bunch of blogs: Pets and Animals

To some people, having an aquarium in the home may just be having some attractive fixture to make the surroundings more attractive. Some people see aquariums as just a part of the interior decoration. But aquariums usually offer more than just being eye candy. They offer another set of benefits apart from making a home look unique.
As many aquarium enthusiasts believe, aquariums not only provide visual benefits to their owner, there are certain therapeutic elements that such a hobby may be able to bring. For one, aquariums filled with fish usually have a calm and serene effect that makes them so irresistible to look at. Just by looking at the seemingly peaceful nature of an underwater environment, it tends to have a calming effect on humans.
A good example of its calming effect can be seen especially in some waiting areas and overcrowded offices with aquariums. It certainly would be easier for one’s nerves to unravel waiting in line and doing nothing as well as with all the overcrowding. It can really be a very stressful place.
But with an aquarium to set your eyes on, you feel more relaxed, fixing your gaze upon a wonderful miniature world that can be so hypnotizing. You becomes less agitated and anxious having something beautiful to focus on and forget about stress even for just a moment.
Aquariums can also be used as therapy to treat a wide range of emotional problems. Such ailments can be treated by giving patients something to focus their minds on while undergoing a number of stressful treatments. For example, it may be easier for cancer patients not to worry when they are undergoing treatment.
The treatment can be very taxing not only to their bodies but also to their emotions. Such patients need some thing to focus on aside from their situation. A simple aquarium full of colorful fish will be able to do it effectively.
A patient with an aquarium will have something worthwhile to do during the period of recuperation. Spending time feeding the fish, cleaning the tank, and even talking to the fish may greatly help in making patients feel more relaxed. No longer do they have time to worry and feel sorry for themselves because they have an aquarium to care for. The feeling of having something to do and being useful can do well to provide a positive boost in them.

One of the most satisfying hobbies on the planet (and probably one of the most relaxing, too!) is keeping an aquarium. The joy of looking at the crystal clear water with live fish and plants is truly inexplicable. And with this joy comes the tank cleaning and fish feeding. Although it is highly important to establish a good environment for your fish, it is also equally important, though, to know what to feed your fish. You may have the most beautiful aquarium on the block but you aren’t assured that your fish will last long if you aren’t careful with what you feed them.
The major rule in feeding your fish is to know what type or species your fish belongs to. Do thorough research. If you know what type of diet your pet fish should have, then it will be easier for your to scout for the food among pet shops or in the market. Remember the classification of animal diets (herbivore, carnivore and omnivore)? Fish also fall under these categories. There are fish that can only feed on algae flakes and who would shun, say, shrimp flakes. These are the herbivores (examples are Molly, Silver Dollar, Pacu or Tropheus) that also prefer to eat vegetable pellets or flakes and spinach. The carnivores (Archerfish, Banjo catfish, Bettas, Hachetfish, Frontosa, or Killifish) are the ones that prefer worms and small insects. Here’s a great hint for omnivore fishes ( Armored Catfish, Blood Parrot, Discus, Convict, Goldfish, Gourami, or Guppy): although they eat almost anything on a fish diet, they do prefer live foods.
Next to knowing what diet your fish should have, it is also important to make a balanced diet for your pet fish. Just like humans, fish also need a variety in their diet.
Protein is the most important part in a fish’s diet. Since this is so, it is important to remember this when looking for fish food in pet shops. Look for those foods that have fishmeal or shrimps on their labels. The lowest nutrient in your fish’s food should be fat. Just like humans, too much fat could damage their livers. Be sure to include some fibers in their diet, too. Just a little would be sufficient.
If you are a fishbowl keeper or one of those who are contented with just small tanks, then it is a must for you to feed your pet fish with just flakes or the freeze dried bloodworms that are available at most pet shops. The key here is to feed fish in small tanks with flaky fish foods. Also, be sure to give them just a pinch of flakes each time. If they are able to gobble them up immediately, then you can give another pinch, and so on. Food that isn’t consumed will go down to the bottom of the tank and will cause pollution. Also, remember not to overfeed your pet fish.
Flakes normally have a shelf life of just one month. If you feed your fish the flakes that are more than a month old, they could be more susceptible to illnesses because of the loss of nutritional content. Again, choose a variety of flakes so that your fish has a balanced diet.
