Aquarium fish: -guide to buying new fish. Part 1

Aquarium fish: -guide to buying new fish. Part 1
It s very important as part of your plan for having successful aquarium to take note of the type of inhabitants, which one of them is fish. Never buy fish before finding out about its requirement first. You really need to take your time to ask questions and be very observant when you are in aquarium store. There are lots of aquarium stores with unknowledgeable owners so you don’t base your decision on their advice alone make sure you take a look at the fish yourself. If the store has staffs you can make a friend with them they will possibly tell you more about the lifestyle of the fish you are intending to pick. Though, we will be giving you some basic guidelines to consider when buying new fish. The following points all need to be considered: Is your tank at the right temperature? Are your water conditions correct? How big does it get? - It may be small now, but will your other fish be at risk when it grows? Is it a territorial - or will it be happier in a group? Can you supply the right food for it? Remember that the key to successful fishkeeping is happy, stress-free fish, so don’t be tempted into buying an incompatible species jut because you think it’s attractive - you’ll regret it. Sometimes it can be difficult to be patient, particularly if the dealer has a species of fish that you really want. But it’s important not to rush things. Don’t try to add too many fish to your tank at once - and always check that the fish are healthy. If you would like more articles on Aquariums, and Aquarium fish…come visit my new blog: Fresh Water Aquarium For more Aquarium Info!: <a href="http://freshwater-aquarium-.blogspot.com/" title="Fresh Water Aquarium">Fresh Water Aquarium</a>
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Managing Your Flowerhorn Aquarium
Managing Your Flowerhorn AquariumIf you’re thinking about purchasing a beautiful Flowerhorn fish, you’re not alone. The beautiful Flowerhorn fish is one of the more popular additions to your aquarium. However, if you have chosen a Flowerhorn, proper tank management is essential. It is, indeed, more important to practice a good tank management than it is to purchase the suitable type of fish for your tank.Proper fish tank management and beautiful Flowerhorn fish complement each other perfectly. It is, therefore, crucial for all hobbyists to have proper knowledge of good fish tank management. While it is not as simple as dumping clean water in every few weeks, it isn’t as terribly complicated as you may imagine.The TankAs the Flowerhorn’s ancestry originated from the Central and South American cichlids, it is essential to set up your tank to a closely simulated natural habitat for the fish, which at the same time, is incredibly pleasing to the eye.Various sizes and designs of fish tanks are available at your local fish store. Choose one that will complement your house, and always assume that your Flowerhorns will grow to be about 500 mm in length. It is advisable to get at least a 3 feet tank to start comfortably. Acrylic aquariums are recommended as these tanks are leak proof, lightweight and the wall materials provide exceptional clarity. The SeaClear 26 gallon flat back hexagonal tank is one good example of an acrylic tank that is great for keeping Flowerhorns.Tank AccessoriesOnce you’ve gotten the tank, you may want to think about backgrounds. Various attractive background designs for aquariums are easily available. Choose one that will fit the natural environment of the fish. Added pebbles, stones and gravels is a good idea as well. They can be used as substrate for biological filtration as well as a tool to help smooth and polish the teeth of Flowerhorns as they dig, shove and carry these pebbles. Keep in mind that in captivity, the teeth of the Flowerhorn tends to be quite sharp, and if you can help to take the edges off a bit with pebbles or gravel, less damage will be caused during mating or fighting sessions. Once you’ve added that gravel, expect to see it migrate around the tank a bit. Flowerhorns tend to build their ‘nest’ by moving the pebbles and stones from one place to another. This behavior normally indicates that the fish has matured, and it is ready for mating purposes.Even though you may think that sunken pirate ship looks neat, other unnatural tank ornaments are discouraged. These do not serve any purpose at all in the tank, and they may even be hazardous because they can cause accidental cuts and injuries on your Flowerhorns. These fish possess fierce territorial behaviors, and fights among fishes are common. Keeping objects like these in the tank only causes problems during fights.LightingSuitable aquarium lighting will enhance the coloration and the overall physical development of your Flowerhorn. It is recommended that you place your tank where is it able to get at least an hour of indirect sunlight a day. While you may worry that algae will infest your tank because of the sunlight, with proper water quality management, your tank should not go green with algae with that minute amount of sunlight. If sunlight isn’t possible in your living space, getting a full spectrum light is advisable. Be sure to leave it on for four to eight hours a day to maintain the color development of your Flowerhorn.Water qualityFlowerhorns are ‘hardy’, which means these fish are highly adaptable to different water conditions, including bad water ones. However, just because they’re ‘hardy’ fish doesn’t mean that you should keep poor water conditions in your tank. Adequate feedings and frequent water changes promote better growth, and, as a result, can even change the whole body morphology of the fish.Water pH level and Mineral ContentWater pH levels indicate the acidity and alkalinity of the water. Dissolved minerals in the water are often termed the “hardness” of the water. These two water parameters are interrelated. The water is considered ‘hard’ when there is a high content of dissolved minerals in it (like calcium), and normally the pH of ‘hard’ water is above 7, which is more alkaline. When there’s a lack of dissolved minerals in the water, it is considered ’soft,’ and thus the pH will be lower than neutral making it acidic.Local breeders have indicated that higher pH levels (7.5 to 7.8) will favor the growth of the nuchal hump, and lower pH levels (6.1 to 6.5) will favor color development in Flowerhorn fish. