are many diseases that they can die from including constipation. If you want your goldfish to live a long and healthy life you need to make sure that you treat the aquarium properly. Goldfish can be a bit messy and you need to make sure that you clean their water diligently vacuuming up all feces and uneaten food on the bottom and doing partial water changes often. Also it is important not to overcrowd the tank as this can cause the water quality to go downhilll fast.

Here’s some aquarium diseases that your goldfish might be prone to:

Constipation

while, this is not a disease per say it does have to do with what you are feeding the fish. if you notice that your goldfish is trailing feces behind him, then he is probably constipated. This means that you are not feeding him the right kinds of foods, perhaps his diet is too fatty or just not varied enough. Just like in humans, you can remedy this by giving him more roughage. Try feeding him spinach, peas or even tubifex worms. You should also soak dried fish foods before letting your goldfish feed on them and this will help with his digestion.

Swim Bladder Disorder

swim bladder disorder happens more in the fancy goldfish and is a problem with him swimming where he will seem to be floating up near the top of the tank or down at the bottom. This happens more often and tanks that have bad water quality so keep your tank In good condition.

Dropsy

Dropsy is a bacterial infection that attacks the fish from the inside. The symptoms are that your goldfishes scales will look like they are sticking out from his body. This is a very serious aquarium disease and by the time you notice your fish have it, it’s probably already too advanced treat.

Ich

Ich is a common aquarium disease which is actually a parasite that attaches itself to your fish. It is often called white spot because It looks like little white dots, like tiny grains of salt on the fish. If you leave this unchecked it can get quite bad as the spores multiply excessively.

Fin Rot

Fin Rot is another bacterial infection which attacks the fins of your goldfish. this will cause his fans to look ragged and you will notice over time that it progresses up the fin until nothing is left. This can be treated successfully if caught early on..

Most all goldfish disease can be avoided by keeping your tank clean. Remember to do periodic water changes and don’t crowd to many fish in the tank. Watch your fish for signs of constipation and other disease and you too might have a goldfish that lives to the ripe old age of 43!

There are three breeds of dogs that stem from the high mountain regions of Tibet. The Tibetan Terrier, the Tibetan Spaniel and the Tibetan Mastiff. All three are indigenous to the region and were known to be in existence as long as 1000 years ago. The Himalayan regions of Tibet encompass high cold mountains and hot deserts and grassy flat plateaus. The dogs that developed are hardy and adaptable because of the harsh regions in which they originated. The people of Tibet are wanderers and nomadic in nature. they did not purposely breed dogs. Thus the Tibetan Terrier, known for being of compact size, possessing double coat and great agility and large flat feet, suitable for crossing the rugged terrain, is a true creature which demonstrates “survival of the fittest”.

The Tibetan Terrier’s coat may be of any color, but it is always long and profuse and double. Thorough brushing down to the skin at least twice a week helps to keep it looking nice, though in the wild lands of Tibet it is true that it does not bother the dog when it is unkempt and uncombed! The coat should not be shaved, for mother nature has endowed it with insulation in both hot and cold weather and also protection from the sun. A dog whose coat is shaved is much more likely to develop skin problems and irritations. The coat of the Tibetan Terrier parts naturally down the middle of the back and if kept clean and free of mats it is an easy job to comb out, but once mats have developed this can be quite a chore. Attention needs to be paid to the ears also, which are long and covered with long hair, if they become infected they are difficult to keep clean because no air gets to the inside of the ear.

Other than coat care and occasionally a nail trim, there is not much else which needs to concern an owner of a Tibetan Terrier, as they seem to have a natural good health and are not prone to a lot of the diseases which afflict many of the modern dogs. There can occasionally be found cases of juvenile cataracts or hip dysplasia but for the most part the incidence of these problems is low.

Oddly enough, the Tibetan Terrier is not truly a “Terrier” and does not qualify except in the area of being of small stature. This dog furthermore is not shown in the Terrier classes. In the United Kingdom he is classified as a “Utility Dog” and in the United States the classification is that of the Non-Sporting group. Terriers are known to be rodent killers and “ratters” and this is the farthest thing from the description of the capabilities and usefulness of this breed.

Through the years of its development, the Tibetan Terrier and the Nomadic tribes began to interact and the dogs became part of the livelihood of the Tibetan people, serving as a drover of the flock, a companion and a caravan dog. Eventually this dog became an indispensable part of the life of the monasteries, the small villages and the wandering tribes. The small size (15-16 inches at the shoulder) and the hardiness of the coat and sturdiness of its’ structure have become important attributes in the performance of these various tasks. Furthermore, the Tibetan Terrier has become an indispensable part of the family life of its’ owners and masters, preferring human company above all else and likewise being treasured and loved by the people to whom it belongs.

The Tibetan Terrier in the modern family of today makes a gentle and sensible companion, a wonderful obedience dog and also excels in the sport of agility. It is an intelligent dog, loves to learn tricks and delights in pleasing its owner.

Is A Boxer Right For You?

Country of Origin: Germany

First Registered: 1904

Colors: Fawn, brindle with white markings

Coat Type: Short, glossy and smooth

Height: 21 - 25 inches

Weight: 66 - 70 lbs.

Life Span: 10 - 12 Years

Average Litter Size: 5 – 10

Health Concerns:. May have problems with heart murmurs, skin tumors, digestive problems and hypothyroidism

Temperament: good-natured, affectionate, sociable, headstrong, high-energy

Active, playful, loyal, family oriented, are just a few of the characteristics of the boxer. A breed full of love for people and a zest for life, the boxer can be an ideal family dog. The boxer is unlike any other breed. Often discribed as the “clown,” of the dog cummunity, boxers are a class all their own.. Those who own boxers can attest to their unique characteristics.

