What do you do when you really wish to have a pet, but due to some reason or the other, getting a dog or a cat is not an option? The easiest alternative is to get some fish. A dog or a cat requires a certain amount of space, commitment and a lot of time and investment. People might even possibly be allergic to them. Also, more often than not, your guests may not be particularly comfortable with a dog or a cat in the house. Somehow, most guests find the quiet and peace of fish in a fish tank endearing. And in terms of commitment, all that a fish needs is some food, comfortably sized fish tank and a little bit of love and you are good to go. But at the same time, one needs to ensure that their fish tank is cleaned regularly and they are well fed even if the owner is away. To ensure good health, one can also feed them vet-approved medicines.

The most famous, easily available and loved species among fish is the Goldfish. Its small in size and beautiful to look at, hence earning that name. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and most commonly kept aquarium fish. It was first domesticated in China, thousands of years ago with various other species of the carp family. It was originally reared as food fish, but slowly gained favor as a pet. Some of these normally were gray or silver in color, but produced mutations in red, yellow or orange. This mutation was first noticed during the Jin Dynasty (265-420). With time, the breed was then introduced in Japan, Portugal and subsequently to other parts of the world where it quickly became popular. There are many different varieties of domesticated goldfish, but due to their bright colors and long fins, they are likely to perish in the wild. Common and comet goldfish can survive and breed in any climate that can support a pond.

Goldfish are usually small and can survive in small tanks but they can grow fairly large. Goldfish as big as 19 inches have been recorded. A 15 inch goldfish in England was known to weigh 2 pounds. This being a pet fish, it is believed that there are several fish in ornamental lakes that could possibly be much larger in size. A fish was caught in a pond in England 16inches long and weighing 5 pounds. It was assumed that it was probably abandoned as it outgrew its tank. In the wild, goldfish usually feed on crustaceans, insects and plant matter. They can’t willingly stop eating, which can cause damage their intestines. Overfeeding can be diagnosed by excessive waste and faeces produced. Compared to typical fish food, goldfish-specific food has less protein and more carbohydrates. Shelled peas, blanched green vegetables, blood-worms and brine shrimp are a favorite, but goldfish preference vary similar to all other animals. Goldfish have the capacity to distinguish between 4 primary colors-red green blue and ultraviolet, thus making their vision the most widely studied amongst all fish visions.

There are over 300 breeds of goldfish available in China currently, almost all of which have originated there. These breeds have differences in their color, body shapes, and fin and eye configurations. Some extreme versions can thrive only in aquariums and are far removed from their wild counterparts. Goldfish exist in colors like, orange, yellow, silver, black and several combinations of these. The Chinese classify goldfish based on their features. Ce goldfish lack fancy anatomical features. Wen have a fancy tail. Dragon Eye have extended eyes, and Egg have an egg shaped body with no dorsal fin. Goldfish reproduce only when there is enough water, right nutrition and the right temperature. Goldfish are egg layers that typically hatch within 48 to 72 hours. The newborns can take almost a year to develop a mature goldfish color. Some highly bred goldfish can no longer breed due to their altered shape, and hence require artificial breeding, that, if done incorrectly can harm the fish.

Goldfish are some of the most intelligent fish. They have strong associative abilities and social learning skills. Due to their visual acuity they can distinguish between individual humans. They are joyful when they spot their owners, or a known face, but hide and shy away from others. Goldfish rarely harm each other, although they can be extremely competitive when it comes to food. They have a memory span of 3 months. By using positive reinforcement, they can be trained to react to visual stimuli or to perform tricks. They are just as friendly and make a good companion as most pets. Goldfish have a tendency to generate a lot of waste, in the form of faeces and also from their gills. This creates a toxic environment in the fish tank, if it is not cleaned frequently. Certain laws are in place that restrict having goldfish in a fish bowl. This is considering the constricted space available for movement and the dangers of a toxic environment. Ideally a cleaning mechanism should be employed in the fish tank to ensure optimum measures.

