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  • Feeding Bettas

    Feeding Bettas

    Knowing the right way to feed your betta is fundamental, because not doing it right can have big consequences on your better health. Nothing is more stressful than dealing with a sick fish? Let’s do it right, and get rid from the calamity!
    Here are some golden rules on feeding your betta.
    Select the proper food. A betta specific pellet is ok, but frozen and live foods are preferable.
    Remember not to leave uneaten food in the Aquarium! Once your betta and rest of the fish is done eating, you must remove all uneaten left over food.
    Before dropping the food in the tank, make sure you have his attention. Let him see the food, get it close to his face from the outside of the aquarium, let him check out what it is, and then there you go! The best way is to drop a tiny bit of food– about 6 frozen brine shrimp, watch the bettas eat it all and then look at the belly, if it looks the same as it did before you fed, it’s ok to give them more, but always watch and make sure to make the second portion smaller than the.


    Your betta should go for the food right away, but if not, watch where the food sinks, and what the betta does. If more than 15 min he has not eaten the food yet, remove the food. If it is already, then change it, as cloudy water will threaten your betta’s health.
    During the pre-spawning period you can feed a wide variety of food, including blackworms, Grindal worms, fruit flies, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and frozen blood worms (all are life except the frozen blood worms). During this period the adult fish may be fed 4 times per day or more depending on how close the fish are to being placed into the spawning tank.
    You can start feeding your betta fry, 5 days after the spawning. Feed the fry several times per day, using a variety of foods (infusoria, boiled egg yolk, baby brine shrimp …) made up of small particles.

    A betta specific pellet is ok, but frozen and live foods are preferable. Once your betta and rest of the fish is done eating, you must remove all uneaten left over food. The best way is to drop a tiny bit of food– about 6 frozen brine shrimp, watch the bettas eat it all and then look at the belly, if it looks the same as it did before you fed, it’s ok to give them more, but always watch and make sure to make the second portion smaller than the.
    Your betta should go for the food right away, but if not, watch where the food sinks, and what the betta does. If more than 15 min he has not eaten the food yet, remove the food.

  • Aquarium Supplies Part 1 – My First Experience With Bettas

    Aquarium Supplies Part 1 – My First Experience With Bettas

    Once in a while, keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them and changing the water every. Because they’re attractive, sadly many people aren’t aware of that and they just buy aquarium fish. After a short while the fish start to get sick and die one after the other, and the newbie would lose interest in the hobby and give it up all together.
    Basic knowledge of fish keeping, together with the right aquarium supplies, is crucial to the livelihood and longevity of your fish. If you are to enjoy them for a long time, it’s important to maintain the optimum living conditions for your fish and other living things you may have in your aquarium.
    To illustrate this, I shall share with you my own experiences when I got started with this hobby for the very first time as a child. The first experience was with bettas and the second with goldfish; two different kinds of fish with different requirements.


    My first pet fish were a pair of bettas (a female and a male) which my mom bought me because she knew that I liked fish and felt sorry for me because a toy fish was all I had.
    The male was aggressive. One night, running out of place to hide, the female desperately jumped out of the water onto the floor.
    My mom then suggested that we separate the fish. One day I asked my mom if I could buy another fish.
    At that time I didn’t know that bettas were fighting fish and that the males would fight with each other. At first I decided to put the new male in the same container as the first male. I knew the first male was aggressive and I just wondered how he would react toward another male.
    To my amazement, the two males fought with each other and there was no sign that they would stop. After a while I got worried. I didn’t want any of them to die so I finally separated them and put the new male together with the female, and to my pleasant surprise they got along pretty well.
    That little jar was kind of small for a pair of fish although they got along. We decided to move the fish to a much larger plastic container. Later I added a couple more females so that it became sort of a betta community tank.
    The water would become cloudy fast from fish waste and uneaten food. I completely changed the water every other day. I would fill up the jar with new water right from the tap.
    As you might guess, the fish didn’t last very long. After only a few months they started to get sick and eventually one after the other died.
    Dirty water, untreated, new water, fluctuating water temperatures, and trauma from being moved frequently during water changes were some of the factors that contributed to the fish’s low resistance to diseases.
    It’s acceptable to keep bettas in relatively small containers without aeration, it would be much better to put them in a tank of at least 2 gallons, and you would still need to observe certain basic things such as not feeding them too much and setting aside new water to remove and equilibrate the temperature chlorine prior to water changes.
    I was only about 10 years old at the time and didn’t know anything about fish keeping. Neither did my mom. Back then there were very few books about aquarium fish and the aquarium supplies were not as sophisticated as they are today.
    Today, there are plenty of good books and magazines as well as web sites about fish aquariums. If you’re serious about taking up this hobby, you should start by reading a few of them and gain the basic knowledge before you even buy your aquarium and fish.
    In the next article you will learn what happened when I tried to keep some goldfish, also with very little knowledge. In the meantime I invite you to visit my web site (see below) to learn more about aquarium fish keeping.

    Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them and changing the water every once in a while. Sadly many people aren’t aware of that and they just buy aquarium fish because they’re attractive. At that time I didn’t know that bettas were fighting fish and that the males would fight with each other. The water would become cloudy fast from fish waste and uneaten food. Back then there were very few books about aquarium fish and the aquarium supplies were not as sophisticated as they are today.

  • Picking The Right Aquarium Type

    Picking The Right Aquarium Type

    Starting in the 1850s (when the predecessor of the modern aquarium was first being developed as a novel curiosity) the ranks of aquarium keeping has grown as more sophisticated systems including lighting and filtration systems were developed to keep aquarium fish healthy.

    Aquariums have evolved into a very popular hobby, with about millions of aquarium and tropical fish enthusiasts worldwide.

    Before you can get started in the hobby you must first buy an aquarium. When you get to the pet store or specialized aquarium store you will have lots of aquarium tanks to choose from:

    Metal Framework:

    Most of the old style aquariums are made with sheets of glass, which are held in a metal framework. This is usually constructed of pieces of angle iron or stainless steel, which are welded together at the corners. Leakage between the glass and metal is prevented by putty aquarium cement, acrylic or silicon sealant.

    Battery Jars:

    When looking through the walls of this type of aquarium, there is distortion, which adversely affects one’s view of the fishes. Similar disadvantages apply in fish globes or bowls.

    Fish Globes or Bowls: This type of aquarium is useful for emergency purpose but is not to be recommended as permanent features. The glasses are cast in one piece and a crack, however small, may suddenly cause a flood and expand. This not only results in a loss of fishes but also necessitates the buying of a new tank, as it is impossible to repair the old one.

    Plastics:

    With the ever-expanding applications of plastics, it is not surprising that these synthetic that these synthetic products have been used to replace glass for aquarium. Plastics have the advantage of being unbreakable but are soft enough for the surface to become scratched. This is in time will mar transparency.

    Vitorlite:

    This glass-like material is available in many different colors and some very pleasing effects can be obtained by applying it to the sides to back up the aquarium. Being opaque Vitorlite will hide the wall and any unsightly wires or other apparatus behind the aquarium.

    Wood:

    Most of the old style aquariums are made with sheets of glass, which are held in a metal framework. Leakage between the glass and metal is prevented by putty aquarium cement, acrylic or silicon sealant.

    Aquarium frameworks with wood are desirable mainly for aesthetic reasons. The wooden framework however will have to be constructed from plywood to prevent warping.

    The advantage of the wood lies in the fact that it can be polished, covered with upholstered rug, stained or coated with colors to harmonize with the furnishing of the room.

    Fish Globes or Bowls: This type of aquarium is useful for emergency purpose but is not to be recommended as permanent features. With the ever-expanding applications of plastics, it is not surprising that these synthetic that these synthetic products have been used to replace glass for aquarium.

  • 5 Great Tips On Building A Dog House

    5 Great Tips On Building A Dog House

    Over 50% of the population allows their dog to stay indoors and sleep on the couch or in their owner’s bed. For those of you who are interested in building a dog house for you beloved pet here are some simple rules to follow when considering what type of shelter you want to provide.

    You should begin your dog house building process by making sure the house is big enough to accommodate your animal’s potential adult size. To figure out how much room the dog will need get out a tape measure and measure your dog. Measure he is standing straight up, sitting on his haunches and above all measure the full dimension of the dog when he is the most comfortable, relaxed and stretched out position he can get into.

    Remember to raise the dog house several inches from the ground to allow air and water to flow underneath. To dissuade pests from invading the dog house and taking your dogs health into consideration, remember how important ventilation is. Install a wind block inside the house so the dog can use the heat of its own body to warm up the area if it is windy or really cold outside.

