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| Suncoral - Tubastrea |
2017-06-06
2017-06-05
CHEMICALS in your Aquarium
You've seen all those chemicals at the Pet Store, and you've wondered if you'll need one bottle of each of them. And then you wondered if you still want to get into this aquarium hobby after all. Well, here's the good news, most of that stuff is unnecessary, even worthless. Don't get me wrong, you'll occasionally need some of these products, but there is only one of these chemicals that you'll always use, so let's start there.
The tap water that you are using to fill your tank, it contains chlorine. It's harmless to people, deadly to fish, so you'll need to remove it. Now, don't panic, you won't need one of those kits that Grissom uses on CSI. Indeed, a single bottle of dechlorinating liquid is cheap and lasts for months. Just make sure that you read the label because some of the products are concentrated differently, so some of them require fewer drops per gallon of water.
The chlorine in your tap water actually dissipates fairly quickly, completely breaking down in about 24 hours. So in a pinch, you could just fill your bucket and let it stand for a day before using the water, but with the cost of dechlorinating products so low, it hardly seems worthwhile. Just remember, if you chose to use the "let stand" method, make sure you place your water in a location where it will not be contaminated.
You should also invest in a bottle of test strips. These strips, after being dipped into water, will show you a variety of information about your water. Your Ph level, water hardness, ammonia level, nitrates, and nitrites can all be tested using the most common dip strips. That's a lot of information; in fact, it is more than you'll actually need.
The truth is that most commonly sold aquarium fish will do just fine in any normal Ph range or water hardness level. Don't worry if your fish type comes from Peru where it lives in soft acidic water because the fish you bought was probably born and raised in a fish farm in Florida. Then it was packaged up in a big bag of water and sent to your pet store where it was dumped into the local tap water. Most fish are NOT that picky, but they do need clean water, and that's where the test strips come in handy.
When your fish eats, it produces waste. This waste then breaks down into ammonia, which in turn changes to nitrites, and then into nitrates. Like chlorine, these chemicals can damage and even kill your fish. So you need to remove them if they rise to a high level. The test strips will tell you if your levels are too high, and if they are, your answer is fairly simple-it's time for a water change.
Once your tank has been established for a few months, you will not have to test it as often because your tank will develop beneficial bacteria that help break down these chemicals more quickly. For the first few months though, you should probably check your tank once per week or so, making sure you have time to do a water change if it should prove necessary.
And that's basically it. Oh, there are chemicals that will lower your Ph, or raise it, medications for sick or injured fish, chemicals to destroy algae, expensive aquarium salts, and all manner of other niche products that you really do not need. These products are available to keep the fish store in business. Most people and their fish NEVER need these products, so unless you have a sick fish, just stick to the basics. You'll save some money and avoid driving yourself crazy.
2017-06-04
Dangerous REPTILES
When people decide to buy reptiles for pets, some inevitably cross the line of safety and wisdom. Although it may seem thrilling to own a pet that is harmful, it's best left up to the experts and people who are trained to preserve wildlife.
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| An eyelash viper, Bothriechis schlegelii , taken at Melbourne zoo in Australia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Underestimating a dangerous reptile can mean a quick and certain death to the uneducated and careless pet owner. But if you're determined to own a dangerous reptile, at least make sure you are aware of all the possible safety precautions. Be fully informed as to what steps to take should you incur injury from contact with your pet.
A pet may harm an owner for several reasons. A reptile has instincts that are inbred. If you make the mistake of smelling like food, you will be in danger of being mistaken for food. There's also the danger of underfeeding your reptile and having them strike out in desperation from starvation. If you startle the reptile, you're likely to be harmed. If the reptile is injured or ill, the pain may cause them to strike out. Although it is easy to want to blame the reptile, you must take into account the reasons it may have chosen to bite, scratch, or otherwise harm someone.
Neglect to keep the cage, terrarium, or other enclosure secure at all times is crucial to your safety and to the safety of the reptile.
Some snakes have teeth, some have venomous fangs, and some have constriction to use as weapons. Whatever the case may be, you can be certain it will be painful to the recipient. Vipers and rattlesnakes are two dangerous snakes that use their poisonous fangs to inject venom into their prey or attacker. Vipers can grow as long as 6 feet and don't need daylight to attack. The pits between their eyes and nostrils alert them to their prey. A beautifully dangerous reptile, the golden eyelash viper is a bright lemon yellow color.
Snakes aren't the only dangerous reptiles, nor are they the only dangerous reptiles chosen for pets. Crocodiles and caymans are also big predators. They latch onto their prey with their many teeth and powerful jaws, and then they drag the larger victims underwater to drown them. Crocodiles have been known to gobble snakes for treats!
American alligators can be seen in many museums or zoos, live in exhibits. Well known in the deep south of Louisiana, they are not only predators but also are hunted for food and to be cut up into trinkets sold to tourists.
The alligator disguises itself as a log in swamp water and is camouflaged very well. They live in swamps and bayous from Texas to North Carolina. Florida has an abundance of inland water that provides a perfect habitat for these reptiles. Their diet of fish, birds, and small animals along with their size and vicious capabilities make them unwelcome to most as pet material. Their habitat is hard to create as well.
You can tell the difference in crocodiles and alligators by the shape of their snouts and the way the teeth lay when the jaws are shut. The alligator is able to conceal its teeth inside its mouth while the crocodile is not.
2017-06-03
CICHLID CARE - Caring For African and American Cichlids
Africans generally need their water a little saltier than American varieties, so do your cichlid care research wisely. For this reason alone American Cichlids and African Cichlids simply don't do well as tank mates. I have seen fellow aquarists get each species to survive while living in the same tank, but they simply cannot thrive with each other. For that matter, different varieties of African Cichlids have their own unique water chemistry requirements. Again, do your research wisely.
