Have you ever thought about setting up a home aquarium of your own? If you have, there are many factors you need to consider and a number of preparative steps you’ll need to take to ensure the water is filtered properly, regularly maintained and always kept at the same temperature depending on the type of fish you plan to keep. In this article, to help you get started on this project, we will discuss some of the major factors to consider before setting up your aquarium.
When choosing an aquarium for your home, size is also a very important factor, but you may be surprised at the reason. Most people automatically think that larger aquariums would be more difficult to filter and maintain, when in reality the opposite is true. Smaller sized aquariums, also known as Nano aquariums, are much more difficult to work with than their larger sized counterparts. This is because with a smaller tank it becomes increasingly more difficult to manage tasks such as water temperature control and filtration, and one mistake could end up costing you all of your fish. For beginners just starting out, it is usually recommended that you start with at least a 55 gallon tank.
Prior to filling the tank you will need to take steps to create the perfect biological system for the fish you plan to add. This is done with filters that separate the water you need from the chemical and biological impurities it contains. If you’re unsure if your filter is working properly, fill up a small container of water from your tank and bring it to the pet store to have it analyzed. Pet shops will typically be able to determine whether or not your water is ready for fish.
After the filters and power source are installed on your new aquarium, you’ll need to slowly begin adding the water. Once the tank is filled, and before you add any fish, allow the water to sit for some time—generally a week to ten days—to allow any impurities to dissipate from the water. This will also give you time as a new tank owner to ensure all of your equipment is working exactly as it should.
So you still want to be an aquarium owner? That’s great, but keep in mind that owning tropical or freshwater fish requires much more than simply filling up a tank and dumping them in. Take the time to consistently make certain the filtration system is working properly and the water temperature is optimal and your fish-owning experience will go a whole lot smoother.
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Affectionate, loyal, friendly, gentle - these admirable qualities are the reasons why dogs are considered as man's best friends. Some breeds though can be intimidating as they are naturally ferocious and ownership is restricted in some areas. The aggressiveness that is specifically bred into these dogs is further developed through training as these ferocious dogs will be utilized as guard and protection dogs.
Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and these animals have become well loved members of the family. In spite of the long years of domestication, the inherent predatory and ferocious nature was retained by dogs so that it would be too easy even for a gentle dog to be aggressive. Because of this, over 4 million dog bite incidents occur in United States every year. Majority of the dog bite cases were caused by the victim's own dogs. Learning how to approach a dog is therefore very necessary.
It is necessary for dog owners to learn how to safely approach the dog. Dogs are highly territorial and food motivated. Dogs would instinctively guard its territory, its food and its toys. Even the most gentle dog would react ferociously if a threat to its territory is perceived. People and especially children must not tease the dog by trying to get a toy or take away the food the dog is eating. Even if your intention is to add more food to the bowl, the dog can still bite.
Children are always attracted to dogs. Kids would always want to hug and cuddle a sleeping pet. However, even a gentle pet can bite instinctively if startled. Children must be cautioned not to startle a dog. Dogs must be approached slowly and make sure that the dog can see you.
The dog may tolerate the human family's intrusion to its territory but it will certainly show an aggressive temperament to unfamiliar people. Dog lovers find it hard to resist touching an attractive and gentle looking dog. A gentle looking dog though may turn aggressive to the touch of an unfamiliar person . Get the owner's permission to touch the dog. If it's OK to pat the dog, slowly approach the dog directly but do not stare directly into the eyes of the dog lest the animal take your look as a challenge. Extend a hand with the fingers curled under or the palm down to be sniffed by the dog. If the dog wants to be friends it will sniff the offered hand.
Read more about how to approach a dog and dog first aid at Sarah's Dogs.
Registering a dog is not obligatory as dog owners have the option to register or not to register the pet. Being registered or not will not really make a difference to the quality of life a dog will have as the animal will remain as man's most loyal friend.
A kennel club registration certificate will not be important for a dog as this pet will remain affectionate and loyal to the family even if it is not registered. Taking time to register the pet though is important as you may think of breeding the dog someday. Registering the dog to a kennel club would qualify the pet to be mated with another purebred. Ask the breeder to provide you with a Dog Application Registration form when you purchase the puppy as this will be needed in registering the dog.
It is imperative for breeders to register their dogs. People that keep dogs specifically as home companions seldom take the trouble of registering the pet. Registering the pet would give an owner benefits. A dog owner is not unlike a proud parent that would be more than pleased at the success of the pet. An owner will be very proud to show off the blue ribbons collected by the pet and needless to say joining kennel club competitions will only be possible if the dog is a registration number holder.
The American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club are two major kennel clubs where you can register your dog. Registering the dog and paying the required registration fee would be easy as long as the requirements specified by the kennel club are met. The American Kennel Club for instance requires three generations of verified parentage. Aside from having a registered sire and dam, the litter must be registered by the breeder as well.