For larger fish in larger tanks, the best food would be fish pellets or floating stick food. These pellets provide more food mass for larger fish. If you aren’t a fan of freeze-dried foods, then you can opt to have them fresh. Worms, insect eggs, and even small insects such as ants are a good feed to some types of fish.
Other than the usual flakes, pellets and floating stick foods, there are also other freeze-dried fish foods that can be bought at most pet shops. Most of these foods include tubifex, krill, or river shrimp.
Now that you know all these things, it is also important to know that fish recognize immediately who feeds them regularly. At the sight of food (even if you have just fed them), they would leap to get a mouthful. Again, remember not to overfeed them! You can ‘over love’ them but never, ever overfeed!

Light and heat are very important factors in an aquarium. Since it is an artificial environment, it is best to simulate natural conditions as much as possible to avoid having it’s inhabitants sicken and even die. For most people, having an aquarium means putting in the right water, providing the right food, and setting up a filtration and pump system that keeps the water that the fish breath clean and fresh. While these are important factors themselves, the failure of most aquarium owners is to overlook the fact that lighting and heat are just as important to fish as the other things mentioned.
Lighting is extremely important because most fish except for deep water ones are used to seeing the sun, and it’s a fact that, like any other animal, part of the nutritional needs of fish are physiologically triggered and released by exposure to sunlight. While admittedly not as high as the needs of non-aquatic animals, it is still there.
Light sources come in a variety of types. One of the most common and popular types are flourescent lighting. Flourescent lamps are cool, inexpensive, easy to maintain and replace, and consume low power. For most aquariums, this need is enough.
There are also classic incandescent lights, which consume a bit more power but provide brighter, if harsher, lighting. These also run hotter than flourescent lights, and are better suited for raising tropical fish, which naturally would be more comfortable in brighter and more temperate surroundings.
Compact lights on the other hand, consume the least power and generate the least heat, but also produce the least illumination. They are best suited for people who want to raise deep water fish or other breeds which prefer darker and cooler waters. However, if your aquarium has a high number of aquatic plants as well as fish, then you’ll probably need a metal halide light.
Metal halide lighting mimicks sunlight at a low intensity level, roughly that which would breach the surface of water in natural environments to reach the bottom where the fronds and other aquatic plants are located. Metal halide lighting comes in a variety of intensities, and you should select one with a light and heat output that most closely approaches the natural environment of your aquarium’s inhabitants, both the plants and the fish. You should be careful with metal halide lamps, and avoid choosing one with a higher output than your aquarium’s needs; overexposure to sunlight on fish and plants which aren’t physiologically capable of handling them can be as unhealthy as no exposure to it at all.
Aside from the lighting system, water heater coils and even filters with built in heaters are recommended equipment for any aquarium. For those who are serious about raising their fish, there are even heaters with a temperature setting and thermometer. Avid fish raisers will have done their research, and will know the exact range of temperature their fish will be most comfortable at. For casual fish raisers, however, a general rule of thumb is to have a low power heater that keeps the water lukewarm even in relatively cold weather.
To go into further detail in heating; use two heaters for larger aquariums, one at either end to ensure even distribution of water temperature. This is very important, as if only one side of a tank is hot, then the other remains cold, it can cause some thermal shock when your fish swim from one side of the tank to another. To put it in human terms, imagine spending an entire summer day inside an air conditioned room, one cold enough to require wearing a jacket to keep the chill out. Then, after a while, leave the room once you’re become acclimated to the cold, and step outdoors into the blazing sun. THEN, once you’ve gotten used to the heat, jump back into the cold room. Obviously, this will eventually make most people sick. The same thing applies for fish.
Lastly, consult with your pet shop about the heater’s output. The larger the fish tank, the larger the heaters you’ll need to install. Heaters are measured not by their temperature output, but by their power consumption, which directly relates to their heating performance.

Invertebrates are, simply put, animals without spines (aka backbones). While this may seem to be only a few types at first glance, it’s actually surprising that over 90% of the total different species of animals in the world are invertebrates. While a majority of the well known and most common species of animals on the planet have backbones, like mammals, birds, and reptiles, quite a few other life forms are born without spines, and have alternative means of sending their neutral signals or physically giving their internal organs a framework.