    1. To avoid rain coming into the dog house, make the floor just a bit slanted toward the doorway and build the roof a little bit slanted. Make sure the house is well insulated but you should not paint the inside.

    You should begin your dog house building process by making sure the house is big enough to accommodate your animal’s potential adult size. To figure out how much room the dog will need get out a tape measure and measure your dog. To dissuade pests from invading the dog house and taking your dogs health into consideration, remember how important ventilation is. Most dog house plans suggest that the dog house door faces east. You should clean the dog’s house as often as you give your dog a bath.

    In the United States most storms come from the south and west, so make sure the dog house faces a different direction. Most dog house plans suggest that the dog house door faces east.

    Then he deserves to have a comfortable place to get and sleep out of harsh weather, if your dog lives outside. Hopefully these easy tips on building a dog house will help you get started.

    This makes it easier for you to clean out your dog’s home. You should clean the dog’s house as often as you give your dog a bath.

  • How to build a dog house for your puppy?

    How to build a dog house for your puppy?

    If you allow your pet on the couch, chances are that you do not HAVE a dog house!
    Any good how to build a dog house plan should begin by making sure the house is big enough to accommodate your dog’s ultimate grown-up size. Any good plan for how to build a dog house will have a house big enough so that a partial wall will allow the dog to escape the elements. Most how to build a dog house plans will suggest that the ideal placement of a dog house door is to the east. Almost all how to build a dog house plans will have you put hinges on the roof of the house for easy cleaning.

    You ‘d like to know how to build a dog house? If you allow your pet on the couch, chances are that you do not HAVE a dog house!
    For those of you who do, there are really good things to remember about how to build a dog house:


    Any good how to build a dog house plan should begin by making sure the house is big enough to accommodate your dog’s ultimate grown-up size. You would not like to live in a house whose ceiling was below your head height– neither would your dog. Figure out how tall it will stand as a mature pet and make sure the ceiling of the dog house is 1/3 again taller!
    Install a wind block inside the house so the dog can use the heat of its own body to warm up the area if it is windy and really cold outside. Any good plan for how to build a dog house will have a house big enough so that a partial wall will allow the dog to escape the elements. The dog can choose whether to just sleep in the entry room or go around the inner archway maze wall into the inner sanctum.
    Any good “how to build a dog house” plan will make certain that any rain that does enter via the ventilation holes or doorway automatically drains out. Do not paint the inside of the house, but do make sure that the house is well insulated.
    Make sure the dog house faces away from the major storm direction. Most how to build a dog house plans will suggest that the ideal placement of a dog house door is to the east. That way, even in the wintertime, the cold north wind will not whip inclement weather into the dog’s entryway.

    1. Almost all how to build a dog house plans will have you put hinges on the roof of the house for easy cleaning. You should clean its house and bedding– just as faithfully as you would wish your pet to be to you when you clean the dog!
  • Dog House Building And Buying Guide

    Dog House Building And Buying Guide

    iii. Doors

    For legless houses, the owner must remember that having it directly on the ground increases the likelihood that the pet would be exposed to wet and cold weather. The owner can use bricks, stones or rocks arranged in a level and stable manner to elevate the house.

    When building a house or buying for their pets, dog owners have to consider several factors. As a true member of your own family, providing your pet with the best home possible is of the utmost importance.

    vi. Keep The Dog House Elevated

    iv. Easy To Clean And Maintain

    Some dog houses are made with hinged roofs, a feature that allows owners to raise the roof during humid and hot weather. Owners should avoid building or buying houses with peak-style or barn-type roofs, as these would attract hornets, wasps and other insects and prevent heat retention. Another option is wind walls, which can be inserted into the dog house to break the wind and keep the house warmer.

    ii. Weather Conditions

    A German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler and other large dogs should have large houses, while the Chihuahua and smaller breeds will need smaller houses. The door of the house does not need to be based on the height of the dog from the ground to the top of its head, or even taller, as it will lower its head to be able to enter the house. The house should also be large enough for the dog to stand at full height inside, move around and lie down. Some dog houses are made with hinged roofs, a feature that allows owners to raise the roof during humid and hot weather. Another option is wind walls, which can be inserted into the dog house to break the wind and keep the house warmer.

    i. Size

    • Removable or adjustable roofs
    • Flexibility in cleaning
    • Doors, partitions
    • Wind walls
    • Restrict the use of paint, stains, or water sealers for the outside of the house

    v. Use Wood

    The front door of the dog house should be located to one side instead of in the middle. Using a door will help keep the dog house warmer during cold months.

