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Posts Tagged ‘fish’

It does not matter where you live, I am sure that you experience storms at some time of the year. In the north of the northern hemisphere, we tend to get lots of rain in winter and spring. In the tropics, there may be monsoons. Whatever you call them, they produce lots of wind and lots of rain in a short space of time – it is basically a storm.

The fact is that, if you know that a storm is approaching, you can take safety measures and save your precious fish, whether they are expensive or just dear to you. It might be useful to distinguish between minor and major storms, but that is only helpful if you can trust your weather announcer.

Minor Storms: the first thing to do is to stop feeding your fish, if you have enough notice of the storm. Fish can easily live for weeks on the insects and plant life in the water, so do not worry. The reason for stopping feeding is that if the storm damages your filtration system, the quality of the pond water will not deteriorate so much, if there is no uneaten food in it.

Take out some of the water to allow for the rainfall, but do a partial water change too, because otherwise the reduced water level will contain greater levels of toxins until the rain comes.

Remove items from the vicinity that can blow over and fall into your pond. It is a good idea to put a net over the pond to prevent debris being blown into it too. Flying twigs or branches could alarm or even spear your fish.

Major Storms: we are not talking about hurricanes here. If a hurricane threatens to hit, you ought to evacuate your fish to a temporary tank somewhere safe – maybe a 50 gallon barrel in the basement or something like that.

If you want to be totally sure that your fish will be ok, you could ask your local pet shop to take them away to look after them otherwise continue as for a minor storm but with the following extra precautions.

Disconnect all the electrical equipment in and around your fish pond. Make sure that there is no way that a live wire can fall into the pond and electrocute your fish. Remove all the plants from your pond as they could be damaged by the wind and waves, but leave any stone hiding places that your fish will surely look for while the storm is blowing. If you think that perhaps you do not have enough ‘caves’, build some provisional ones from bricks or blocks.

Put a double layer of netting over your pond and tie it lower down than normal, say only a few inches above the water line, but not so low that if a fish gets out, it cannot get back in. Lastly, build a wall of sand bags at least two feet high all the way around your pond. This will permit the water to get in and drain away, without taking your fish with it, which is why the net must be high enough to permit the fish to get back into the pond.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is now involved with water garden pumps. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a special deal.

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Adding live plants to aquariums provides beauty, shelter, food and cleaner water. Plants also absorb carbon dioxide and waste product and increase the oxygen level, aside from producing tiny worms, rotifers and protozoa the fish eats.

You will need adequate lighting for the plants to grow. You will need to provide 12-14 hours of light each day. The average amount of light needed is 3-5 watts per gallon. You can choose a compact fluorescent bulb, or a 20, 50-watt halogen bulb.

Plants also require the proper nutrients to stay healthy and green. It is very easy to do. Nutrients to feed the plants come from the fish in the tank – you can add more if needed. And they are fertilized by fish waste. You can add a commercial fertilizer when you change the water, but it’s usually better to follow the “less is more” philosophy when it comes to fertilizing your plants. Too much fertilizer can cause problems with algae growth in the tank, and you can always add more if required.

And should you worry about water temperature? The average temperature for aquatic plants to thrive is between 72f and 78f. You should try to maintain a Ph level of 6.8 to 7.8.

Snails can also keep the aquarium healthy. They consume food and algae from plants as they crawl over the leaves. However, some snails can actually cause problems. Some species such as Ramshorn and pond, eat the leaves instead than cleaning them. Removing bad snails is very simple. Place some lettuce on top of the water and let the snails congregate on it, and then remove the whole thing with a net.

Before placing new plants in your aquarium, rinse them thoroughly in warm water to remove any insects you don’t want invading the aquarium. Strong roots and firm leaves are the signs of a healthy plant. Avoid plants that give off a strange smell, especially bulbs, as this is an indication that the plant is not healthy and may not grow properly once placed in your tank.

