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Is aquarium water testing really necessary? In a word - yes! In a newly set up aquarium, water testing is critical to avoid fish loss as ammonia and nitrite rapidly rise. In an established aquarium, water testing is important to ensure the continued health of your fish. Test kits should be considered an important part of the operating expense associated with keeping an aquarium. If you cannot afford test kits or feel uncomfortable testing water yourself, check with your fish shop to see what they charge for doing water tests....

Saltwater Aquarium Fish Compatibility When selecting inhabitants for a saltwater tank, there are many important factors to consider. Depending on what you want your tank to look like or how you already have it set up, you should carefully consider which fish you add to your tank. Although mixing predators and prey isn’t the only consideration, if you have the desired species or mix of fish in mind, you may need to make some changes to your tank or plan so all the fish are happy in their new environment....

Pet chickens are easy to care for, full of personality, and they help keep your garden slug-free. Plus, fresh eggs! Keeping your chickens content and in top condition begins with quality chicken feed. “Most chicken feeds contain a selection of grains and seeds, plus a protein source—often fishmeal—to arrive at a formula that contains 15-16 percent protein and around 3.5 percent calcium,” says Lisa Steele, a fifth-generation chicken keeper and creator of the popular website Fresh Eggs Daily....

If you have mild cat allergies and want to be a cat owner, it’s still possible to adopt the right feline friend to join your family. Some cats don’t give off as many allergens as others, and these hypoallergenic breeds make excellent companions for those with allergy-specific needs. Anecdotal reports claim some breeds might be less likely to trigger allergies. This is in part thanks to their lower-than-average amount of shedding, but most importantly, it comes down to the allergenic proteins that naturally occur in their bodies....

If you have recently brought home a cat or kitten, one of the first things on your mind is probably choosing a special name for your new feline friend. Coming up with potential cat names is part of the fun, but choosing a name for your new cat or kitten can also feel overwhelming. If you’re not sure where to begin, read on for great name ideas for your new black-and-white kitty....

Picture a pit bull in your head, and most likely you see a muscular, short-haired dog with a broad head, deep chest, and a medium-to-large size. But it might surprise you to learn that there is actually no such thing as a “pit bull.” In fact, a pit bull isn’t a specific breed—there are several types of pit bulls. Pit bull is an umbrella term that’s used for several breeds often referred to as “bully breeds....

Best-known for their short statures, goofy grins, and bat-like ears, French bulldogs are a massively popular breed in the United States. In fact, French bulldogs have climbed from the 76th most popular breed in the country to the fourth most popular breed in only 20 years! So, how did Frenchies become so popular so quickly? Here’s a breakdown: They’re ridiculously adorable. Duh. They make a great apartment dog because they’re smaller in size and relatively quiet....

Just about everyone loves eating ice cream—what’s better than a cool, sweet treat on a hot day? When you make your next trip to the local creamery, you might be wondering if it’s okay to buy your dog a pupsicle. In other words, is it safe for your dog to eat ice cream? Potential Health Concerns The main takeaway is that ice cream isn’t a healthy snack option for dogs. While the occasional small amount of vanilla ice cream or mango sorbet probably won’t send your dog to the vet, ice cream shouldn’t be a regular treat for your dog....

There are a few common types of chameleons that are kept as pets. Some chameleons have more difficult care requirements than others but no matter which type of chameleon you choose to care for, you should know how to make sure you are getting a healthy and captive bred pet. Captive Bred Chameleons First and foremost, choose a captive bred pet chameleon. Wild caught chameleons tend to be under tremendous stress from the capture and shipping process and are much more likely to be carrying a heavy parasite load....

Cyanobacteria, formerly called blue-green algae, are not really algae but are a phylum of photosynthetic bacteria that live in moist soils and water. The species’ structures can be unicellular to filamentous and some species are colonial. It can grow quickly and can cover the substrate in the aquarium. When disturbed, it comes off in sheets. It is also called slime algae or smear algae, which is an appropriate name, as it is very slimy and often gives off an unpleasant swampy or fishy odor....

Female guinea pigs have a uterus, like every other female mammal, that hasn’t been surgically altered. Although they may have the same body parts as humans, dogs, and other species that bleed during their estrus cycles, bleeding during heat is not normal for guinea pigs. Therefore, if a female guinea pig is bleeding, she needs to see an exotics vet as soon as possible. Then Where Is the Blood From? It is possible the bleeding could still be from your guinea pig’s uterus, but if that’s the case, it is not normal....

Congratulations on your new kitten! One of the first decisions you will need to make is to choose an appropriate diet for your kitten. Proper nutrition is one of the most important aspects of caring for your kitten. You may be feeling overwhelmed with all the cat and kitten food choices on there. Where do you begin? Your kitten will probably have been already weaned when he first arrives at your house....

Boredom Seeking a Mate Hunting Fear Stopping the Behavior Losing your dog can be a terrifying experience. It’s even scarier to realize that your dog ran away on purpose. If your dog runs away repeatedly, it’s important to understand why and figure out how to stop it. As with any behavior problem, our main goal is to figure out WTF: What’s The Function of this behavior? If we can answer this question, we can figure out how to meet your dog’s needs without letting him fly the coop!...

History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy Further Research Red fan parrots are some of the most strikingly colorful pet birds. They are medium-sized parrots with very vibrant feathers and a unique crest on the top of their head. These birds are not as commonly seen as pets as some other small parrots, but they can still be found in some avian enthusiast’s homes....

How to Teach Your Dog to Roll Over Break It Down Add the Command Stop Using Treats Problems and Proofing Behavior “Roll over” is a cute and fun trick to teach your dog. Before you start, your dog should already be able to sit and lie down on command. It is a bit more difficult to teach your dog to roll over than it is to teach him some other commands because this trick has a couple of parts to it....

A hackamore is a bridle with no bit. A mechanical hackamore is a bitless bridle with shanks. A bitless bridle without shanks is called a side pull. These hackamores are sometimes seen on the trail, in the jumper ring, and western speed games like barrel racing. The shanks on the mechanical hackamore provide leverage, just as the shanks on a curb bit do. Rather than pressure being applied inside of the mouth, the hackamore places pressure over the nose and other points of the head....

What Are Hair Loss and Scratching? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment and Prevention Prognosis Hair loss and scratching are two of the most common reasons dogs visit veterinarians, and there are several causes for these distressing symptoms including parasites and infections. To diagnose and treat your dog for its irritating skin condition, your veterinarian will become a medical detective, performing thorough examinations and laboratory tests to track down the source of your pup’s displeasure....

Dogs communicate fear and aggression through their body language, showing signs such as shivering, cowering, tucking their tail between the legs, and averting their eyes. In addition, dogs often show aggression when they are afraid. While you might want to know how to get an aggressive dog to trust you, that’s not always possible—sometimes it’s best to leave the dog alone. Be extremely careful as you approach a shy, fearful, or aggressive dog because your own body language and demeanor are important, too....

Choosing a Potty Pad Introducing Them Anticipate Needs Reward Your Puppy Be Consistent Mistakes to Avoid Problems and Proofing Behavior Using potty pads (also called puppy pads, or pee pads) is one way to help teach your puppy where it is appropriate to use the bathroom. Of course, this isn’t an instinctual activity, so you’ll have train your puppy to use a peed pad. Consistency is key to this training technique, which you can then use to also teach your puppy to eventually potty outside....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Lakeland terrier is a small terrier dog breed from England with a short, wiry coat that can come in an array of colors and doesn’t shed much. While this breed is small in stature, it still has fairly long legs that allow it to be a sturdy, swift athlete....