Another reason why people prefer having goldfish as pets is its value in terms of feng shui. Feng shui is an ancient art of good living. Goldfish are said to bring good luck in the house. In fact according to certain customs a husband gifted his wife a goldfish on successful completion of one year of marriage.  In fact, placing just a model or image of a goldfish in the house is said to bring good luck in the house.  More often than not, it has been noticed that fish don’t last very long. In spite of their short lifetime, they bring us joy the whole time. No wonder, they are loved by all.

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If you are thinking of starting a new aquarium and looking for some entertaining fish, the kissing gourami is a wonderful choice. Quite a popular pet choice because of its unique feature, it is a fish that kisses! Don’t be appalled, the fish isn’t going to come out and kiss you, it is just the fact that when two kissing gouramis meet, they meet each other in a manner that makes it appear as if they are kissing each other.  All of us associate kissing with love and endearment, but in fact really this behavior is a signal of the fish challenging each other! We’ve heard of fighting fish that fight with each other, the kissing gouramis are also aggressive in nature, and this act of kissing is there way of engaging in a tussle although there isn’t any harm done to each other.

Obviously, if you are looking for interesting fish as pets, then the kissing gourami would be a wonderful choice and also an attraction for you as you watch the kissing gourami fish kiss the wall of the tank, the aquatic plants which you might have added and of course, other fish!

Getting a new pet is no joke and you ought to know more about the kissing gourami if you are considering it to be a preferred pet choice. Read on to know more about what your pet gourami fish will need!

Variations:  Most people are only aware about the pink gourami fish variation. However there are different colours which are also available. The naturally occurring colour is the green kissing gourami fish, and the other colour variation is the piebald variety. The pink coloured gourami fish do not occur much in abundance in nature, yet are the most popular variety of aquarium fish. Do not fear though, breeders specifically breed the pink fish and it would not be too difficult for you to acquire your pink gourami fish.

Tank Requirements: A very vital matter that you must think upon is the tank requirement for the kissing gourami. A kissing gourami fish requires a minimum tank size of 30 gallons and if you are looking for a small tank, this fish might not be suitable. When they are in their natural habitat that are prone to grow up to a foot’s length even, but when they are in captivity as pets their maximum size is almost halved to around 12 inches. So ensure that you are planning to invest in a medium sized rank at the least if you are interested in raising the kissing gourami fish. The optimal water temperature should be around 22 to 28 Celsius.

Another essential feature necessary for your tank is that the kissing gourami fish should have easy access to large surface area of the tank. This is because they are labyrinth fish which have a special organ which helps them to absorb oxygen from the air as their gills have less capacity to absorb oxygen directly from the water. Therefore, ensure that you have a tank with large surface area, which your pet fish can easily access. Oxygen isn’t imperative for humans only for survival!

Food: Kissing gourami fish are not fussy eaters and the commercial fish feed which you may find would be sufficient to meet the dietary needs of your pet fish. You could even add some fresh vegetables for their diet as it would provide an all round balanced meal. However ensure that the fresh produced is consumed by the fish soon. If the fresh produce is left around, it would rot and create an unhealthy living environment for your pet kissing gouramis. Food which is rich in spirulina must also be added to provide a nutritious meal for your pet fish.

Behaviour: Kissing gourami fish are acknowledged for their habit of appearing to kiss each other as well as other objects. In spite of this behavior, they are not overtly aggressive. Eventhough the fish are not outright aggressive like fighting fish, they are passive aggressive and could cause harm to other fish if they scrape them, as it might result in damaging the skin of the other fish. Hence, it is wise to not grow other smaller fish around the kissing gourami fish. In case it appears as though the other fish are having a difficult time or shy away from your kissing gourami, it would be wise to separate the fish. Better safe than sorry! Once they grow older, they lose their mild aggressiveness and can happily co-exist with their tank mates.

Every pet owner is eager to know how and when their pets would reproduce. It is extremely difficult to detect the sex of the kissing gourami fish as the female can be identified only when it is pregnant. Unlike other labyrinth fish, It is not always a case to notice the male fish building bubble nests for the hatching of their young ones. Once the fertilized eggs are released by the female, the male fish takes care of the young ones. Even in cases where some of the eggs might float away, the male fish will use bubbles to blow them back to their place.

Once the fry are hatched, it would be a wise idea to separate the young gourami fish from their mothers, as they might eat their young ones.

