Enjoy the life of keeping discus fish.

Most people complained about how difficult and tedious it is to keep discus fish. Following the tips and tricks as listed below will certainly help hobbyists to enjoy the life of keeping discus fish.
 What is the suitable water temperature?
The suitable temperature is 28 to 30 degree Celsius. In Malaysia, a tropical climate country, we do not use heater if we keep the fish indoor. For outdoor, we do need to apply heater, if not, the fish will lost appetite and feel sick.
 What to do if the fish become sick?
When the fish is sick, it will hide in one corner and the best solution is to apply methylene blue and change the water after 1 to 2 days. Installing a heater will be necessary too.
 Do we need to change water everyday?
For hobbyists who are busy, changing water is unnecessary since the fish are fed less frequently. With a simple water filter system installed, water changing is to be done only once a couple of weeks. For retirees who feed the fish very often, water changing is done twice a day.
 What is the best diet for discus?
The best diet is certainly minced beef heart. It is advised not to feed discus with live food since it can cause sickness.
 How to improve the color of discus?
In order to enhance the discus color, most discus farms and exporters feed the fish with coloring agent which is quite expensive. The color agent used is normally astaxanthin which promote reddish color in just a few daysWhy discus grow too slowly?
There is a stage where discus get to grow slowly from 3" to 4". In order to improve the growth rate, treatment with 1000mg metronidazole could be done for 5 days.
Why people give up keeping discus?
The most common reason are slow growth rate and no time allocated to this hobby.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Timmy_Yap

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Golden Retriever Breed Guide

Educated the Breed Standard is the alpha step in becoming a quality breeder. The Breed Standard describes all aspects of the impeccable golden retriever and serves to maintain the breed. Any reputable breeder uses the Breed Standard as a basis for his/her breeding program. The alpha interrogation is to decide whether to breed American or British style goldens. One can find the American guidelines at the American Kennel Club (AKC) web site. The British rules can be found at the KC (The Kennel Club) web site.
Another cornerstone of breeding these celebrated dogs is their health. Most health issues that afflict golden retrievers are related to genetics, and therefore, directly related to breeding. In order to prevent health issues in puppies, the parents and ancestors of the litter must be cleared of having these illnesses. The most common health difficulties are hip and elbow dysplasia, heart predicaments, eye issues such as floods, and cancer. Any breeding pair should have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certification for hips, knees, and the heart. Records should be kept to verify the health of the dogs. It is standard for a quality breeder to provide a guarantee so the customer can return the dog within a reasonable time frame.
A good breeder in America should be a constituent of the Golden Retriever Club of America, an all-breed club, a local Golden Retriever club, or all three. It is recommended to maintain a record of a three to five generation pedigree to verify that the dogs are purebred goldens. It is also recommended to have an AKC registration utilization for each puppy to apply for registration in the name of the breeder. A good breeder can provide registered names and AKC numbers of the parents of each litter and puppy. Keep in mind, charging extra for papers is against AKC rules.
Goldens are naturally talented dogs! Having the dogs involved in the show ring, acceptance and agility competitions, and hunting and tracking trials, adds to the credibility of the dogs and the breeding program. Famously active and large in size, it is essential to have a lot of outdoor space for goldens. Puppies should be socialized at a young age, since a breeder would not want to sell little monsters to the customers! As a rule of thumb, puppies should not be sold under seven weeks of age. Breeding golden retrievers is a accomplished time activity. A breeder must be developed and committed for whelping and raising a litter of 8-12 puppies. Having clean, warm, and adequate facilities is essential. Overseeing breeding, veterinary care, cleaning, paperwork, attending puppies, feeding, and sales require a lot of hours and complicated work.

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Fish Oil for Cats

Omega three fatty acids fish oil for cats can help improve its immune system, cognitive functions, arthritis, behavior, cholesterol levels, offer cancer prevention and give them a vibrant coat.
Fish Oil for cats can also help with swelling which, if not treated, can cause such problems as strokes, heart attacks, high cholesterol, early death, and many different kinds of bacterial infections. It's really efficient in treating a multitude of overall health difficulties and maximizing their survival rate. Vets are utilizing fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids for cats as part of a regular therapy regimen simply because they are much more easily absorbed into the system and indicate results faster as compared to all the others.
Just like our own food, its food lacks the extra Omega-3 fatty acids that they need just as much as all of us do. You might be asking yourself why you ought to be worried about such a small dietary detail just for a cat, however let's be honest, what would we do without having our furry friends? Study demonstrates owners of pets have got significantly less health problems than individuals who do not own pets.
It has been proven that pet owners have a lower heart attack mortality rate by 3%, much better psychological well-being, lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels, less anxiety, and go to the doctor less as compared to people who don't have pets. Studies also demonstrates that children who have domestic pets experience a nurturing character that might continue into adult-hood, stay involved with extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, and hobbies, have increased cognitive abilities, and less allergic reactions when exposed to pets throughout their first years of life.
After providing the cat fish oil, you may not notice a difference for some months. That's simply because, again, just like us, their systems change from the inside out. From individual cells, to tissues, to organs, and eventually the skin and hair comes out glowing. You don't have to buy a unique fish oil for cats, the ones all of us use works perfectly.
Omega-3 fatty acids that supply most advantages are DHA and EPA. Examine labels carefully to discover the purest type of fish oil that filter out dangerous harmful toxins in the fish from the water streams they come from, making sure it's been molecularly distilled in order to filter the harmful toxins that consist of the dangerous chemical substances mercury and dioxin. It is true our own cats need all of us for their well being just like we need them for our health.