    A German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler and other large dogs should have large houses, while the Chihuahua and smaller breeds will need smaller houses. The door of the house does not need to be based on the height of the dog from the ground to the top of its head, or even taller, as it will lower its head to be able to enter the house. The house should also be large enough for the dog to stand at full height inside, move around and lie down.

    Plastic and metal houses are not a good idea, as they are either too hot during summertime or too cold during the winter. Some market experts say that houses made from natural western red cedar wood offer the best insulation for dogs during winter while making them cooler during summer. Houses made from this material are also maintenance-free on the outside, although owners have a choice of finishing it to complement their property.

  • Raising a Reptile as a Pet

    Raising a Reptile as a Pet

    Raising a reptile can be a fascinating hobby, whether you are eight or fifty-eight years old. Leopard geckos are among the easiest to raise, are easily tamed and are interesting and always beautiful pets. Consider a gecko for your next pet.

    If you have not raised a reptile before, let me suggest that you start with a leopard gecko. The leopard gecko has two very big advantages, and one of them is that it does not get very big. The other major advantage of a leopard gecko is that is has been kept and bred in captivity since the 1920s, and is among the healthiest lizards and easiest to
    Leopard geckos are easily kept in an aquarium or other plastic cage, as long as each gecko has at least ten inches square of floor space. Leopard geckos come in a variety of colors, and you can keep several in the same cage as long as there is only one male in the group (most geckos that are sold are female).

    The adult gecko does not get larger than nine or ten inches and can be handled by older children. Even younger children can hold them, but make sure they are supervised to handle the gecko gently and to avoid picking them up by the tail, or holding the tail tightly.

    Once you have the environment, go to a reputable pet store and select your geckos. Leopard geckos come in a variety of colors, and you can keep several in the same cage as long as there is only one male in the group (most geckos that are sold are female).

    The leopard gecko has two very big advantages, and one of them is that it does not get very big. The other major advantage of a leopard gecko is that is has been kept and bred in captivity since the 1920s, and is among the healthiest lizards and easiest to
    keep.

    Leopard geckos are easily kept in an aquarium or other plastic cage, as long as each gecko has at least ten inches square of floor space. The food bowl for the gecko can be something about the size and shape of the lid for a gallon jar, a larger flat area. The bottom of the cage should have some kind of paper toweling, so that it can be changed in order to keep the cage clean.

    Geckos thrive best when the daytime temperature is in the eighties, up to eighty-eight degrees. If your house is normally cooler than that, a lamp with a forty-watt bulb over the top of the cage should create enough heat to keep the gecko warm. Keep the cage out of direct sunlight (because it will get too warm) and have a screen cover for the top if you have small children or cats in your household.

  • What Types of Lizards Make Good Reptile Pets?

    What Types of Lizards Make Good Reptile Pets?

    There is nothing wrong with wanting a reptile for a pet, provided of course you first arm yourself with knowledge. Suppose your well-meaning relative decided it would be a good idea to give you an exotic pet for a gift, not thinking of the reptile’s welfare should you be unable to care for it or uneducated about its care. There are ways of choosing your pet when you do decide to obtain a reptile. Either way you go, please make sure you take into account that the reptile will grow and must be able to fit into the enclosure as it gets bigger. A Leopard Gecko is a popular lizard choice for people who want a reptile that will be smaller than the Iguana.

    Another common lizard choice is that of the Green Anole, also known as the American chameleon. While it isn’t actually related to the chameleon, it is able to change colors from green to dark brown. This reptile only grows to 9 inches normally and eats insects.

    There is nothing wrong with wanting a reptile for a pet, provided of course you first arm yourself with knowledge. Suppose your well-meaning relative decided it would be a good idea to give you an exotic pet for a gift, not thinking of the reptile’s welfare should you be unable to care for it or uneducated about its care.

    A Leopard Gecko is a popular lizard choice for people who want a reptile that will be smaller than the Iguana. This lizard also stays active at night, so night owls may get more enjoyment from it than someone who wants to interact or watch their reptile during the day. The Leopard Gecko can live up to 15 years and is easy for a beginner to care for.

    There are ways of choosing your pet when you do decide to obtain a reptile. Either way you go, please make sure you take into account that the reptile will grow and must be able to fit into the enclosure as it gets bigger.

