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White spot disease, caused by the protozoa Cryptocaryon irritans, is a common parasite in saltwater aquariums. Since it only takes one parasite to reproduce into one thousand offspring, it is very easy for a system to get quickly overwhelmed. Replicating within gill tissue, this parasite is very harmful to your fish. Once you have a confirmed diagnosis, successful treatment must be carefully applied in order to eliminate it entirely. As the name suggests, the main clinical sign of white spot disease is pinprick-size white spots along the body of your fish....

Unlike cats, dogs are highly social creatures who need not only to be entertained. Dogs require mental and physical stimulation to avoid behavioral issues that result from boredom. Many common behavior problems in dogs are caused by boredom or lack of mental/physical stimulation. When a dog gets bored, they may look for ways to entertain themselves. This can lead to inappropriate chewing, excessive barking, and digging. While training can help with some of these problems, there are several other things you can do to curb your dog’s destructive behavior....

Barbs, Tetras, Rasboras, and even goldfish are among the most well-known egg scatterers. These fish need a specially prepared tank for the breeding process. Suitable tank sizes for the egg scatterers are 3 to 15 gallons for tropical fish, according to the size and nature of the fishes, with larger tanks for goldfish. Small light tanks are easier to clean and set up than heavy ones. Tank Size Considerations Since we are not concerned with cultivating infusoria and beautiful live plant displays in our breeding tanks, the size of the tank matters little at the spawning stage, as long as there is room for the parent fishes to follow their particular routine....

Is it OK to Own a Wallaby? Behavior and Temperament Housing Diet Vet Care Purchasing Similar Pets and Breeds Wallabies may be cute and fascinating animals, but it’s illegal to own them in most states, and they don’t make the best pets. These smaller relatives of kangaroos are not easily domesticated and cannot be house-trained. If allowed to roam around inside your house, a wallaby will not only urinate and defecate, it may also jump erratically, endangering itself (and your furniture)....

The key to keeping your pet parakeet well-fed and healthy is providing varied options for them—ideally, emulating what they might naturally eat in the wild while foraging. Budgie owners should keep safe fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich snacks ready at hand for an energizing snack. Parakeets also benefit from cuttlebones—a bone-like aquatic shell that’s a fantastic source of calcium. However, it is also important to provide bird food that will act as a dietary staple, ensuring robust and well-balanced nutrition....

Can you train your mouse to use a litter box? It is certainly worth a try, but you may not have success getting pet mice (or other small rodents) completely litter trained. Mice are actually rather clean animals, and often choose one part of their home to use as a bathroom area most of the time. They usually still either mark territory or have accidents out of the box, so the goal should be to get the mice to use a litter box most of the time....

Horses have a much better sense of smell than we humans. If you’ve ever ridden a horse on the trail that dropped its head to sniff its way along because other horses have been on the same trail, you’ll know that they get much more information out of a smell than we do. They aren’t as good at scent recognition as a dog, but they are able to identify predators and other horses by their smell....

Allergies are the most common cause of skin problems in dogs, often causing itching and skin irritation. Allergies in dogs can also affect the gastrointestinal system and the upper respiratory system. Dogs with allergies need prompt treatment to relieve uncomfortable symptoms. You can work closely with your veterinarian to develop the best allergy treatment plan for your dog. Causes of Allergies in Dogs An allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to a particular substance called an allergen....

People love their dogs, but being a pet parent is not all cuddles and games of fetch. It comes with lots of responsibility. To avoid falling into any bad habits, new and experienced dog owners alike should freshen up on etiquette. Are you guilty of making any of these common mistakes? Picking the Wrong Dog (Or Getting a Dog Before You’re Ready) Getting a dog on impulse is pretty easy to do....

If you have a German dog breed, like the little Dachshund or the smart German Shepherd, you may want to give them a name inspired by their country of origin. Maybe you have German heritage or you just like the language or the culture? Whether you want to give your dog a traditional German name which has significance for you, or you want to name them after a favorite food or landmark, the list below will hopefully offer up some ideas....

What Is Parvo? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Canine parvovirus, often called parvo, is a highly contagious virus that affects most canids (dogs, wolves, foxes, and coyotes). This potentially fatal disease attacks rapidly, deteriorating a dog’s bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract. Infected dogs quickly become weak, dehydrated, and anemic. Puppies are most vulnerable and often die of this disease. Fortunately, vaccinations greatly reduce a pup’s chances of contracting parvo....

What happens if cardiac arrest occurs in your dog? It’s frightening to think about your dog’s heart suddenly stopping. Although the likelihood of this happening to your dog is relatively low, it’s a good idea to understand cardiac arrest in dogs. Learn what to do if your dog experiences cardiac arrest. What Is Cardiac Arrest in Dogs? Dogs do not experience “heart attacks” in the same way that humans do. However, they can experience heart failure that ultimately stops the heart....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research The colorful tetras of South America have Old World relatives in the region of the Congo River in Africa. These African counterparts are equally colorful. One of these species is the Congo tetra, which shimmers in all the colors of the rainbow. This loud coloring is used for extravagant courtship displays toward both the male and female....

Many pet owners work all day and need to leave their dogs at home alone. It’s not unusual for these owners to return home to find hyperactive or stressed-out dogs. Dogs often get bored and even depressed when they are home alone all day. Those with separation anxiety may cause destruction, harm themselves, and bother neighbors with barking and howling. One of the most common reasons given at an animal shelter for owner turn-ins is the dog’s destructive behavior (doing things like chewing the owner’s belongings)....

A blind cat can have a wonderful, happy life. It is not at all uncommon for pets, particularly older ones, to suffer vision loss. Just as people over the age of 40 tend to need reading glasses, the same vision changes start to develop in almost all cats over the age of six. This normal change, called nuclear sclerosis, results in less flexibility of the lens, a hazy appearance, and less ability to focus on close objects....

History Temperament Speech and Vocalizations Colors and Markings Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Exercise Where to Adopt or Buy Further Research The European starling, or the common starling, is one of the most widely distributed wild birds in North America. While not sold in pet stores, orphaned wild birds adopted by humans can make surprisingly good pets that are devoted to humans and capable of learning speech. Origin and History Starlings are native to Europe and came to North America during the late 1800s....

The quickest way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach, so it’s best to stock up on some treats ahead of Valentine’s Day—and now you can do it on the cheap. Through Feb. 7, Full Moon is offering 35% off on all its dog treats, and all you have to do is input the code LUV35 when you check out online. That’ll get you the deal as well as a set of three canine Valentine’s Day cards....

Cat’s are notoriously difficult to get pills into. Just ask your vet! If your sick cat coughs or vomits after taking a pill, there is good reason to stop trying to administer the pill using the method you are using. The most common method of administering medications that can cause problems is dry pilling. If you’ve ever tried to swallow a dry aspirin without liquid, you’ll recognize how uncomfortable the experience can be....

Training is just as important for small breed dogs as it is for larger ones. Dog owners don’t always put as much time and energy into training their small breed dogs, often writing off any bad behavior as inevitable. Unfortunately, a lack of training actually can lead to a number of behavior problems, including aggression and incessant barking. It can also be dangerous for your small dog; if it doesn’t learn to come when called, for instance, it could get lost or hurt....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Ibizan hound is a medium-size hound dog breed from the Spain with a short, smooth or wiry coat and a lanky build. These dogs have a slender, elegant frame, and they move with agility, grace, and swiftness. They sport large, upright ears and amber eyes that reflect their alert, intelligent nature....