You have probably gotten a basic idea about the kissing gourami fish and whether it is suitable for you as a pet. Remember, while watching these  gourami fish kiss each other is much fun, raising them is well is your responsibility too. If you can ensure that you will provide the right environment for your kissing gouramis and will take proper care of them – well what are you waiting for? Run along and get them soon!

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For any amateur pet owner who wants to start up their own huge aquarium, there is nothing greater than getting guppies. They are the quintessential fish that add colour and quantity to that fish tank in your house. Everyone loves a guppy or two, because they are hardy fish which can thrive in most environments. They serve as wonderful pets too, because they are of low maintenance.

It never hurts to start off with easy fish like guppies to grow and breed and then to move on with other exotic species. We all have experiences where we may have gifted or received guppies as pets from others. So what is so amazing about guppies that make them so popular? Why do people prefer them as pets? Simply put, here are 5 fun facts about guppy fish that you should definitely know and which would probably answer all the questions above.

1. Rainbows and sparkles: Well not so much the sparkles, but you are bound to be surrounded by multi-coloured fish if you get the guppies! You probably didn’t know this, but guppies have a nick name known as Rainbow fish because of the variety of colours that they are found in. Would it really matter if your guppies sparkled? As long as they were spotted in beautiful patterns which just add to their sheen, it really would not matter. It is the male guppy fish which are endowed with beautiful colours and varied patterns such as mosaic, cobra and eve tuxedo! That is not all there are twelve different varieties of tails a guppy could possess. Just imagine all the varieties you could be presented with.  So, if you want to add some colour in your life and, fish tank of course, guppies would be your perfect pet pals as they slink back and forth in the way that guppies are wont to do.

2. Friendly fish: We’ve heard if fighting fish that cannot be kept on groups because the males will start turf wars, until the loser concedes defeat. Well, when it comes to guppies, you do not have to worry. Guppies are extremely social creatures who love company of other guppies. A guppy would be really bored unless it has another 2-3 fish along with it. Just imagine! A tank full of guppy fish that are multi coloured! That would really add to the appeal of your fish tank and would even give you a new hobby, watching your guppy fish interact with each other as they cajole and play with one another. Watching fish is said to be therapeutic, so while your guppies are happy with others like them around, you are going to get free therapy sessions instead of spending a wad of money on a therapist.

3. Guppy babies and breeding: If you end up having male and female guppy fish, they will mostly end up mating and your tank will be blessed with new entrants. None other than baby guppies that would be swimming around. Remember; while it is quite easy to be blessed with baby guppies, there is not any guarantee that they will survive unless you take good care of them. So as soon as the baby guppies are born, move them over to a different tank so that the babies are not eaten by their parents. It has been observed that the mother would eat the babies unless they are separated soon.  Guppies are one the easiest fish to breed and what started out as growing guppies for fun could even evolve into becoming a professional guppy breeder. A career in fish? Well, that isn’t something you see every day!

4. No more pests! : We are no strangers to mosquitoes that haunt us every day and create general mayhem with their blood sucking abilities. Growing guppies, you could have your own natural mosquito repellent. Guppies are much valued because they feed on small insects and algae that are naturally found in the water. Mosquito larvae are no exception to the guppies’ diet, as they feed on them, ensuring that the infestation of mosquitoes is reduced. The breeding of malaria carrying mosquitoes can be reduced if you grow guppies in areas where you find stagnant water around. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to realize that you could save yourself from malaria because of the guppies that you grow in your backyard pond?

5. No fuss, guppies are fun: If you are looking for fish that aren’t very fussy and can survive in varied range of living activities, guppies are definitely your go to fish.  Even if guppies are fresh water fish, they can soldier on and survive in salt water too because of their amazing hardy nature.  It isn’t only restricted to the salinity of the water, as they can survive even in varied water temperatures. Basically, your guppies would be low maintenance as you would not have to regulate the salinity or temperature of the water. With their fish feed and regular tank cleaning, your guppies should be fine. You don’t have to install state of the art facilities in your home aquarium if you only have guppies, as they are indeed not a fussy fish.

Aren’t guppies just wonderful? Start slow, start small and you could be a guppy breeder one day! Imagine being surrounded by all those little fish that swim around chasing each other. Isn’t it just delightful?