Another important principle in cichlid care is providing adequate tank decor, or lack thereof. Smaller varieties of cichlids, particularly the African varieties, need lots of nooks and shelters to hide in. Larger varieties such as Oscars simply will destroy almost anything you put in the tank with them. I have found, after years of keeping and caring for Oscars, they will do quite well with drift wood. It will give their tank mates like plecos and corys something to gather around.
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| American Cichlid - Severum Photo by Chun's Pictures |
Angel Fish and Discus love a heartily planted aquarium. In my opinion, they need a planted aquascape to thrive as they would in the wild. By the way, Discus are absolutely beautiful when they are happy and stress free.
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2017-06-02
Vegetable List For Feeding PLECOS
This is a list of a lot of Vegetables and some fruit that can be fed to your plecs. Also included are some suggestions for weighing the veg down in the tank.
IMPORTANT
1. Make sure you have an ID of your plec to ensure the correct dietary needs are met.
2. A varied diet of veg+fruit is needed so that nutritional needs are fulfilled.
3. Don't forget to include algae wafers, meat, and wood depending on species of plec.
4. If you put in anything that contains the skin or rind be sure to scrub it first to get rid of any pesticides.
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| A Baby Plecostomus (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
STARTER LIST
This is a list of vegetables and fruit that are popular with most plecs. Zucchini/Courgette Cucumber Peas (deshelled) Sweet Potato Green Beans Melon/Melon rind
OTHER VEGETABLES AND FRUIT
Apple (doesn't seem to be too popular) Asparagus Aubergine/Egg plant Avocado Broccoli/Stalk Butternut Squash+ other squash Capsicum/Bell pepper (not the hot ones) Cauliflower/Stalk Carrot Coconut Grapes Kale/Collard Greens Kiwi Fruit Lettuce Lima Beans Mango Mushroom (common plecs and goldspots love mushroom) let it float,they will reach it. Good exercise. Papaya Potato Pumpkin Spinach Sprouts Swede Tomato Yam
Most veg can be given raw but if you find no-one is interested then try blanching. Don't leave veggies and esp fruit in for too long otherwise you can end up with water quality problems. The easiest approach is to add them in the evening and remove in the morning.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WEIGHING DOWN VEG
Stainless Steel spoon (push the spoon through the veg) Stainless Steel fork (there have been suggestions that plecs have hurt themselves on the prongs of forks, use at your own risk) A rubber band/rock Suction capped Veggie clip (fish shops usually sell these) Screwcumber.
Article Source: EzineArticles |
2017-06-01
2017-05-31
BERLIN's Many Zoos And Aquariums
Berlin Zoo is a very attractive park, lying to the east of Berlin. Here, great attention has been paid to the various habitats so that they complement the surroundings and enrich the lives of the animals who live in them. To the west of Berlin lies the city centre zoo, Germany's longest operating zoo, in which a very large number of animals of various species live. These two zoos are the result of years of division in Germany, when it was split along east/west lines. When the country was unified, the zoos lived on. Between the two of them, an amazing number of species can be seen which you would be hard pressed to see anywhere else, making this city a must-visit for lovers of animals.
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| Main entry of Tierpark Berlin Deutsch: Haupteingang des Tierpark Berlin (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The Zoo Aquarium is more than just an attraction to entertain all the family - it is also playing its part in conservation, with a wealth of animal life spanning more than 9000 individuals from nearly 800 species, spread across a mix of vivariums and aquariums. The wonder starts immediately when you walk in the door - in the lobby is the ornamental koi carp, who love being given food and gently stroked. On the same floor live a stunning variety of fish (including jellyfish, cow nose rays and black tip reef sharks) and corals. On the 1st floor are the reptiles, where the crocodile hall (the world's first public vivarium) has been entertaining the public for nearly a century now. A variety of lizards, turtles and boas, to name just a few, also live here. On the upper floor are the insects and amphibians, including the amazing leaf-cutter ants display. Here you can see the ants carrying the leaves through long transparent tubes between the terrariums.
The Tierpark Berlin, Europe's biggest zoo spanning several hundred acres, is renowned for its success in breeding elephants - welcoming 15 babies since 1999. Approximately 7800 creatures, representing almost 900 species, live here. They include unique species such as sun bears, Indian giant flying foxes, lemurs and red and black varis, which live in habitats such as the Hummingbird-Crocodile House, Afrikanum, Tropical Hall, Snake Farm and Vari Forest. The zoo has been showing animals to the public since the mid 50s, when it was located at Friedrichsfelde Palace, dating from the late 17th century. Since 2009 the palace has again been subsumed into the grounds of the zoo and is a venue for regular events, such as concerts.
From the moment you walk through the Elephant Gate entrance of the Zoological Garden, which consists of two elephants holding up two massive columns, under a ceiling which features carvings and paintings, you know you are somewhere special. It was the country's first zoo, opened in the late 19th century and today is home to about 16000 animals from 1500 species. There are hippo, predator and nocturnal houses, and Europe's biggest aviary. The aquarium features a huge variety of sea life, such as piranhas, coral fish, and sharks.
At Sea Life aquarium, thousands of sea creatures such as jellyfish and sharks can be seen in a carefully recreated habitat. Some of them even enjoy being stroked! The building is designed and constructed so that one feels they are going on an underwater trip, following the Spree River to the Atlantic Ocean, before spanning out to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Over 5,000 animals live here. The AquaDom is the world's biggest freestanding aquarium, served by a glass elevator which lets you see shoals of exotic fish swimming in 1,000,000 litres of saltwater.
Christine Brookes writes for various travel journals and websites including Hotel Reservations Global where best prices for hotels in Berlin can be found in a range of hotels in Germany. Article Source: EzineArticles |
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