Buying young plants is a good idea because they adjust easily. During the time when the plant adjusts, you might lose some leaves. This is completely normal. Remove the leaves without damaging the roots.

Adding live plants can give your aquarium a lift, and it can benefit your fish more than you imagine.

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When thinking about how to make the perfect koi pond, you first need to think about where you are going to put the koi pond and what it will look like. These questions have two governing factors: where you would like it to go and where it should go for the sake of the fish.

Size is a very critical factor, because the larger the pond, the less maintenance it will require and the better it will be for the fish. Fish tend to grow to a size that is comensurate with their environment up to their maximum size, but koi are large fish, so you should take that into account. The quantity of fish you would like is also a factor.

The first step is actually making your koi pond. This is not a difficult task, but it does have to be done properly, otherwise you will be fixing your pond for the rest of your life. Maintenance will be far more strenuous as well. So, you have two choices: either get in a builder or get a book on the subject. In fact, it is a good idea to get a book anyway.

If you are going to have the pond made for you, it is a good tactic to get up to five estimates. Dismiss the top and bottom quotes and then either choose the lowest of the three or add them up, divide by three and choose the one that is the closest. This way you have chosen a fair price. If you choose to go it alone, read your book of suggestions first.

Be aware that your pond and your kois’ future happiness, indeed their very lives, are in your hands alone. The builder may be a capable builder, but what does he know about fish ponds? The merchant in the pet shop is trying to sell equipment, no matter how much they know about koi. You need to know how to make the perfect koi pond yourself.

If you are still stuck, you could choose a fish pond kit. These kits contain everything you need for different sizes of pond. This is because a lot has to do with the volume of water in the pond. The pump that you have will have to recycle the total quantity of pond water at least once a day, if not more frequently.

Once your pond has been dug out and the equipment has been installed, it is time to fill it up with water. You can use tap water, but you will need to use an additive in order to get rid of certain chemicals in the water (chlorine, for instance). Then you ought to let your pond water mature for a week, with or without the equipment running.

During this period, you can be reading up about koi carp. One thing to keep in mind is that koi breed quite readily in a good koi pond. They can also grow fairly large, so it is far better to understock rather than overstock your pond. It is also better to buy smallish koi, say about six inches long, and let the fish get on with growing and stocking your pond for you.

Buy your initial stock all in one go and all from one location, so that they will all be healthy (or not) and they will already ‘be familiar with each other’. After you have stocked your pond, always quarantine new fish for a week, so that you con contain diseases like koi herpes. Check the quality of your pond water on a weekly basis and correct any imbalances right away.

You will have to check up on feeding, because koi need to provide different quantities of food for different times of the year. However, koi can be fed treats like dogs and they can learn to feed out of your hand in time, once you have learned how to make the perfect koi pond.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is at present involved with the fish pond filter. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a great deal.

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The first concern of every fish keeper, whether it be a pond or a tank is water quality. You have to spend some time and some money every month, looking after the quality of the water in your fish tank or pond. In fact, it is a lot cheaper in terms of time, money and stress to maintain a good quality of water than it is to correct water once you have let it go wrong.

Your filtration system is your number one tool in the fight to maintain good quality water. A good filtration system consists of two facets: mechanical and biological. The mechanical feature removes the physical waste and debris that builds up in any body of water, particularly one that has fish in it.

The mechanical filtration system has to be of a size that it can deal with the volume of water that you have. A pump will suck up the water and pass it through a filter and the clean water, ie minus leaves, algae and faeces, runs back to the pond via a waterfall, which also aids aeration.

The biological filtration system will deal with waste that has already dissolved into the water in the form of nitrogen. if you do not clear this nitrogen, by initiating a nitrogen cycle, it will build up and convert itself into ammonia, which will kill your fish in a matter of days. This nitrogen cycle is vital.