    A Bearded Dragon is a popular lizard choice. These reptiles can grow to 20 inches. Skinks can grow anywhere from 12 to 20 inches, depending on which type you get.

    Whatever your choice of lizard or other reptile as a pet, just make sure you do your research before you purchase. Please educate yourself as quickly as possible to prevent unintentional harm to the reptile if you are given the animal as a gift.

  • Issues with keeping Lizards as Pets

    Issues with keeping Lizards as Pets

    Before thinking of buying a lizard, the most important factor to be considered is the full-grown size of the lizard as some of the species can grow up to six feet long. Naive pet owners should certainly opt for the ones, which are easier to handle, and certainly not for the ones which grow very big. They are small in size, require less maintenance and do not demand special conditions such as big terrariums with special UV lightning.

    Potential owners must carefully observe the lizard before buying it. There are signs that give indication about whether the pet is healthy or not. Swelling on the abdomen or on any other part of the body should also be checked out.

    If the reptile has any respiratory disease, its eyes will be swollen and there will be mucus formation around the nose. Ask for handling the pet. This should be done to test the strength of the lizard.

    They are also very-good inexpensive pets. The cost can be cut down a bit by not relying on the pet store completely and doing some self-research.

    Lizards are cold-blooded reptiles belonging to the Squamata order. They are also very-good inexpensive pets. The cost can be cut down a bit by not relying on the pet store completely and doing some self-research.

    Naive pet owners should certainly opt for the ones, which are easier to handle, and certainly not for the ones which grow very big. The bigger the lizard the more challenging it becomes to have them as pets. A temperature gradient is a must so that the appropriate temperature can be provided to the pet.

    The bigger the lizard the more challenging it becomes to have them as pets. Other animals that pose a challenge as pets are chameleons, savannah monitors, iguanas, white tegus, geckos, and Argentinean black.

    Most of the lizards are very specific about the temperature. Lizards are cold-blooded, they require warmth for healthy growth. A temperature gradient is a must so that the appropriate temperature can be provided to the pet.

  • Are Startup Incubators Right for You?

    Are Startup Incubators Right for You?

    What is an incubator? Is incubator mentorship right for you? Let’s take a look.

    One unique form of mentorship that’s open to entrepreneurs is incubators. Incubators combine traditional investing with a streamlined mentoring process to help take beginning entrepreneurs to a successful exit.

    == > Incubator Basics

    You’ll have access to their facilities and network once you’re in the incubator program. You’ll be able to work out of a shared office for free and take advantage of their in house legal and accounting services.

    An incubator is a business coaching program run by a very successful former entrepreneur. Typically, the incubator will provide $10,000 to $30,000 in funding and take between a 2% and a 10% stake in the company.

    You’ll start your company at the same time as an entire group of other entrepreneurs. This helps create a sense of team spirit, of taking on a big task together.

    In addition to access to the primary mentor, you’ll usually also have access to a whole range of other successful individuals. Incubators might bring in other successful entrepreneurs as speakers or mentors. They might also bring in alumni of the program to talk about their successes and give advice.

    == > The Downsides to Working With an Incubator

    There are a few downsides to working with an incubator that you need to be aware of.

    Of all, they’re very industry focused. The majority of incubators focus on the tech industry; though there are also incubators for green tech, biotech and industries.

    Most incubators are looking for quick equity cash outs. That means that generally speaking, incubators want to help you build out your idea then have your company acquired for a large sum in a short period of time. Going with an incubator might not be your best bet if you’re looking to build up your company for the long haul.

    == > It’s a Very Specific Business Model

    Is incubator mentorship right for you? Incubators might bring in other successful entrepreneurs as speakers or mentors. That means that generally speaking, incubators want to help you build out your idea then have your company acquired for a large sum in a short period of time. If you’re looking to build up your company for the long haul, going with an incubator might not be your best bet.

    Incubators work under a very specific business model. They fund a group of businesses, while expecting a good portion of them not to succeed. The ones that do succeed need to bring in enough revenues to cover the lost investments, as well as the overhead costs of the incubator itself.

    If you don’t want to sell or if you don’t want to run a hyper-accelerated growth company however, then a startup accelerator might not be your cup of tea. Make sure you understand what you’re getting into before you dive into the world of incubators.

    You ‘d be hard pressed to find a better mentorship structure if your business fits under the model that the incubator’s looking for. You’ll have access to experts in every realm of business development, from incorporation and getting started to eventually selling your company.

    Incubators work under a very specific business model.