Are you looking to skyrocket the health of your cat? Learn more about how add high quality fish oil supplements for cats into your favourite felines diet can help improve their skin, coat, allergies, and prevent diseases such as cancer from manifesting. There are many benefits to fish oil for cats. It has been used by top breeders for a long time to improve the skin and health of their cats.

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Preparing a horse stall for foaling applications

life has always allowed mares to foal outside in a position where the mare felt most safe and was able to give begin without any predators to contend with. Nowadays, we tend to manage the birthing of horses and therefore the foaling stall is something that has become common practice with many horses breeders. One biggest consideration is the cell that you are able to offer the mare.

The stall should be entirely stripped bare and disinfected long before the mare is to be located in there. By removing all the old or current bedding you are able to assess the flooring of the stall. If it is a concrete or timber floor then care should be taken to ensure that there are no wear patches in the timber, and if so, it should be replaced fully rather than patched up.

Should the surface of the flooring be earth or earth related, such as clay or limestone, then efforts should be made to keep the surface as even as possible. Many times horses that are stalled can develop arrant habits such as pawing, especially around feeders or water bins.

A very popular material is horse stall rubber matting. Many of the reasons why horse owners choose this flooring option comes down to the safety for the horse, as well as comfort, less bedding requirements and also warmth .

If you have holes, dips or divots then make sure they are filled prior to laying the rubber matting. Failing to do so can cause injury to the horse and foal and can be uncomfortable for the mare to lay upon. Once you have evened out the under surface of the stall flooring then you are able to lay the rubber mats.
Keep in mind that the stall should have been completely stripped prior to this application and the stall thoroughly disinfected and cleaned. All sharp and protruding objects including feed bins and waters should be removed, and thoroughly sanitized also.

Straw can have a high dust volume and using excessive amounts in a stall can construct respiratory problems for horses. Foals in particular do not need to compromise the quality of air they need to breathe and so it is important to choose a dust free or dust reduced bedding for the stall.

The exact type of bedding materiel differs greatly and is often times dependent upon an owners budget and experience.Others believe that straw is deep enough to allow the mare to comfortably allot birth and allows the foal to find traction when trying to stand. The best way to ensure that you use a minimal amount of bedding and yet still be able to offer maximum comfort is to lay specialized horse stall rubber matting down .
When this happens the foal will need a surface where it can easily grip in order to stand within minutes. Rubber mats can offer the best in traction regardless of whether the mat is dry or wet. This can be essential in getting a foal up and suckling as soon as possible, and any delay in this first suckle should be avoided.

Cleaning manure and checking that the foal has had its alpha bowel actions is imperative to the health and well existence of the mare and foal. Use rounded edge, rubber type feed bins in the stall as well as water supply so that the foal does not knock or damage itself on them. Make absolute there is a light within the stall area but not in a place that may disturb the mare and foal.

After allowing the mare to have at least 48 hours of abutting with her foal, give them some time outside in a safe and well fenced day yard. Ensuring that you can provide the safest and most agreeable foaling ambience for your mare, your foal will enter the world in a safe and protective fashion.

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The Biotope Aquarium

Whether you are starting your first aquarium or the next in a long line it helps significantly to have an idea of the fish tank design before you actually get going. The design includes: what types of fish are going in it; whether or not it will have live plants; tank decor elements such as rocks and logs; and the overall impression or feel that the tank should have.
Some people have strong ideas before they get started as far as what fish they want to get and then the tank can be "built" around that. Others know that they want a heavily planted aquarium first and foremost, and the fish are secondary. Still others are basically clueless and want some ideas of where to start.
One type of aquarium design that has grown quite popular in recent years is the biotope tank. A biotope aquarium aims to replicate a particular geographic area within the confines of an aquarium. It is a miniature version, almost a model of a specific place in the world, complete with the native plants, fish, and landscaping of that place.
A well thought out biotope aquarium can be quite impressive. Many people choose to do a tank like this if they have a particular interest in a part of the world and want to learn more about it. The more one studies and learns about the native lands that they are recreating, the better the end result will be.
With that in mind, here are just a few ideas to get you started, knowing that the only real limitation to fish tank design is your imagination.