Just think about it, your fish are living, breathing, eating and sleeping in their toilet bowl, so unless you keep their environment clean, they will poison themselves. A river, their natural environment, is continuously being flushed into the sea and improved with rain. You have to reproduce that environment if you want to keep healthy fish.

A good rule of thumb is, if you can see the bottom of your pond, then you are probably doing all right, but do not rest on your laurels. First time pond owners often make the mistake of over-feeding. That excess food becomes waste and has to be removed or it will feed the growth of algae.

Do not fail to remember that, if your fish live outside, they will be eating flies, grubs and larvae so they can quite happily go without a feed for a few weeks. That does not mean that you do not have to feed them, it just means take care. Feed more in the summer than in the winter, because your fish will become listless in the winter.

Quarantine your new fish to make sure that you do not pass on illnesses. For instance, the koi herpes virus develops at precisely 74F, so if you heat a tank to that temperature with your new fish in it, you will know whether they are safe to put in the pond or not. During this quarantine stage, you must not share implements with your pond and your tank or you run the risk of cross-contaminating your pond.

Koi can be expensive, so when you are setting up your first fish pond, you may like to stock it with goldfish instead until you get the hang of things. Later on, you can add koi carp as they will happily live side-by-side.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is now involved with water garden pumps. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a great deal.

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Diabetes is a disease where the quantity of blood sugar rises above the normal value, also called hyperglycemia. The pancreas release insulin to control the amount of glucose in the blood. There are two types of diabetes, namely, Type 1 where the pancreas is unable to release insulin, and Type 2 diabetes where there is insufficient amount of insulin produced. Diabetes is also a common disease among dogs and cats.

The most common type of diabetes seen in pets is type 2. About 80-90% of pets have Type 2 diabetes. Cats are considered to be susceptible to having diabetes than dogs. This is mainly because of the kind of foods they eat. Highly processed foods are low in quality but rich in carbohydrates. Early symptoms of diabetes include weight loss, thirst, and frequent urination. Your pets could also experience hunger or loss of appetite at some point. One of the most important symptoms for dogs having diabetes is decreased vision and formation of cataract. On the other hand, the most common symptom for a diabetic cat includes weakening of the legs. This weakening is most noticeable when walking. Consult your vet for any changes in your pet’s behavior.

Different laboratory tests are required to determine the type of diabetes and treatment. Urine test can be completed at home using keto/glucose strip. In taking blood from your pet, one can prick and take blood sample in the ear or lip. Red blood cells of humans are different from the animals, so, human glucometer is not appropriate to use for your pet because results may vary. If there is presence of sugar in the urine and the result in the glucometer is high, then, consider bringing your pet to the vet immediately because this may indicate diabetes.

Blindness can occur if diabetes in dogs is not controlled. Alternatively, cats can have leg paralysis if diabetes is not properly managed. Consult your vet about proper insulin injection as well as the correct storage of insulin. Insulin should not be frozen nor stored in room temperature; however, it needs to be refrigerated. By no means that, insulin is given in less or more than the allowed amount. In excess of insulin may cause very low blood sugar or hypoglycemia to your pets.

Proper nutrition is very important to manage diabetes. Learn the right diet and workout for your pet to control blood sugar. Foods that are commercially made are favored than canned foods. A diabetic diet consists of fewer fats and carbohydrates, and more proteins. Canned foods may be given, however, check carefully the contents of nutrients present. Homemade foods can also be provided for your pets but never give foods that are dry. Dry foods like some canned goods contain a great amount of carbohydrates.

Discuss with your vet the right exercise and diet for your pets, especially if you want to give them homemade foods. Obese pets need proper exercise. Lethargy, sweating, sleepiness, shakiness, and hunger are signs of hypoglycemia. If present, seek advice from your vet immediately. Always consult with your vet regarding the health of your pet to prevent unnecessary complication.

Do you find the write-up helpful and enjoyable? Trying to find intel about species of fish as well as aquaria? See these websites which discuss more info on saltwater aquarium hobby as well as tips for beginner aquarists.