A Dog Registration Application filled up with all the vital registration information must be provided by the breeder when the puppy was purchased. To register the dog an owner can accomplish an online form or complete a paper copy. The name of the dog, the gender, the color and markings, the signatures of the owners of the rest of the litter as well as the name, address and signature of the owner of the dog being registered must be supplied. Submit the filled up registration form, pay the registration fees and wait a few months for the registration certificate that will be mailed by the kennel club.
More about how to regsiter a dog and dog first aid at Sarah's Dogs.
Dogs are predators that attack with strong sharp teeth that can deliver up to 450 pounds of pressure per square inch. A dog's needle sharp teeth and very strong jaws can create deep puncture wounds or tear the flesh away. Depending on the body part bitten, the dog bite can cause lifelong injuries that will limit the victim's mobility. A serious dog bite can even kill a person. Wounds are not the only concerns of dog bite victims because when the teeth puncture the flesh infection and disease-causing bacteria are injected on the puncture wounds as well. A potential life threatening outcome of dog bites is rabies.
It would be very hard to prevent dog bites because dogs are the most common animal companions of man. Children are the most common victims of dog bites and often times, the kid is bitten by the pet. So, how do you treat a dog bite?
Dog bite victims have to have first aid to prevent infection but it would be necessary to remove the victim away from the dog first. Dog bites can create two types of wounds - deep puncture wounds and lacerations. Because bacteria is injected when the dog sinks the teeth to the flesh, it is common for puncture wounds to get infected. Lacerations are created when dog's teeth tears away the skin.
Puncture wounds normally don't bleed profusely thus the wound has to be allowed to bleed for a few minutes to flush out the bacteria from the wound. Skin lacerations bleed profusely. To stem the heavy flow of blood, direct pressure is applied directly in the injured body part. To prevent infection, wounds resulting from dog bites must be thoroughly cleaned.
Serious skin lacerations resulting from dog bites cannot be treated at home as the wound normally needs to be sutured however, thorough cleaning of the dog bite would still be necessary so as not to give the bacteria a chance to cause infection. Washing the wound with antibacterial soap for about five minutes will lessen the risk of infection. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with sterile gauze. As expected, a person with dog bite wounds would be in pain. The pain that is mostly caused by the swelling will be minimized with an application of ice compress on the bite wound.
Rabies is a potential health risk that will devastate dog bite victims particularly if it is impossible to verify whether the dog has had rabies vaccination. Dog bite victims of stray dogs with an unknown rabies immunization status have to undergo rabies immunization therapy .
Find out more about how to treat a dog bite as well as dog first aid tips for lacerations and puncture wounds at Sarah's Dogs.
In spite of the renowned canine intelligence, dog's understanding is not at par with what humans have. A pet that usually greets its master by jumping will be puzzled if the owner suddenly raised the voice and reprimanded the dog for jumping while she is all dressed up for a party.
So how will you discipline a dog that has the tendency to bark excessively, or one that torments other pets, or one that has a destructive chewing habit or one that has the inclination to raid trash cans? Dogs can easily read our facial expressions and understand the meaning or our body movements. A dog that had destroyed your favorite $500 bag will slink under the table when it sees the anger in your face. The repentant look of the pet is not an assurance that destruction of shoes, bags and other things will not happen again. Unless you do something to discipline the dog, the undesirable act will be repeated again. Screaming at the dog or inflicting physical punishment would never be a good idea more so if the punishment was given after the destructive deed was done. Correcting the bad habit of the dog will never be accomplished if the punishment is given after the dog has been destructive.
In a dog/human relationship, the human should always be viewed as the leader of the pack. Dogs must be trained to follow the commands of humans. Training would be an effective method of disciplining the pet. This training is best started while the dog is still young and has not yet formed destructive habits. Dogs have the tendency to obey commands given in an authoritative voice.
Diversionary techniques that will result to the dog's aversion to the destructive behavior are effective methods of disciplining the dog . Bitter apple discourages the dog from chewing things and a spray of cold water stops the dog's excessive barking.
It would be best to reprimand and correct the dog while the destructive act is being committed. "No, Leave it, Stop are only some of the excellent commands that will stop the dog in mid act. Disciplining the dog would not be an easy task - one that cannot be accomplished at once but a determined owner consistently training the dog and using positive reinforcement will be able to correct a destructive behavior and have a well mannered pet.
Learn more about how to discipline a dog and dog first aid at Sarah's Dogs.
Dog owners are exposed to the vomiting bouts of the pet one time or another. The expulsion of food from the dog's stomach can be due to a variety of reasons. Similar to humans, dogs vomit if they have eaten something that does not agree with their system. It is not surprising for a dog to have an upset stomach because this voracious eater would eat anything from spoiled food to inedible objects.
Nature has given dogs an effective way of purging the stomach of objects not accepted by the dog's system. All the dog need to do is eat grass and all the things ingested that were not accepted by the dog's system will be thrown up. Vomiting will occur if the dog has eaten substantial amount of food and has drank water quickly. The vomiting can be the result of the new dog food. Although quite uncommon, stress can make the dog vomit.