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Proper pH powder is widely used to maintain water quality. As a bonus, with its aloe vera and electrolytes contents, it also works to eliminate chlorine and heavy metals from the water while reducing fish stress. Depending on which traits you desire in your Flowerhorn, it is possible to adjust your water pH level accordingly.TemperatureFlowerhorns are tropical fish. They can survive in water with various temperature ranges, but they grow well in water temperature of 28 C. During transportation, the water temperature is usually maintained at about 22 C, and the temperature is raised to about 30 C when the fish is sick. This, though, doesn’t mean that all illnesses are curable this way. Check out the “Common Illnesses” section for more information. A simple thermometer may be purchased to monitor water temperature changes in your tank.DechlorinationTap water is commonly used by hobbyist, but most tap water contains high levels of chlorine, which poses a danger to your Flowerhorn. High chlorine toxicity may lead to fatalities. Dechlorination of tap water is crucial prior to usage. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Conditioner instantly removes and detoxifies heavy metals from tap water. Add one teaspoon to your water to treat up to ten gallons.Filtration systemsIn an artificial aquatic environment, a good filtration system is extremely important. Flowerhorns feed on huge amounts of food, and as a by product, they secrete large amounts of ammonia. A good filtration system eliminates solid wastes from the fish, leftover food, ammonia and even dusts from the atmosphere. There are various types of filters available in the market. The efficiency of these filters depends on usage, stocking density and other factors.Mechanical filters work mainly to sieve out wastes, but they do not break it down. It makes the water clear, but this doesn’t mean it is ‘clean,’ as the ammonia produced by fish is still in the tank. The misconception of ‘clear water’ being ‘clean water’ often contributes to a lot of fish deaths. A mechanical filter normally uses filter wools and filter sponges as sieve materials. Mechanical filters work best coupled with biological filters.Biological filters are more efficient as they provide bio-media surfaces for beneficial bacteria to grow on. Bacteria colonize these surfaces and ‘work’ on the ammonia waste left by fish to break it down into fish friendly water components. You can read more about this in the “Ammonia and Nitrogen Cycle” article.Flowerhorn fish are quite beautiful, and they’ll make a lovely addition to your home aquarium display, but ensuring successful aquarium management is essential to keep your fish healthy and happy.Copyright 2000-2007 Flowerfish.com. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way and give the author name credit. About The Author: FlowerFish.com is the complete Flower Horn Fish Resource center. We are also one of the world's biggest and most recognised Flower Horn breeder, exporter and wholesaler.Please visit us at http://www.FlowerFish.com for more articles and Flower Horn fish picture galleries.
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The Right Foods to Feed Your Ragdoll Cats & Kittens
Cat food can be divided into dry, moist, and semi-moist foods. Each one has its advantages, and Ragdolls require various kinds of food at different stages. Kittens need mainly breast milk and moist food, while adults require more protein and dry food. Pregnant Ragdolls have special dietary needs that alter during the pregnancy as well. A. Feeding Ragdoll Kittens Introductory food Ragdoll kittens should be exclusively breastfed for the first four to five weeks. Cat milk contains all the nutrients required for the kitten’s growth, including antibodies that help discourage disease. Breast milk also passes on other antibodies that the mother produced to fight previous diseases. Additional food ought to be given after four to five weeks, as the kitten needs more nutrients to support its rapid growth. Introductory food ought to be easy to digest. Mix canned food with warm water or kitten replacement milk until it becomes a loose paste. Do NOT use regular cow’s milk this is too heavy for kittens and could cause in indigestion. Dry food After another four to five weeks, your kitten should be ready for dry food. To make the change easier, moisten dry food with a little warm water in the first few feedings. It’s also important to choose high-quality supplements to dry food and some of the good brands are Iams , Science Diet , and Nutro Kitten . Science Diet Feline Growth is popular among Ragdoll kittens. Supplements can be given twice a day with morning and evening feeding. You can change to adult food after approximately 12 months. Choosing and preparing kitten food Ragdoll kittens have delicate stomachs, so take extra care in choosing kitten food. Food ought to always be warm or slightly above room temperature. Discard all food that has been left out for more than 30 minutes, especially in the summer. Bacteria grows quickly in warm, wet foods and could possibly upset your kitten’s stomach, or even lead to food poisoning. To keep from wasting food, just observe how much your kitten eats at a time so you know how much to prepare per feeding. House flies can easily contaminate kitten food, so keep your feeding area as fly-proof as possible. Wash the feeding bowl daily with hot, soapy water and replace water in the drinking bowl several times a day. Wash the drinking bowl at the same time and refill with fresh water. Table scraps can be provided occasionally, but don’t make regular meals out of