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The primary concern of any koi pond keeper, indeed of any fish pond keeper, it to preserve the pond water at a high level of hygiene. This basically means that you have to keep the nitrate and ammonia levels down. However, the fish will not help in this endeavour, and nor can they, since they live and defecate in their surroundings, the water. You can accurately say that the live in their own toilet bowl.

Therefore, it is up to you, as their patron, to keep their water as clean as possible. This is actually not so difficult and much or the cleansing process can be automated, leaving you, the owner, to only have to carry out routine, weekly checks.

The first check that you should carry out can be made on a daily basis if not more frequently, when you feed your fish, does the water look clear? Is it green? Are there lots of leaves floating around in it? If it is translucent enough to see the bottom of the pond, you are probably doing OK, but do not rely on that, wait for the weekly chemical check up.

Never forget that you have manufactured an unnatural environment for your fish to live in. It is nearer to nature that a fish tank, but it is a long way from being a river or a duck pond. This is why the bigger your pond is, the simpler it will be to maintain, because the closer it will be to the real thing.

The smaller your pond, the more that you will have to depend on water filtration and oxygenation systems to keep the water crystal clear. One way of helping to maintain clear water is not to over feed. Most fish pond owners give far more feed that the fish require.

This results in more excrement and more rotting food on the bottom of the pond. All this excess energy in the water is happily soaked up by algae, which will also draw the oxygen out of the water as it blooms. If you find yourself in this position, the first thing to do is reduce the amount of fish food and scrape the sides of the pond of algae. If you do not, the lack of oxygen will stress out your fish and stressed fish are more susceptible to disease.

Keep the water in your pond circulating as much as possible, as this will reintroduce oxygen into the water that the fish, algae and plants have used up. The standard methods of doing this are to have a fountain, a waterfall and an oxygenator (or bubbler, like you see in fish tanks).

Another way of dealing with oxygen and algae problems is to not overstock your fish pond. Koi will breed freely, so if you just start your population off with a few fish, you will soon have many more. They know when there are too many of them and they will eat the young or control the breeding in other ways. If you do all you can to give your fish a good environment, they will do the rest.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is at present concerned with fish pond accessories. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for some special deals.

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A backyard fish pond will augment the beauty of your garden, there is no question about that. A backyard fish pond will add a focal point to a scruffy garden and will make a lovely backyard or garden even more attractive. There is something happy about the gurgling and splashing of fresh water.

However, in spite of the huge upside of having a backyard fish pond, there is also the question of maintenance. This is not an arduous task, but it is on-going and does need to be carried out on a methodical basis.

Everybody enjoys a backyard fish pond. If you already have one, you can bear witness to the fact that guests, friends and family love to spend time sitting around the edge of your pond watching the fish go about their lazy lifestyles and listening to the rhythm or running and splashing water. It seems to enthrall humans and it is therapeutic.

If you do not already own a pond, but want one, the first step is to choose where to locate it. A few suggestions here:

1] do not site it at a low point in the garden otherwise it might flood when it rains and your fish might swim away. 2] try not to put it under a tree or you will spend the rest of your life dredging foliage out of the water 3] do try to put your backyard fish pond where it will be at least in partial shade at midday

Once you have the best site, you need to think about size and format. The most popular formats are: round, square, oval and kidney shaped. The depth of the water is also important if you live in an area that is subject to freezing. Thirty to forty-five inches is enough in most instances, but it would be worth asking neighbours or the local pet shop for guidance.

Once your pond is in place, you can install your apparatus. You will need a pump to suck the debris out of the water and forward it to the pond filter. However, this pump will allow plant debris to pass through it, so if you would like a fountain, you will almost certainly need another pump, otherwise the fountain’s jets will become blocked by dead plants.

