Practical Pet Care

Constructing Your Pond

Although there are a number of approaches to build a Koi fish ponds, there are a few general points to follow in order to ensure that it all goes well. Using a liner to build your Koi fish pond means that you have a great deal of flexibility in its design. Bear in mind the following points, even though you may not be able to implement them all.

Proportion:
The Koi fish pond shouldn't be disproportionate to the size of the garden.

Position:
When you build a Koi fish pond yourself, you should position the pond where it can be easily viewed. It will off course brighten up you garden.

Electricity:
It is important that an electricity supply can be run down to it.

Aspect:
The Koi fish pond should be in the sun for about 6 hours a day in order to promote good plant growth.

Trees:
If you build a Koi fish pond near over-hanging trees it can present a problem as they drop flowers and leaves, which pollute the water. Strong root growth can also threaten the structure of the Koi pond.

Access:
The pond should be accessible for occasional maintenance.

Materials:
Although Koi ponds can be constructed from brickwork and fiberglass, or installed as rigid units, liner is the easiest option, and gives the greatest scope for flexibility and design.

Liner Size:
It is important to have an appreciation of how much liner you are going to need, before you build a Koi fish Pond. The size of liner that you need can be determined using the following equation:

Length + twice the depth + overlap = Total Length
Width + twice the depth + overlap = Total Width.

Be sure to always oversize the liner, so as to leave plenty of room for error, as it is easy to cut it down to the required size.

Digging the Koi Pond:
Carefully plan the shape of your Koi fish pond before you start digging. This can be done by marking the outline of the pond with pegs and a hosepipe (or rope). The ground should also be leveled. Starting from the centre you should then dig down to the level of the first shelf (the marginal shelf). The soil should then be well firmed. The main purpose of the shelf is to provide a planting area for marginal plants. The shelf should be around 30 - 45cm deep depending on the size of plants you want to grow. Once the shelf has been leveled, you can continue to dig, excavating the remainder of the pond. For most fish a depth of 45 - 60cm will be adequate, but if you plan to keep koi they should have a minimum of 0.9 - 1.2m.

Installing the Koi Pond Liner:
You will need to put down a layer of pond underlay to protect it. The liner should be placed in the middle of the pond and unfolded out towards the edge, positioning it as you go. Once in position it should be weighted down with stones. The Koi pond should then be filled slowly, removing the weights as you go. Allow to settle for 24 hours.

Finishing Touches:
Finish off your perfect Koi pond with either natural rock or paving around the edges of the liner.

Shopping List:
You are reading this because you want to build a Koi fish pond and do it right so remember: a Good Quality Pond Liner, Pump, Pond Filter, Sufficient Hosing, Quality Pond Foods and Water Treatments is essential to a lasting Koi pond.

Remember, you have to build a Koi fish Pond with passion and it will give you years of pleasure to come.

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Setting up a Tropical Aquarium
Setting up a tropical aquarium is inexpensive, easy to maintain and makes a awesome addition in a home or office. Research has shown that watching fish in an aquarium can actually reduce your stress levels and its easy, so dont stop here. Follow these five steps for guranteed success and FUN:

Step 1 - Location
Be sure to set up your tropical aquarium close to a power supply and out of direct sunlight. This way you will not have cables all over your house/office and keeping you tank out of direct sunlight will keep algae growth to a minimum. Do this in the beginning as your tank will be very heavy once filled with water.

Step 2 - Buying the Correct Equipment
Penny wise, pound foolish: This defnitely counts for setting up a tropical aquarium. Be sure to buy a good quality glass aquarium with a canopy that prevents condensation reducing the water in the tank.

The following items need to be purchased seperately if your tank does not come complete with this: A Filter, Air Pump, Light, Heater and to complete the tank you will need Gravel, Plants (real or plastic), other decorating equipment and water testing kits.

Be sure to buy quality items with guarantees. You want the products to last a few years without replacement (especially Pumps, Heaters and Lights) and you do not want your fish dying of poor quality water due to a pump that has broken down. Setting up a tropical aquarium should be a once off job with only maintenance going forward.

Step 3 - Gravel, Plants & Decoration
When setting up a new aquarium you will be thinking of what you will use to make it look good. Start with the gravel. You get all kinds of aquarium gravel and in all sorts of colours. For me the best is still a bright white gravel, but the choice is yours. This will give your aquarium a nice foundation and almost all other ornaments and plants will look good on top of it. The gravel should cover the base of the tank and will be used to anchor all your plants.

When choosing plants for your new aquarium you wil have the choice of plastic as well as live plants. Using a combination is a good idea to start off with. Be sure to use a combination of colours and sizes to give your tank a lively look.
Decoration will be up to you personally. Everyone likes a different look, but using rocks will be a neccesity for setting up your tropical aquarium as it will give your tank a natural look.