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Choosing a pet can be difficult. Some people want a loyal companion in a dog, who is always there by their side, jumping up in joy to greet them. Others might prefer a cat, which would mewl in pleasure while being petted. Some want bird as pets, which they can hear chirp all day long.

Some would want fish as pets. While you are pondering over what fish to get, this will give you more insight about Fighting fish, a very popular pet fish. You have probably noticed that in all houses that you have seen them, fighting fish are almost always kept single, without another fighting fish. Why is that? Read on, and you will know soon.

Name: Fighting fish is what we always hear people saying, but their actual names are Siamese fighting fish. Fighting fish is such an ominous name isn’t it? The name in itself reveals an important characteristic of these fish. They definitely don’t bow down from a fight and are well known for their aggressive tendencies. Another name, by which the Siamese fighting fish is referred to, is Betta. It is derived from its scientific name.

Size: While they sound very ferocious, they do not grow to have very large bodies. The typical size of an adult fighting fish is 3 inches (7 cms). So you do not have to be worried about getting very large tanks for these fish. The minimum tank size which you could resort to is 2 gallons.

Appeal: Fighting fish may be known for their aggressiveness, but more of that later. A very appealing feature for these fish is the radiant colours they are found in. The fighting fish are found in various hues and are resplendent with their long fins that flow from their body. Needless to say, fighting fish is one of those fish that always look beautiful. If you enjoy watching fish swimming, watching a beautiful fish is just going to add to the charm. However the female fish are not as attractive as their male counterparts. So if beauty is important in your check list, buy the male fish.

Behaviour: There is a reason why male fighting fish are usually kept alone and not house with other males. While these fish are very attractive due to their distinct colours, they are renowned for their fighting tendencies. The male fish are extremely territorial and do not take well to other males being introduced to them. In fact they would most often immediately engage in a fight that would end up in one of the fish retreating. In extreme cases, the fight may end because one of the fighters dies during the spar. So, the recommended choice would be to get one male fighting fish and several females, which are not as aggressive as the males.

Sometimes, male fighting fish have been found attacking their own reflection on the tank walls. That is how aggressive they are. You could place the male fighting fish in a tank with other fish belonging to different species, and which are more placid. If there are other fish which physically resemble a male fighter, there might still be a tussle, which you would want to avoid.

Bubble Nest:  You might wonder how the young fighting fish are born, if the males are just fighting all the time. It is only in captivity the fights become very intense. In the wild, the fights do not last very long as the loser will retreat. The male fighting fish builds a bubble nest while mating with the female fish.

They will protect the eggs till they are hatched, after the female has laid all of them. The bubble nest provides a protective layer for the eggs, and helps the males to ensure that the eggs do not stray away. The female might eat the eggs once laid, so the male fighting fish protect their young till they are born. Just imagine, the males who were fighting tooth and nail a while ago, now become vigilantes of their young ones.

Betta matches: Heard of cock fights? It is not something new and most certainly a form of animal cruelty. People place bets over their choice and the fights commence with a lot of squawking and feather loss. Cocks are not the only creatures forced to fight each other, fighting fish have also been bred for fights. The Siamese fighting fish originated in Thailand and was popular due to the fights that were organized between the male fish along with the betting. These fights continue even today, where fighting fish are bred in captivity to increase their aggression. The main goal is to raise champions who will last long in fights, as the fish which retreats first is deemed the loser.

Fighting fish are incredibly fascinating. They are an excellent combination of beauty and power. It is hard to imagine so much of aggression in such a small package, but the Betta fish do deliver!

Walk into that pet store and get yourself a fighting fish. If you think fish are the right pets for you, then the Siamese fighting fish is an excellent choice.

Don’t wait too long to be dazzled by its beauty!

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WHAT GENERALLY HAPPENS? 

No matter how much we humans might love the monsoons, that brings along with itself the ability to relieve us from the scorching heat, the same monsoon season might be a nightmare for our little furry creatures. From birds to dogs, the showers affects them all, and ends up leading to a dampener of all activities. There so many diseases under the umbrella of this rain that might affect them, of which one must be wary of. Allowing for your pets to run around in this kind of weather might only lead up to more health complications which in turn might lead to dire consequences as well. The pleasant weather might not be so pleasant for them, as however much we even try to get sore throat and cold out of our heads, it’s even more difficult for a pet who end up going through problems regarding indigestion, fungal infections, skin infections and a lot more!