If this all seems a bit much, you can buy a pond kit which contains all the bits and pieces you will need to establish a backyard fish pond. One tip here: if you get solar-powered equipment, it will save on electrician’s fees and you will never have an electricity bill for your backyard fish pond.

After installing the pumps, filter and fountain, you can fill the pond up with water and turn the devices on. The water is inappropriate for fish at the moment, so just let the equipment run in and the water mature. This will require a week for the water. Meanwhile, choose your fish and plants and construct any hidey-holes you want to put in for your fish.

When the week is over, you can add your plants and populate your backyard fish pond with fish.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is at present involved with koi pond kits. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a special deal.

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Spring

Fish ponds, together with koi ponds, come awake in the spring after a winter of semi-hibernation. As soon as the temperature goes above 10C (50F), your fish become more lively and your plants will begin growing again. This means that it is a great occasion to do some upkeep – a spring clean – because you will not shock or stress your dormant fish. If you try it any earlier, you will upset your fish in their slumber and any later and you may disrupt breeding.

You should take out any foliage that has dropped into the pond and dredge for some of the algae. Then clean your pond filter and turn your filtration system back on, if you turned it off for the winter. Test the water for any chemical imbalance and treat any problems.

You ought to also add a broad spectrum treatment for common fish ailments. Depending on the medication you use, you may have to repeat this procedure a week later or when the temperature increases above a certain degree.

Summer

This is when your pond is in full swing. Your aquatic plants will be flourishing as will the algae. You must keep the algae under control, which means dredging, netting and scraping. You will have to clean your pond filter more often as well. Check it daily and keep it working at full tilt. The cleaner you can keep your koi pond now, the less work you will have to do afterward.

Aeration of the water is a major priority in the summer, because warm water is able to hold less oxygen than cold water. Therefore, you will have to keep your fountain working and your bubbler bubbling, if you have one.

If you do not have one, consider buying one. You fish and the blooming algae will be competing for the oxygen in the pond water. You can tell if the water is short of oxygen, because the fish will be gulping air at the surface.

The warm water will not only awaken your fish and your plants, it will also bring parasites to life, so keep a keen eye on your fish’ health and treat anything suspicious immediately. Look out for fish rubbing against the sides or each other – scratching themselves, in other words.

Feed frequently. Your fish will have eaten very little in the winter and now they have to replenish their fat for breeding and next winter.

Autumn

Autumn is variable, but the first half may be like the summer and the second half more like winter. Continue to feed well. As the trees start to shed their leaves, you must eliminate them from your pond water.

Drag the leaves off at least once a day or throw a net over the pond and skim for leaves weekly. If you have any pond plants that will not outlast the winter, either take them indoors or throw them away; you do not want them dying in your pond.

Winter

Life in your pond will slow down as winter progresses. You ought to feed less often, maybe only once a day until the temperature gets to 10C (50F) and then stop feeding – your fish will be in semi-hibernation at this point. Remove your filtration pumps and your fountain and switch all electrical gear off.

Put a pond heater in the water. This is a floating device that keeps a small surface area from freezing. If you allow all your pond to freeze over gases will build up, oxygen will vanish and your fish will die.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is at present involved with the fish pond filter. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a special deal.

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If you are new to keeping koi carp in your garden fish pond, you may be asking yourself what supplies you have to keep in stock and what you can afford to buy as and when you need them. The answer to that question, is probably that it depends how far away your nearest pet shop is. However, it is a good idea to pick up supplies to put in stock, when you see that something is on special offer.

There are items that you should have at hand at all times, but there are others that are not vital and can be waited for for a few days when you discover a need for them. Some of the things suggested below become more important depending on the climate or the seasons prevailing where you live.

Filtration Pump; this is essential, but you can wait twenty-four hours. You need to keep in mind that the quality of your pond water will deteriorate quickly, if your pond filtration pump is out of action. Toxicity levels will escalate in the water and stress levels will build up in your fish. Your fish will become sick fairly rapidly and then they will die.