Step 4 - Introducing Fish
Once you have set up your tank and filled it with water, let it run without fish for about 1 week. This gives the tank time to settle and all impurities will be filtered thourgh the filtering system of the tank. After the first week you can introduce fish gradually over a couple of weeks starting with about 2-3 fish per week, but also being careful not to overstock your tank. Get advice on what fish can be kept together as you do get aggressive fish that cannot be kept with some community fish.

After buying your fish make sure ot float the plastic bag in your tank for at least 20 minutes before releasing the fish into your tank. This way your the water in the tank will equalise the water temprature in the bag that the is is tranported in. This reduces stress and your fish will have a greater chance of survival.

Step 5 - Feeding and Maitenance
Make sure to feed your fish only the best food that you can afford. With the better food your fish will get a better diet, and less excrete will results in less pollution in the aquarium. Be careful not to overfeed; only feed enough food that your fish will finish in +- 1 minute.

Be sure to check your water quality weekly with any available water tests. Every few weeks do a partial water change of +-15% at a time. Be sure to treat the new water with a de-chlorinator before addinng to the water to your tank.

Final word on Setting up a Tropical Aquarium
Remember that setting up a tropical aquarium should be fun. These five steps will give you the absolute basics to getting this done. If you need more information check out this site. They have loads of extra Information that will help you on your journey to a fantastic hobby.

If you have a brand new puppy - Congratulations. This will truly be a joy in your life, but wait: "My Dog Chews Everything" I hear you say. Don't be stressed out.

Puppies in paricular will find something to chew. You are only frustrated because they are chewing the wrong things. Not only is in an inconvenience for you, but chewing the wrong items can actually be very bad for your puppy's health and it is in both your interests to help your puppy correct this behaviour. Find some more information on your dogs health here.

Overall dogs thrive on playing, chewing a toy and being part of a family. If your dog chews everything in site it might be that his basic need to play and chew is not being met. This could be due to not enough of the correct chew toys available to him/her or a lack of excercise. Be sure to give your dog a chew that is slightly larger than its mouth. Certain smoked animal bones is a good and safe chew and will last a long time. Be sure to give this type of chew under supervision and outdoors as they might stain that brand new carpet of yours.

If your dog chews everything a good quality nylon or plastic chew is also a good idea. It is long lasting and requires minimum supervision. There are a variety of chews of this nature available and they range in colours as well as flavours. Rather pay that little extra and get the better quality toy. If your puppy seems to have jaws of steel these type of toys will last ALOT longer.

Rawhide chews are also a possibility and they are cheap. They come in a huge range of shapes and size, but be sure to always supervise your dog when he/she is chewing rawhide. As the sections turn soft trim them off to ensure your dog does not injure his teeth or lips and throw the chew away when it becomes to soft. If your dog is still a puppy rawhide should be used sparingly to as it can cause stomach upsets.

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Make sure your dog get enough excercise and play time as this will also take it's mind of constant chewing. Remember a dog is a pack animal and needs to be part of a pack / family. Make them part of your family to ensure the best natural environment.

Lastly your dog might need some training. Remember they are almost never to young to start with some sort of training. You might actually find that YOU need the training to stop your dog from chewing everything. Trainers are expensive so why not try an online solution. This one is easy and quick.

1) Choosing the Right Bird for You

There really is a big choice of birds available for pets these days and choosing the correct bird for you will ensure proper pet bird health. Birds like cockatiels, budgies, canaries and finches are really easy to look after, but sometimes not that much fun. On the other hand birds like parrots and parakeets require a bit more care and attention, but if trained properly, can really be part of your family. When you buy your bird do so from a reputable breeder and preferably buy a hand reared bird. Doing this will force you to feed the bird yourself for a while and that will promote the bonding process.

2) Choosing the Correct Cage

Do not be penny wise and pound foolish when buying a cage. Get the biggest cage you can afford and remember that you also need to have space for the cage at home. To ensure good pet bird health your bird will need to have enough space in his cage to stretch his wings, climb around in the cage, play with toys and even fly from perch to perch. For ease of use make sure your cage has wheels for mobility and try to get a cage with detachable parts for easy cleaning.

Place the cage in an area were you bird will get lots of fresh air and light, but be careful of direct sunlight as this could nagatively impact pet bird health. Remember that your bird will become part of the family so make sure it is close to conversation with the family as much as possible.

3) Proper Feeding

One Word: QUALITY. Quality food is a neccesity for pet bird health. Birds need a balanced diet from good quality seed foods. Some foods might have vitamin and minerals added, but make sure to get the best food you can afford and ask your local pet shop/retailer for help on the best food for your type of bird. Remeber that a poorly balanced diet can lead to problems in your pet bird health at a later stage so make sure to feed your bird properly from the start.

Enough seed foods to feed your bird for one day should be given at any one time. Try and feed at a particular time every day and make sure there is always fresh water available for drink as this help with digestion and will ensure pet bird health. Fresh fruit and vegetables are also a favourite for some birds and can be fed daily.