One of the most basic forms of life, protozoas, have no backbones. These are tiny, single-celled organisms like bacteria, and their microscopic size alone is enough reason for them not to require a spinal column. Taking this form of life and going a step up in size, we’ve got annelids, which are creatures whose bodies are segmented and whose internal organs are efficient enough that you can cut them in half and both halves will grow into a separate annelid. The most well known example of annelids are earthworms.
Aside from having NO spine or bone whatsoever, other invertebrates instead DO have bones in their bodies, but their physiological arrangement is different from vertebrates. Echinoderms are a mainly aquatic example of this. Echinoderms are creatures whose internal organs are arranged at the center of their bodies and, from this center, they grow spiny protrusions that radiate outwards to protect the soft, vulnerable central core. Starfish and sea urchins are examples of this. Echinoderms aren’t built to be highly ambulatory due to the arrangement of their spines.
Other invertebrates in the ocean include mollusks, who similarly have a soft central core but, instead of protecting it with spiny outgrowths like echinoderms, they rely instead on a dense and heavy outer armored shell. Clams and oysters are the most common example of this, though mollusks aren’t restricted to seagoing life forms. The snail is likewise a form of mollusk. Mollusks are a bit more mobile than echinoderms, often employing one organ dedicated to propulsion. The snail has a single foot which secretes fluids on which it slides forward, and clams have small tubes they can stick out of their shells to squirt out water in a tiny jet that pushes them around.
The ocean seems to hold the greatest number of invertebrates, as there are also SOFT skinned mollusks like squid and octopus. Given the fluid nature of water, soft, shell-less mollusks give up the protection offered by their hard-shelled versions in favor of sheer mobility. They actually have appendages, often quite a large number of them, and their musculature is much stronger than hard shelled mollusks yet designed for full flexibility to take advantage of their underwater habitat.
Shells, however, are a common defining factor for another type of underwater invertebrate, the crustacean. The biggest difference between a mollusk and a crustacean is the lack of a central core. Crustaceans actually have a main body which houses conventional internal organs like the heart and stomach, they actually have a head, and even appendages like legs and claws. Crustaceans are probably one of the best known form of invertebrate, as most of them wind up on a lunch or dinner plate; aka crabs, shrimps, and lobster. Oh yum….
Finally, moving out of the water, we get to the MAIN reason why invertebrates actually outnumber vertebrates on the planet. Insects. Bugs. Spiders. Creepy, crawly little things… call them what you want, but insects are actually one of the most hardy and efficient life forms on the planet in terms of sheer physical power and survivability. Insects get by without a spine by instead forming hard exoskeletons which cover their entire bodies. Their bodies are made up of a head, a thorax which houses most of the internal organs, and an abdomen. Their appendages are likewise covered by their exoskeletons. The muscle arrangement of insects within their exoskeletons actually gives them some of the highest stength to body weight ratio of any species of animal on the planet. Similarly, their internal organs are denser, and function so effectively that some toxins and even radiation don’t affect them as much as vertebrates, so that it’s been held that, in the even of something like a nuclear holocaust, they actually have the highest chances of survival.

Some people believe that less effort is needed when taking care of fish instead of a cat or dog. This isn’t true because constant maintenance is needed to make sure these creatures are alive and well. Here are some important information people should know when owning an aquarium.
Fish need a place to live and this is the aquarium. This item must be purchased first before even thinking about what species or how many to get because such creatures have needs. The salesman at the store can help make this decision which is much better than second-guessing.
The aquarium has to be set up before the fish are transferred into the new home. You shouldn’t forget to clean it and all the other accessories because those who fail to do this may jeopardize the health of the fish. The use of warm water and soap can do the job but all traces of the detergent have to be removed since this can also pose problems.
An aquarium is light when there is nothing inside but the weight doubles because of the water, the gravel and the other accessories. The sides of this underwater home are made of glass that is stuck together using an adhesive. It is advisable to check it for leaks so it can be brought back to the store and replaced with a new one.
The pet owner should make sure there is a stand that has a solid base. If it will be placed on one of the old tables in the house, some layer preferably polystyrene tiles should serve as a buffer between the tank and the stand.