With their lean muscular builds, smooth coats, and square stance, the boxer is truly an impressive looking animal. Being a working class breed, the boxer domonstrates an instinctive willinness to please, while at the same time showing an alertness, caution and courage in the face of the unknown.

However, the boxer is NOT for everyone. Being a breed of high-energy, they require plenty of love, and even more patience.

So, if you are considering owning a boxer, web-rover.com offers some information on this wonderful breed.

Origin

Originally breed in Germany, it is believe that the boxer is of Brabanter Bullenbessier descent. The Bullenbeisser was used by the elite to hunt wild boar in and around the 1800’s In order to prevent injury during the hunt, the ears were cropped.

As time passed the the Barbanter Bullenbeisser was used by cattle dealers, and by the end of the 1800’s was officially recognized as a working class dog. As well as being renowned for being an intelligent working dog, the Barbanter Bullenbessier was recognized as an excellent companion dog who was always eager to please humans.. When not working, the breed was known to be an excellent family pet, who was great with childern.

It is believed that around 1830, the Babnanter Bullenbeisser was bred with an early breed of the English Bulldog, and thus, the boxer was born.

In the early days of the breed, many changes took place. Many older pictures show boxers as being white. It is believed that white boxers were no longer accepted because in order to be police dogs, a darker coat was needed. Therefore, the Boxer Klub of Germany set the breed standard to no longer allow white boxers. To this day, there is still huge debate over white boxers.

Typical Boxer Characteristics

- The boxer is an extremely high-energy dog. As a result, they need a great deal of attention and supervisoin.

- The boxer is an intelligent dog. As should be with all dogs, the boxer needs obedience training on a regular basis starting from a young pup. Being a bright energetic breed, they will find many ways to get in to trouble if not properly trained and watched.

- Boxers are typically great with childern. If properly socialized from a pup, the boxer makes an ideal playmate.

The boxer is a natural guardian. Always alert, the boxer is on constant guard. Usually weary of strangers, and always protective of their people.

- The boxer temmperment is “fundemntally playful,” but if threadted will display unwaverying courage..

Here are some “other” Characteristics of the boxer that you most likey wont find in any dog book

laying on back, feet up, not a care!

GAS…bad gass

Kidney Beans (the boxer dance)

Boxer Woo Woo Song

Catching bugs

Using paws in cat like movements

Zipping around the backyard for no apparent reason.

Bounces like a rabbit when running at times

The “woo woo” song

Lay their head on you like it is too heavy to hold up!

Constatnly following their humans whereever they go.

So is a boxer right for you?

The boxer is an affectionate loyal dog, that if treated with love and respect can be a wonderful addition to any household. Yet the boxer is also a a dog with very high energy, who will need strict obedience and even more patience.. The key is to properly socialize and train your dog from a young age. By doing so, you and your dog will both enjoy your time together more more.

So If you are looking for a dog who will lay at your feet, only occasionaly moving to eat, or keeps to himself and requires little attention,then maybe a boxer isn’t exactly what you need. But If you want a dog who is full of life and a constant source of entertainment then perhaps a boxer is exactly what you need.

For more great info on the boxer, visit web-rover.com and check out the boxer forum

The Curly-Coat is a retriever of great ability in the water and on land. He is descended from a cross between the St. John’s Newfoundland (presently known as the Labrador Retriever) , the English Water Dog and the Poodle. He became extremely popular among the English land-owners of the nineteenth century and was prized as a multi-purpose hunting retriever with great perseverance on land as well as strength in the water. With the arrival of the twentieth century, the popularity of the Curly-Coat gave way to other retrieving breeds. Today it still remains popular in Australia and New Zealand. This is a dog with great power in the water when it comes to retrieving. I have personally seen a Curly -Coat that has brought in without hesitation a wounded Canada Goose, no small feat. He is a natural swimmer if introduced to the water at an early age to water play. There is not always an inherent desire to swim, at least without an introduction, because the Curly Coat has also been used for years as a hunting dog on land.

The Curly-Coat is Black or Liver in color. The tight curls are an essential requirement, they must be a dense mass of small tight curls. This type of coat is extremely weather proof and water resistant and also is a protection against brambles and thickets. Every part of the dog is covered with these dense curls except the muzzle and the toes.

The Sporting dogs, especially the retrieving breeds, are usually thought of in terms of active personalities and very outgoing, to the extent that they are not often good watch dogs. The Curly-Coat however is not only a quiet and placid home companion but is also a good watch dog, giving voice when strangers approach. It is a persistent hunter, does not give up and is eager and alert in the field. At home it is somewhat aloof but is calm and dignified. Of course a puppy, as with any youngster, will be exuberant and will get into things, but as a general rule the Curly-Coat has a certain common sense and placid nature that makes it quite content to lie about the house and sleep. It does not demand the attention that some of the other retrievers do.

This is a dog that is quite healthy in most respects. However there are some particular bloodlines that appear to have predisposition to Cancer and there is also a skin condition associated with pattern baldness. This is an outdoor type of dog and he does need plenty of exercise. If he is to be used for hunting it is essential that he be adjusted to the physical demands and in good condition. If allowed to lie around he will take the opportunity. If he is to be a house dog, he still needs to get out and go for good long walks. This is a breed that has the stamina to be a “jogger’s dog” and he delights in participating in this activity with his owner.