them. Cooked human foods lack the nutrients necessary for your kitten’s growth. Generic cat food from groceries are better, but Stellarhart recommends high-quality foods from specialty pet stores. Also, cats don’t like the smell of plastic and metal containers, so use only glass drinking bowls. Dry vs wet foods Dry foods are generally superior for your Ragdoll, except in the breastfeeding and introductory stage. They work your kitten’s chewing muscles and help keep the teeth white. Dry food consists predominantly of meat and vegetables, and can be moistened or served dry. Serving them dry allows your cat to nibble throughout the day, rather than eating one large meal at a time. Dry food should contain about 9 to 10% moisture, 8% fat, and 30% protein. Moist food has about 75% moisture and equal amounts of fat and protein. Not all moist foods are the same some are all-meat or all-fish, while others are a mix of meat and vegetables. The former ought to not be used for regular meals, as your cat can get addicted and refuse to eat other foods. The small treat cans of variety foods are usually all-meat or all-fish. As with kitten food, moist foods ought to be warmed to room temperature before serving. Semi-moist food has about 35% water, 27% protein, and 7% fat. Most of them are nutritionally balanced, very tasty, and can be left out for nibbling, but they spoil more rapidly than dry food. Kitten treats Occasional kitten treats will not harm your kitten, but take care not to fill them up so they can still eat regular meals. Treats ought to not provide any more than 10% of your kitten’s daily caloric intake. Look for hard chew treats to help improve your kitten’s dental health B. Feeding Ragdoll Adults Ragdolls are not very active, so they gain weight more rapidly than other cats. Take care not to let them become obese provide them only 70 calories per kilogram of body weight. A lot of what people believe to be cats favourite foods are actually harmful. Here are some of the most common cat food myths: Fish Fish may be good for cats, but it can t cover all their nutritional needs, and too much of the same nutrients can be harmful. Tuna is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which need vitamin E to break them down. too much tuna in your cat s diet can cause yellow fat disease (steatitis). Milk Milk is rich in water and carbohydrates, but many cats are lactose intolerant and get digestive problems a few hours after drinking milk. Regular cow s milk can lead to diarrhoea and loose stools, which can cause malnutrition and dehydration. If your cat likes milk, use replacement cat milk instead. Catnip Cats love the smell of catnip leaves, but it can cause short-term behavioural changes. Catnip is a hallucinogen and may put your cat in a state of near delirium. Some effects include rolling, rubbing, chasing phantom mice, or simply staring into space. Although it s not addictive, catnip has no place in your cat s diet. Dog food It could be more convenient to feed your cat and dog from the same dish, but it s not very healthy for either pet. Cats require more protein, taurine, preformed vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, and arachidonic acids, which they can get from a meat-heavy diet. A shortage of these nutrients can make your cat seriously ill, and an overdose can have the same effect in dogs. Low ash diets A popular belief among cat owners is that diets low in ash can help deter urinary tract infection. But that s only partly true. Ash is not a single nutrient, but is actually a group of minerals including calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Lower levels of magnesium keep urine at its normal, slightly acidic state, but reducing other minerals will have no effect. Other foods to avoid Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can be toxic and cause fatal complications. Baby food. Many baby foods contain onion powder, which can be harmful to the blood. Fish and meat bones. Small splinters can cut into the digestive tract and cause bleeding. Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate). Caffeine can affect the cat s heart and nervous system. Citrus oil extracts. This can lead to stomach upsets and vomiting. Fat. Animal fats can cause pancreatitis. Don t feed your cat fatty cooked meats, or at least trim the fat off first. Grapes and raisins. These contain a toxin that can harm the kidneys. Human vitamin and iron supplements. Excessive iron can damage the liver, kidneys, and the lining of the digestive tract. Liver. Liver is safe in small amounts, but an excess can lead to vitamin A toxicity. Macadamia nuts. Unknown toxins in macadamia can damage the muscles, digestive system, and nervous system. Marijuana. Marijuana can lead to vomiting, depression, and irregular heart rate. Mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain highly toxic substances that can affect multiple systems and even cause death. Onion and garlic (powdered, cooked or raw). These contain disulfides and sulfoxides, which can lead to anaemia. They are harmful to both cats and dogs, but cats are more vulnerable. Persimmons. Persimmons seeds can obstruct the intestines. Potato, tomato and rhubarb. These can be harmful to the nervous, digestive, and urinary systems. The leaves and stems could also be toxic. Raw eggs. Raw eggs can damage your cat s hair and coat. Salt. Salt and salty foods can cause electrolyte imbalance, a potentially fatal condition affecting the heart and nervous system. String. Strings from beans and other vegetables could not be digested, which can lead to blockages. Sugar. Sweets are high in empty calories, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and dental problems. Yeast dough. Yeast can expand in the stomach during digestion, causing it to rupture. Just remember that you are not feeding a human but an animal with unique feeding requirements. Discover the trade secrets of Ragdoll Cat care, training, breeding and showing. Visit http://www.ragdoll-cat-care.com
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