PETS LIKE DOGS WHO STAY OUT IN THE RAIN CATCH MANY DISEASES

Being vulnerable to many diseases during this monsoon season, there are a host of different problems that might be faced when taking care of our beloved pets, and it is even harder to take in to account ALL such problems and their remedies, which is why one’s knowledge will always be restricted, but the most common of all problems and remedies are given as follows for directional purposes when it comes to taking care of pets:

1. DIET PLAN:

It is vital to make a meal plan for your pet and it is even more essential to follow it up- REGULARLY!

• DO – make your pet eat HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS FOOD compromising of nutrients like chicken/lamb eggs, fat, fish oil etc. Boiled, and filtered water is a must and it should be taken care of that the pet does not eat/drink unhealthy, unauthorized food, water.

• DON’T- have your pets eat corn, soy or wheat.

2. REGULAR NUMBER OF MEALS PER DAY:

Food is one of the most important things when it comes to nutrition of a pet and it becomes imperative to give your pets, ideal number of food supply every day at least till the monsoon ends.

• DO – make your pet eat twice or thrice a day (for adults) and four to five times for a new born

• DON’T – overfeed your pet!

3. RAINY FUR COAT:

One of the common problems all pet owners face are the dirty fur that their pets carry around after it rains, dirty paws lead to yeast/fungal infections, dirt fur if not scrubbed or washed properly may even lead up to the death of the dog triggered because of the dirt present around. The mud that a dog likes to play in, might go inside their mouths which may end up causing problems in their stomach.

• DO – Wash/Scrub/Comb your pets fur two or three times a week of heavy monsoon rains, if your pet is incapable of staying put at your homes, and is very restless that he/she sneaks out for a little run-  it is imperative on your part to make sure their fur is clean and dry. One may use a blow drier or heaters to help serve that purpose.

• DON’T – direct heat from the heater/ blow drier might electrocute your pet and scrubbing everyday might even result in rampant hair fall – both the things must be done only and when required.

4. PLAY TIME?

It becomes extremely crucial to make a pet stay put in a house during the monsoon season. For one who may afford a big lavish mansions wherein the pet has free enough space to survive in, it might not be a huge deal but for the others it might be!

• DO – Lesser walks, indoor playtime with Frisbee/ ball, making the pet climb up and down the stairs or leaving it out in the open in the inner garden will let the pet remain active for a long time.

• DON’T – take them out for usual regular long walks, especially when it is pouring down.

5. PSYCHO PETS:

Scientists reveal that the most amount of fear for an animal is generally triggered by – THUNDERSTORMS. It might shake up the most peaceful and calmest of animals and end up making them have nightmares and howl throughout the night time.

• DO – hug your pets, make them feel as comfortable to you as possible, keep them cosy enough and try sleeping them if possible! Anti- anxiety pills must only be used in the rarest of rare cases.
• DON’T – leave the pets alone in such dire situations which results in excessive aggressiveness, howling, barking, chewing up of furniture etc.

6. FURRY CARE:

It is believed that not only dogs but even birds face issues with body odor, sweat and gastroenteritis. They must be taken regularly to their respective vets/ doctors for regular check-ups in such a weather and must be taken care of

DO – for dogs, clean their claws after they come back from a walk, changing water in their pails is necessary. For fishes, their aquariums must be drained out regularly and should be cleaned with fresh water added at least twice a month; making sure that organic foods and all the dirt is cleansed out, thoroughly.

DON’T – Let the dogs stay out, let the water be contaminated for long, Spectrozol; an anti – bio tic lotion that allows for humidity not to affect Birds must be used regularly.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST:

A dog’s claws are prone to get very dirty and nails must be trimmed regularly so as to avoid yeast infections or skin infections. One might judge if their pet lie a dog is really uncomfortable if they keep on licking themselves, or are scratching their paws against their heads a lot which is an indication of ticks being present in their body.