4) Keeping your Bird Healthy

Spend as much time with your bird as possible. You will get to know your bird's physical appearance so take note of any sudden changes. If his daily routine changes or your bird start acting strange by overactive behaviour or maybe less movement than usual it could indicate potential sickness.

Remember that birds in the wild hide any sickness as this shows that they are vulnerable and can be attacked easily by preditors. Usually by the time sickness is noticed it could be too late so ensure to take note of your bird's daily routine.
For complete pet bird health bird droppings at the bottom of the cage MUST be cleaned daily and the cage must be cleaned once a week.

5) Sickness in Birds

Caged birds can easily get colds and pneumonia, particularly in cold weather. If your bird starts sneezing alot it might be a sign that he is getting a cold. If it starts bobbing its tail it might be more serious and could have breathing problems - consult your vet immediately.

If your bird starts picking its feather it may be suffering from lack of nutrition or lack of excercise and stimulation. Remember that your bird needs excercise and lots of activity to ensure pet bird health.

6) Giving your Bird a Bath

Most birds love a bath and the best way to do this is to put some warm water in a spray canister and spray this over your bird. You will see your bird enjoy playing with the water and this will go a long way toward pet bird health. You can also put a small bird bath in the cage, but remember to take it out after the playtime is over.

7) What Toys Should I Get

Make sure to provide a wide variety of toys. These toys should be durable, small enough to play with, but not small enough to swallow. Wood or leather toys for Parrots are a good choice as they will last longer. Tie the toys in the cage for the bird to play with and take out any toys that have been excessively destroyed. Remember that toys are for the bird to play with, but to ensure proper pet bird health, play time should also include human contact.

This was a quick 7 step "How To" for Pet Bird Health. For a complete guide to pet bird health I suggest the book "How to care for your Pet Bird" ! by Dr Joel Murphy. This is a fantastic guide so don't wait, get it here and ensure sustainable pet bird health for years to come.

Is a Hamster the Pet for You?

Having a Hamster as Pet is quite easy. They make excellent family pets and need very little space to live in. Hamsters are mostly nocturnal and will hide away in their cages during the day while wanting to play at night. Remember having a Hamster as Pet will be about a two and a half year responsibly as that is the average lifespan for hamsters.

What Living Condition do Hamsters Prefer?

Hamsters need a quite a bit exercise, so my advice is to buy the biggest Hamster Cage you can afford. A cage of size 20in long x 10in wide x 15in high should be sufficient for your hamster so try not to get anything smaller.

The best type of cage for a Hamster as Pet is a plastic cage with metal top. Refrain from getting wooden cages as they will be gnawed and the splinters can hurt your Hamster. You can use wood chips for floor covering or even shredded paper, but do not use hay.

Be sure to have enough exercise equipment for your Hamster and he will use it regularly and stay healthy.

How do I Handle a Hamster as Pet?

After purchasing you Hamster as Pet, take him home and leave him by himself for a day or two to get used to his new surroundings. After this initial period be sure to handle your Hamster as Pet on a regular basis to build up a good relationship. Hamsters have poor vision and you have to talk to your Hamster as Pet all the time so he can get used to your voice.

Also allow your Hamster to smell you hand every time before you pick him up. This way your hamster becomes used to you smell and will recognize you easy. Pick up you Hamster by cupping you one hand under him as if scooping water. Be careful not to drop you Hamster while handling him. After a good relationship is built up between Hamster and handler your Hamster will eventually eat out of your hand.

How do I Keep my Hamster as Pet Healthy?

Even though Hamsters don't live that long as Pets, they are usually healthy throughout their lives. There are some common complaints, but most can be avoided by looking after your Hamster and keeping him fit and healthy.
Complaints like ruffled coat, loss of appetite, cough and sneezes and nasal discharges cold mean that your Hamster has a cold. Keep your Hamster warm and if the problem persists take you Hamster to a vet for a checkup.

Keep your Hamster cage out of draughts and try to keep an average temperature of about 20 degrees C. If you live in an area that does get quite cold be sure to add more bedding for your Hamster as Pet. Hamsters can go into hibernation when it gets to cold. In cases like this he will need to be warmed up in your hands to wake him up.

Hamsters can get a condition called wet tail. This is a severe diarrhea and should be treated by your vet immediately. Clean the cage thoroughly with disinfectant before it gets used again.

Be sure to feed you Hamster proper treats to wear his teeth down as your Hamster's teeth will grow throughout his lifetime. Also clean his cage weekly with hot water and safe pet disinfectant.

Enjoy your Hamster as Pet

Remember that having a Hamster as Pet should be a fulfilling experience for you as well as the Hamster. Feed your Hamster a good diet and give him as much love and attention as possible and you will have a fantastic time together.