The aquarium can be placed in almost any room in the house as long as there is a power outlet nearby. You shouldn’t put this in direct sunlight because this causes algae to grow and becomes it can become a problem for the fish.
There are a lot of things that may affect the health of the fish. The level of ammonia, nitrate and magnesium are just some of the things to look at and a test kit will be very useful. While it is true that there may a problem with the water, not everything has to be taken out. Only 20 to 25% has to be replaced and the use of a conditioner can improve the situation.

Sea World located in Southern California, Florida and Texas are considered to be three of the biggest aquariums in the world. It gives whales, dolphins, penguins and other creatures a home away from the wild.
You may not be able to take care of such creatures because of the enormous size but something similar to it can be done at home. It will take some money but those who successfully do so will be able to teach children and adults why it is important to be concerned about the environment.
The most important think to acquire first is the aquarium. Most of these are shaped in the form of a rectangle. The recommended size is 55 gallons that should ideally be made of glass and not metal since contact with saltwater may cause it to corrode and releasing a toxic substance into the water. Of course, those who can’t afford this can get something smaller.
Lighting is also important in the marine ecosystem. It should be placed above the aquarium and also along the sides. You can utilize regular fluorescent tubes, metal halides and power compact fixtures since this is the next best thing to natural light from the sun.
The big aquarium will also require a filtration system. There are different types to choose form such as the hang on, canister and the under gravel versions. The most economical is live rock and sand. This is because it contains millions of organisms that create a balance in the marine environment. This can also serve as a home for the smaller fishes.
Marine creatures survive at a certain temperature and they can be regulated using a heater. It should be set at 78 or 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The only thing to do now is to pour in the water. The difference between fresh and salt-water fish is where this liquid comes from. Fresh water will have to come from bottled containers while salt may come from the sea.
You don’t have to worry about the volume of salt water needed because only a small volume is needed and can be mixed with the bottled version. When all the systems are up and running, it should be allowed to cycle for a few weeks. This will give enough time for bacteria to grow so that fish can be thrown in to the new home.

Aquariums, both the freshwater and marine types, have become a growing hobby worldwide that translates into hundreds of millions of dollars in yearly sales. From the pets to aquarium structures and from setup materials to the gadgetry needed to keep aquariums functioning properly, big money is channeled to the industries that supply and support this hobby. But the most delicate and expensive aspect of the aquarium hobby as a whole lies not in the structures but in the kind of pets owners put in their aquariums.
As a beginning enthusiast, you must carefully choose the kind of fish and invertebrates you put into your tank because putting these creatures in captivity not only affects the biodiversity of the environment from which they came from, they can also hurt your wallet in a very big way. As a beginner, it is always a good idea to keep your hands away from exotic and unfamiliar species of aquatic animals. For reasons that involve the environment, delicateness of the species, financial requirements and overall harmony inside your marine or freshwater aquarium, some fish and invertebrates must be avoided.
The following list identifies a number of fish and invertebrates that must normally be avoided by beginner aquarium hobbyist like you. And unless you have the money to burn and the patience to care for these organisms, these species are better off left in their natural habitat or some veteran hobbyists’ fish tanks. Read on and know why.
Fish To Avoid Putting In Your Aquarium
Paddlefish can be a potential headache for a budding aquarium enthusiast because these fish can grow beyond two meters in length. You will need a large space and a large aquarium if you plan to start your hobby with a paddlefish. To top it all, paddlefish require an abundance of live small crustaceans like Daphnia as food. Paddlefish require huge amounts of funds for a pet.
Some varieties of aquarium sharks like the iridescent shark and the paroon shark can both outgrow the length of common aquariums. While they aren’t picky as to the food they eat, they are hungry most of the time and they will eat other fish in your aquarium that can conveniently fit inside their mouths. These miniature sharks, which are actually a variety of catfish, usually require a lot of room to swim in.
Next on the list is the Pacu. This fish originated from South America and is a close relative of the piranhas, which in turn have a notorious reputation of tearing off flesh from its victims in the wild. While Pacu may be a great aquatic pet, a beginner should avoid it. A pacu may not be as aggressive as its cousins in the wild but its jaws are potential hazards especially for children because it can easily rip human fingers, adult and youngsters alike.