• The Amazon - This is a very popular biotope option and when done properly can be absolutely stunning. Many of the most popular fish found at pet stores are native to the Amazon basin. The cardinal tetra, cory cat, hatchet fish, and ram cichlid are all Amazonian fish, as are many others including most common tetras. One of the other wonderful aspects of the Amazon biotope is the plants. There are many beautiful species of Amazon swordplants, as well as many other plants that offer variety in leave shape, size, and color. A piece or two of driftwood helps to complete the natural Amazon landscape. Slightly soft water with a pH around 7 is best for this type of tank.
• African Cichlid Habitat - The central African Lakes Tanganyika and Malawi are home to the African cichlids, some of the most interesting fish that one can keep in a home aquarium. They are colorful, active, territorial, and full of personality. The biotope aquarium for these fish is one of somewhat stark appearance. The tank is all rocks and rock formations with many caves and hiding places. There are not plants in the tank as the fish will uproot them constantly. This biotope has rather hard and alkaline water just like the lakes.
• Your Homeland - That's right, many people don't consider their own backyard for fish tank design ideas, but most people live close to some very interesting fish. In North America there are sunfish, shiners, darters, and dace that are quite colorful and active. Native plants and perhaps a crayfish - there are a lot of options. One thing to look into before you just head out and collect whatever you can catch, is to check out your local laws on what can and cannot be kept. Usually the state fisheries department is the best place to turn for legalities as well as ideas for fish to keep.

Biotope aquariums can be an exciting challenge for the fish tank hobbyist and are a great opportunity to learn more about a specific area. When done well, the biotope tank can be one of the most impressive home fish tank designs that you can set up.

Drew Bartlett is a freshwater aquarium enthusiast who owns www.TheFreshwaterAquariumGuide.com where he writes about fish tank design as well as many other topics related to freshwater fishkeeping.

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Freshwater Aquarium Fish For Beginners

 Setting up your first fish tank in your home can be a very exciting project, but it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. One of the biggest problems that beginners have is trying to figure out which fish to get for their tank. There are a huge variety of different types of freshwater aquarium fish to choose from today.
Having all of that variety is nice, but freshwater aquarium fish range from easy to keep to extremely temperamental types that would prove very difficult for the novice. Nobody wants to get their tank set up and stocked only to lose fish to water conditions that were not right for the fish. The money, time, and emotion of having newly purchased fish die is not pleasant to go through, but it can be avoided if you choose the right fish.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of suitable fish for the beginners fish tank. The list below is just a sampling of some commonly available fish that all would be appropriate for the novice aquarium keeper. They are good looking fish that do not have restrictive diets and they are not extremely sensitive to water conditions. That doesn't mean that these fish will take abuse, they still need quality water and a regulated environment, they just are not the type to go belly up when the pH shifts by a small fraction.
When it comes time to pick out fish, any of the fish listed here would be good choices, but bear in mind that the tank size will be the major consideration when it comes to how many and what types of fish to actually purchase. Do not overcrowd the tank, as no matter how hardy the fish are, they will not do well in a tank that has too many fish. Here is a good starter "shopping" list of hardy fish. This list is only a sample of what is out there, but it includes some very colorful fish, different levels of activity, fish that occupy different water levels in the tank, and all are suitable for a community tank.

• Guppies, Platies, and Mollies - These are all solid choices for the beginner, and they are colorful fish that are active throughout the tank. Some mollies and platies get to be a bit bigger so they add some size variation to the tank. All three of these fish are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live fish as opposed to laying eggs.
• Selected Cyprinids - This species of fish includes many easy to care for fish. The Pearl and Zebra Danios are wonderful, as they are quite beautiful and they are constantly in motion. Rosy Barbs are very colorful, hardy, and active. The White Cloud is one of the hardiest fish you can find and they make a nice addition to a tank.
• Selected Characins - This group includes the tetras, of which the lemon, yellow banded, and cardinal tetras are some of the easiest to care for. They are not as active and a bit on the shy side, but they provide great color to the aquarium.
• Cory Cats - These fish are small catfish that prefer to be in groups of 3-6 and will constantly patrol the bottom of the tank looking for food. With their whiskered face and big expressive eyes, Cory cats add a lot of personality to the tank.
• Goldfish - Generally speaking, goldfish are one of the hardiest fish that you can get, but again, that doesn't mean they'll live anywhere. They will tolerate a very wide range of temperatures and as such do not require a heater for their tank. Because goldfish are highly tolerant of varying water conditions, people assume they are hard to kill and they make they mistake of overcrowding them. Goldfish produce more waste than almost any other fish, so it is better to have only a few of them in a tank unless you are willing to do significant water changes quite often.