Pond Filters: this falls into the same category as the filtration pump for precisely the same reasons. However, you can make your own filter using sand, coconut fibres or something similar and then you should never run out.

Dechlorinator: water companies add chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride to the water, but fish do not like them. Therefore, you have to eliminate them. This is easily accomplished by adding a few capfuls of liquid dechlorinator. Buy a large bottle and it will last all year.

Test Kits: maintaining water quality is the main aim for every fish pond owner, so you have to inspect the water for ammonia and nitrite poisoning every week. This is thought of as vital kit.

Pond Salt and Baking Soda; are the cheapest ways of combatting water poisoning, so it is vital to have copious stores of these items at all times.

Bags: one day you may need to transport one of your fish to the vets or take it to a quarantine tank, so you will need to keep a few bags on hand at all times. Make certain that they are large enough to hold your growing koi. These are essential.

Rubber Bands: you will need strong rubber bands to seal off the bags above, so they are indispensable too.

Fish Net: necessary for guiding your fish into the bags and removing fallen leaves.

Bucket: this is better for catching your koi than a net, which has the ability to hurt their gills. Essential.

Koi Fish Food: koi ought to be fed every day except in winter, but they can in fact last a couple of weeks without food because they also eat flies, grubs and larvae. It really depends on how big your pond is and whether you have overstocked it.

Leaf Net: in the autumn, it is easier to cast a net over your pond, than drag leaves out of it every day. It saves a lot of time.

Sandbags: a storm or even intense rainfall can flood your pond, allowing your fish to swim away. Sandbagging the pond before a storm is important.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is at present involved with fish pond accessories. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for some great deals.

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If you reside in a temperate zone, fish from temperate zones can easily overwinter outside. On the other hand, tropical fish would die without a water heater. We will be looking at how you can keep cold water, temperate climate fish contented for the duration of a typical winter.

If you live in an area where winter is cold enough to produce ice, you will have to bear this in mind when you make your fish pond. How thick is ice normally in your area? In most cases, a ‘deep end’ of thirty to forty five inches should be ample, but you will have to get advice locally if you do not know the answer. A pet store, a neighbour or the zoo can offer the required advice.

The other problem with winter and ice is that a layer of ice prevents poisonous gases escaping and oxygen entering, as it would do in the usual cycle of events. Therefore, you will have to ensure that there is always a hole in the ice. However, smashing a hole will scare the fish.

There are several ways by which this air hole can be maintained under mild freezing conditions:

Aerator: a bubbler, can be placed in the pond. It has to be under water, obviously, and it has to be fairly vigorous, so that the bubbles keep breaking the ice above it. If it is put in water that is too shallow, it can freeze up too, so that is a consideration to be borne in mind.

De-icer: a mild, floating heater. This kind of device does not create enough heat to threaten pond liners, but it is sufficient to keep a small surface area ice free under most weather conditions.

Water pump: a pump pumping water at force through the surface can maintain a breathing hole in your pond, but only under fairly mild icy conditions. The pump must be located in deep water or it might freeze solid.

Hoola-Hoop: if the weather is only mildly icy, a hoola-hoop with a round football floating in its centre can be successful at preventing ice forming within the hoop. The wind keeps the ball moving within the hoop and ice does not get a chance to develop.

This hole in the ice is important. Your fish will be semi-dormant in the winter and you may not see them for months, but they still need to breathe and excrete and the gases that that and the plants give off have to be allowed to escape or they will poison the water and kill your fish.

At this time of the year it is extremely important not to over-feed. Fish build up layers of fat in the summer and live off that fat during their semi-hibernation in the winter, but they do eat occasionally. The only problem for you is that you will not know which days they decide to come up for a bite.

This is where the hoola-hoop can come in handy again. If you only feed within the hoola hoop, you can see how much food has been eaten and how much has been left. Aspire to give no more than they will eat.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is now concerned with water garden pumps. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a special deal.

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