Invertebrates To Avoid In Your Aquarium
First on the list of invertebrates that you must avoid putting in your aquarium as pets are nudibranchs or slugs. These invertebrates are described as completely unsuitable for home aquariums. If large public marine tanks find it difficult to take care of nudibranchs, the situation could be worse for a beginner like you. Nudibranchs are very delicate and they have special feeding requirements; to make matters worse, there is only a little information about nudibranchs available.
While many nudibranchs or slugs are beautiful and attractive as pets, they are in effect impossible to care for in home aquariums unless you have adequate knowledge of their requirements particularly food and living conditions.
Next, a beginner aquarium hobbyist like you must stay away from harlequin shrimps. True, there are a lot of beautiful shrimp that can be great pets; however, harlequin shrimp are difficult to look after as they require starfish as their only food.
Another invertebrate that can cause a lot of headaches for a beginner enthusiast is the octopus. An octopus is very difficult to keep in captivity aside from the fact that its life span is very short. A very intelligent creature, an octopus always escapes from aquariums.
Lastly, always keep in mind that anemones aren’t appropriate for beginners’ aquariums. For one thing, anemones require a lot of strong light and superior quality of water in the aquarium. Therefore, if you don’t have money to spend on lighting and water purifiers, it is best to forget about anemones until you have gained enough experience in the aquarium hobby.

Fish are sensitive creatures. It is hard to tell if something is wrong since fish aren’t able to talk and then it just dies. One way to check on the health of those living in the aquarium is by using a test kit.
There are quite a few on the market and some fish experts recommend using a combination to check the water.
The first is called the ammonia test kit. This should be done regularly because ammonia is harmful to the fish. You will get some water out of the aquarium and let the machine do the rest. The level of ammonium must be at a low level or zero. Should it be to high, the water should be replaced even if there isn’t that much dirt yet on the glass.
Next is called the KH & GH test kit. This stands for calcium and magnesium and the level of normalcy depends on the species of fish. Goldfish which are frequently purchased by pet owners should stay between 100 to 200 KH & GH.
Another thing to watch out for is the pH level. There are two types available namely the pH high and the low range. The pet owner only has to buy one and then look at the indicator if the levels are normal. Again this depends on the type of fish kept in the aquarium.
There is also the Nitrate Test Kit. This is considered to be the best one around next to the Ammonia version which can tell when it is time to change the water in the aquarium. For freshwater fish like the goldfish, it should stay under 40 ppm.
If you have live plants inside the aquarium with the fish, it will be a good idea to buy a phosphate test kit. This will alert you if there is an overgrowth of algae that could be harmful for those living there. After changing the water, results should report that the phosphate content is close to zero.
No one can say that there is one kit out there over the others. This is because each one is designed to watch over something and unless someone is able to invent an all around version, fish owners will have to buy and use a combination to ensure the welfare of those living in the aquarium.

Whether you are keeping a marine or freshwater aquarium, you will want to not only delight people who see your aquarium, but keep your fish happy as well. Your fish have just been snatched out of their natural habitat, and can suffer trauma if they aren’t handled gently. The least you can do is find ways to amuse them, and keep their stay in your small tank as easy and enjoyable as possible.
You will need to get aquarium decorations and accessories to not only delight your fish, but keep them healthy as well. Although they may seem useful only as ornaments, aquarium pebbles actually facilitate the oxygenation of aquarium water, and allow for the growth of beneficial bacteria that will help filter out harmful microorganisms that can prey on your fish.
Light, Heat, and Filtration
Another important aquarium accessory is your filter, which should remove harmful organisms from aquarium water. Your fish are especially susceptible to fungal infections, and an aquarium filter can keep them safe. If you are keeping a marine aquarium, you will also need a lighting and heating system. Your fish have a built in biological clock, or Circadian rhythm, that governs their sleeping and waking patterns. This biological clock operates on light and dark cycles, so consult with your local aquarium merchants on the duration of these cycles so you can properly adjust your tank’s lighting system.
Marine corals and beneficial algae survive on the basis of light and dark cycles, as well as on carefully controlled water temperature. Most marine fish, moreover, are caught off the shores of tropical countries, where the water is warmer. You need to acclimatize your fish by controlling the temperature of your water.