One of the most enjoyable steps in aquarium setup is choosing the fish because there are so many types of freshwater aquarium fish available. Do some research, choose wisely, and you will have a healthy, thriving community of fish that will provide years of enjoyment and pride.

Drew Bartlett is a freshwater aquarium fish enthusiast that has been involved in the hobby for over 30 years.

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Pet Supplies for your cat

Having the right knowledge in pet raising and the right tools and equipments for the animal is very important before you take any kind of animal into your house. If you want that animal to stay with you for long and keep it healthy and happy under your care, you should know how to properly take care of that animal and give the things they needed for them to survive. This may sound demanding but actually it is not really a frightening task, all you have to do to is pay attention with your animal's needs and the rest will come naturally.
Buying them supplies is also not an intimidating task, though some supplies may be very expensive, you don't really have to purchase your animal with those expensive ones. Shopping their supplies will also not cost you much of your time as you can always include their supplies in your weekly shopping. What is very important though is knowing what the do's and don'ts in raising your pet and the likes and dislikes of your pet.
If you prefer your animal to stay indoor like cats, purchasing cat litter furniture will be of great help to you. There are so many types of litter boxes in pet stores right now; you can easily find one no matter where you search, whether at your local pet stores or online pet supply shops. This fixture is very good in keeping your house clean as it can help train your pet where to poop.
When you are planning to purchase supplies, whether at your local animal supply shops or online shops, it is very important to shop-around, and research on the product you want to purchase. Look from one store to another and compare their pricing, specifications and quality.
Some stores may offer new products; it would be wise to keep an eye for these things as your pet's taste might change from time to time.
As your pet grows old, its digestion system may alter through time, thus it is important that you inquire for the right food so you can keep them healthy even when they are ageing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hansen 

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Benefits of Pet Sitters

Sometimes in your life, you face the problem of leaving your pet behind when you are traveling. It is not easy to leave your pet, and you will want to make sure that you have left your pet at a comfortable and safe place while you are away. Especially in America, sometimes you cannot travel with a pet, so you will have to plan his/her accommodation too. For this purpose, you might consider boarding your dog, for example, dog boarding Seattle or dog boarding Everett are two mostly used boarding systems for dogs. But if you want to be assured that your pet is being taken care of at your home, it is time to hire a pet sitter.
Pet Sitters are people who have a background in animal care, for instance, veterinary or medicinal care. They can be people who are animal lovers and have made it their primary career, or people who are professionals and know about the best ways to take care of animals. They work full-time with a pet sitting business. Most pet sitters already have pets, and realize how hard it is to leave your pets at home while you have to travel.
Benefits
The professional industry of pet sitters is growing rapidly, as now, more people are getting aware of the advantages to use pet sitters. Some benefits that you can avail from pet sitters are:
• You do not have to worry about asking your neighbors and friends to take care of your pet. As many people do not like to hold pets or care for them. Hiring a pet sitter will help you release yourself from the guilt of having to ask people around you to take care of your pets.
• At times, your neighbor's children are interested in taking care of your pets. But this might not be the safest option, as children can be irresponsible and overlook basic needs of a pet. Hence, safety of the health of your pets should be entrusted in paid professionals, as they give you peace and the tranquility of mind while you are unavailable.
• It saves your cost and tension of transportation. You can now be free from the added expense of transportation and time into your schedule.
• Pet sitters do not only sit in your home and take care of pets, but they provide additional facilities too. For instance, taking your pets to malls or teaching them new games. On the other hand, they also take care of other issues of your home while you are not present, like taking in your mail, watering your plants, cleaning your living room, etc.
As far as pets are concerned, pet sitters provide benefits to pets, as well. From your pet's happiness to their health, a pet sitter can take complete care of pets and provide the following particular advantages to the pets themselves:
• Pet sitters at your home help pets reduce stress that they might experience if moved to a new environment. Instead of plucking him/her from his/her old environment, it is better to let your pet stay in his/her original place so that they remains happy and content.
• The pet can maintain a balanced health and avoid digestive problems. Sticking to a familiar environment and old routines helps prevent digestive and psychological problems, resulting in a balance of the pet's energy and activity level.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connor_R_Sullivan 

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