A dog that was taken to a new home where there are already other pet dogs will vomit. The situation becomes highly stressful if the nervous or shy newcomer is introduced to a large and dominant old pet. An owner has to deal with the inconvenience for a while but as soon as the dog has adapted to its new environment the stress induced vomiting will be gone. After the vomiting bout, the dog will be its normal energetic self. Owners of healthy dogs with normal energy levels and good appetite need not be too concerned with the pet's vomiting. Pet owners can usually manage this kind of vomiting at home. To prevent the dog from vomiting repeatedly, food must not be given for 24 hours.
However, a dog's vomiting may not be due to dietary indiscretion. Vomiting is not considered a disease in itself but an indication of an underlying illness. A pet parent should be vigilant and carefully observe the condition of the vomiting dog.
A dog owner has to act at once if the repeated vomiting is accompanied with diarrhea, fever and the dog is noticed to be lethargic. The vomiting of the dog may be caused by a poisonous substance that was ingested by the pet. Vomiting can be due to parasites infestation or infectious diseases such as parvovirus. A dog with bloody vomit may be suffering from intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, kidney problems and stomach ulcer. Immediate medical attention must be given to a pet that has been vomiting for 24 hours more so if the dog is unresponsive and lethargic.
Want to know more about why dogs vomit and first aid for dogs? Sarah's Dogs is where you want to go.
Dogs have great appetites and these animals have the inclination to eat questionable (at least to us humans) things. Dog experts call this habit of ingesting non-edible things as pica. Although dog owners find it hard to understand the dog's propensity to eat non-food items, pica is a normal behavior of dogs. Most dogs would love to gnaw and eat rocks.
Puppies are more inclined to eat rocks. Puppies have a very curious nature and the mouth is used to learn about their environment. These "baby" dogs would chew rocks as if the stony fragment is a fruit flavored bubble gum. Eating rocks though is dangerous. The soft tissues of the mouth can be wounded by the hard rock. Moreover this object is not meant for the dog's delicate digestive tract as ingestion can result to diarrhea. A blockage in the throat or on the intestinal tract that can be created if a large piece of rock is swallowed can be the cause of death of the pet.
Dogs are voracious and indiscriminate eaters. Pet owners would do anything to have the most well behaved pet but of course this is not possible as dogs are known to adapt dangerous and abhorrent behaviors. Nevertheless we would still be puzzled why dogs eat rocks. A brain disease can be one of the reasons why the dog eats rocks. If an underlying medical concern was ruled out, the rock eating habit of the pet can be attributed to behavioral problems.
Boredom, stress or anxiety can urge a dog to feast on rocks. Being social animals, dogs would need interaction with the family. If contact with humans or with other animals are not provided the dog will be bored. Bored dogs will develop destructive behaviors. Bored dogs eat rocks. Eating rocks can be the dog's effort to get the attention of the master.
For proper diagnosis, humans have to have a series of laboratory tests. Dogs don't need any of these test as these animals can recognize what is wrong with their system. Rock eating is associated with the effort of correcting a nutrient deficiency. The habit of eating rocks can be the dog's way of calling the master's attention to the nutrient deficient diet or to the attention that is being missed by the dog.
Learn more about why dogs eat rocks, first aid for dogs and other interesting dog behaviours.
The world as seen in the eyes of a dog will be in white and in different shades of grey. This is due to the fact that dogs are believed to have no ability to see colors. Dogs have ultrasensitive senses. Dogs are renowned for being outstanding guard dogs because of their very sensitive scenting and hearing abilities. Sighthounds are breeds highly valued for their excellent vision. It is generally believed that human's best friend has the knack of seeing better in the dark . Humans therefore can sleep soundly at night, unmindful of intruders as long as there is a dog is in the house.
With these ultrasensitive senses, it is surprising to note that dogs are believed incapable of seeing colors. Dogs can see color but the colors they can distinguish are fewer than what humans can see. The fact that dogs can see colors was proven by a study on canine vision conducted in the University of California. Due to the dog's less detailed vision, a new red chew toy may not be appreciated as in the dog's eye the color of the toy will either be black or grey.
Humans and dogs are very similar in genetics. The cone photoreceptors that catch light and control color sensitivity in human eyes are found in dog's eyes too. A dog's eye only has two cone photoreceptors while humans have three. The three cones in our eyes delivers 100% full range vision while dogs have approximately 20% range of color vision as they lack on cone. This makes a dog's vision about six times inferior than what we humans have.
In the eyes of Fido the rainbow colors would be blue, light blue, grey, light yellow, brownish yellow and dark grey instead of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. This means that in the eyes of a dog, the world is basically colored in blue, grey and yellow. In spite of the limited colors seen, a dog has the surprising ability to differentiate the subtle change in colors that creates various shades of violets and blues.
Humans do not have this ability because the human eyes have a yellow pigmentation that reduces the sensitivity of the eye to blue and violet lights by blocking the short wavelengths. The absence of the yellow pigmentation in the dogs eyes enables our four legged friend's eyes to be more sensitive in identifying the different shades of violets and blues.
Find out more about how dogs see color and dog first aid at Sarah's Dogs.