These pet care tips are vital for any pet care takers and must be takin to account thoroughly so as to provide for a healthy, suitable environment for their pets which was promised to them in the very first place in this dirty, vulnerable weather of MONSOON RAINS!

The post PET CARE DURING THE MONSOON! appeared first on Pet Attack.

Initially, the world has very few lands and remaining was covered only with oceanic water. In such period, there were no land animals. We could only find water animals and mammals all over.

In such case, Have you ever thought what would be the first animal in the world? Oh, yeah, definitely it would be a water animal. But, what it would be the first? does it still exists in the world? If so, what it is and how come? These kinds of questions are arising in our mind. Of course, it will.

The scientist has researched on the sea and sea bed to find the first animal, for a long period. After these long days, they finally found and gave a believable result for the first animal is Sponge and Comb Jelly fish. Yes, these are the first emerging water animal in the world.

Ah… Sponge? Sponge is the first animal? How could it be, it is just a Sponge? Yes, just Sponge. Sponge is considered as animal and of course it is the first animal in the world too. Is only Sponge and Comb Jelly fish is the first animal in the world? No, there is one more creator considering as first emerging animal in the word is, Malluscs. Oh, yeah, we have a lot of Malluscs available in the world. But this is the first creator of the Malluscs.

Well… These creators still exists in the world? Oh, yeah, it is, but not the Malluscs. Malluscs has been destroyed completely during Cambrian explosion. But some of the Malluscs has been preserved in the sea bed for showcasing and knowledge. As it is a long period, around 500 years, still it is preserved in the sea bed, as memorable one.

Is these first creator in the world can be used as pet, like, fish? Ah… Generally it isn’t possible because they need oceanic environment as well deep structure to survey. But now-a-days, the people are drawn towards it. Though, Comb Jelly fish can’t be used as pet because of its characteristic and habitat. It needs oceanic environment to survey because it’s characteristic, habitat and body structure doesn’t support however. But, the people are started to pet the Sponge, now-a-days. Though it is difficult but still the people are interested toward it. Sponges are abundant in nature but could able to survey in both polar and tropical region. It is all, because of its strong nature. Oh, how come Sponges have strong nature as it is named sponge (soft and puffy)? Yes, it is incredible. But still it is strong in nature. Actually, it named Sponges because of its appearance but it is not really as it is. It is really strong enough to make survey themselves in the sea world.

As Sponge has capable to live in polar and tropical region, it could be able to survey in land world, that is, moderate temperature area. How come Sponge alone can survey in the land area?  Ah… May be… It is all because of its characteristics. It requires only little amount (less quantity) of oxygen to survey. Yes, as it is in deep see, there will have only less quantity of oxygen in default. Sponges generally hold itself to hard substance, like sea rock or to soft sediments with root like structure sometimes. In such case, if we need to pet the Sponges, we really need to arrange something for it.

If we consider Sponges as the pet, then what would be the food for them? How should we feed the Sponge? Mm… generally, Sponges doesn’t have specific food habitat. But its body structure only support to have the food around 50 micrometer sized. 50 micrometer sized food? Then, what it would be? Definitely, algae and some harmless kind of bacteria would be its food. Algae and bacteria??  Is it possible for the human to buy and feed the Sponges? Yes, now-a-days, algae and some kind of bacteria are sold as food in some of the fish petting stores.

Oh… then we could make the Sponges to live along with fish, isn’t it? Mm… Critical question. So, the answer is like cat on wall. Yes, some kind of fish can go with the Sponges well. But some kind of fish doesn’t because; the sponges are one of the preys to them. So, when you plan to make the Sponge to live along with the fish, make sure to know the food habitat of the fish before. What kinds of water animals and mammals have the Sponges as their prey? Some kind of turtles, fishes and sea star.

Ah… the Sponges have so many conditions to be followed to have it as pet. How come the people drawn towards it? Which are the countries having the Sponges as the pet in their home or somewhere? Well, as we all know, Koreans, Japanese, Chinese are quite good in patience. In those countries, they having the Sponges has their pet and in museum to showcase it. Even, now-a-days, the western part of the world showing some interest towards it.

If you wish, try on your own to know how good the Sponges is…

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