Decorations and Amusements
You can keep your tank colorful by adding decorations, such as stones or statues to your tank. As mentioned earlier, pebbles and stones, especially porous ones, can help beneficial bacteria grow in your tank, and can help distribute oxygen throughout your aquarium’s water. Just be sure to select pebbles that are sterile and free from fungi; if possible, have your local aquarium merchant sterilize your pebbles and stones before you introduce them to your tank.
You can introduce replica towers or buildings to your tank, especially those with large holes and doors so your fish can swim through them. Pagodas and temples are common decorations, as they have many grooves on their surfaces on which beneficial bacteria can grow. They also have multiple tiers and openings, as well as nooks and crannies in which fish can hide. Aquarium castles can also provide amusement for both you and your fish. Some castles function as water filters or oxygenators, and can have a drawbridge that signals the accumulation and release of air bubbles. Just be sure to clean out any aquarium castles or replica temples regularly to keep fungi from growing in your tank.
Static decorations can also be beneficial for your fish tank. They should have little channels and hiding places for your fish. If you also house crabs and small invertebrates, these decorations can give them lodgings as they clean out your tank. These decorations can come in the form of fake driftwood, skeletons, corals, or even flowers.
If you can afford it, buy decorative rocks or caves that have multiple holes and hiding places. It can be amusing to watch fish dart in and out of these holes; if you have blue or low lighting at night, you can also observe fish find places to sleep in these caves. Because replica caves and rocks are porous, you should clean them out regularly and keep them free from harmful fungi.
There are other aquarium ornaments, decorations, and accessories available on the market to delight both you and your fish. There are fake sea creatures that can double as amusement and filters. Some aquarium decorations can be programmed to light up at certain times, or to illuminate certain portions of the tank with the flick of a switch. Treasure chests can also double as oxygenators, sending up bubbles of air every time they open.
For a complete list of available ornaments and accessories, consult your local aquarium accessories merchants. Be sure to clean your tank out regularly and replace your water. Select only accessories that are bought from reputable merchants who have control over the quality of their wares. Your fish need to be happy and contented in their new home, and they need the best accessories to live well and flourish.

Aquariums need a set of essential equipments in order for it to become a safe and functional miniature water environment for the fish. When you are setting up an aquarium, equipment such as filtration systems may be required in order to maintain clean aquarium water suitable for maintaining a stress-free environment for the fish.
Air pumps may also be required in order to provide oxygen for the fish or provide carbon dioxide for heavily planted aquariums. Aquarium heaters may also be required to keep the ideal water temperature for your fish.
Filtration systems act to clean out the aquarium water and get rid of wastes that have dissolved in the water over time. A typical filtration system includes:
a. the intake where the “dirty” water comes in
b. mechanical filtration that seeks to filter out floating sediments in the water
c. chemical filtration that gets rid of the nitrogenous wastes and phosphates dissolved in water
d. biological filtration that tries to get rid of bacteria and other organisms that may be harmful to the fish
e. the outflow where the filtered water is led back into the tank
Filtration systems for aquariums are probably the most important as well as the most complex of all aquarium equipments. There are a variety of designs that can be used to allow for different levels of filtration. There are other additional filtration devices such as protein skimmers that remove proteins as well as other waste from the aquarium water.
The air pumps are mainly used to provide adequate oxygen into the aquarium water. Fish may suffer from oxygen starvation and may die if they aren’t supplied with oxygen in the water regularly.
Aquarium fish may be prone to this condition since aquarium water is mostly stagnant and may have depleting oxygen levels in time. Air pumps can be used to bring back the oxygen levels in the aquarium back to normal levels in order to keep a more livable environment for the aquarium residents.
Aquarium heaters are often used to regulate the water temperature inside the aquarium. This is especially required for tropical aquariums that usually house a variety of exotic tropical fish that may require the environment of tropical water temperatures in order to thrive. Aquarium heaters are usually equipped with thermostats in order to efficiently regulate the right water temperature at the designated levels.
In contrast, there are also aquarium coolers available that are used in places where water temperature may be required to be lower than the prevailing room temperature in order for the aquarium fish to be comfortable.