Happy Pets

Guppy; Millions Fish Poecilia(formerly Lebistes) reticu/ata Male 28-32 mm 1-1* in; females 65 mm 21 in. Trinidad : various waters. A well-known species. No two males are ever exactly alike; the females are much larger and do not share the males‘ rainbow colours. Genetic experimentation by hobbyists has resulted in many colours and finnage shapes becoming internationally recognized standards. Several specialist groups exist solely for the Guppy fancier. Serious breeders separate the sexes as soon as they are recognizable to prevent unwanted broods. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: very prolific. Females should be given a separate, well-planted tank in which to give birth. (more…)

Pike Top Minnow Belonesox belizanus Male 100 mm 4 in; female 150 mm 6 in. Belize, Guatemala: various waters. A predatory fish which lives up to the reputation of its much larger namesake. The large, tooth-filled mouth and powerful caudal fin bode ill for other fishes in the same tank, full-grown female Guppies being taken with ease. The body is dark blue-green with speckled markings and a spot on the caudal fin base area. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). The addition of salt to the water is beneficial. Diet: all foods, but predominantly live foods. Breeding: usual livebearer pattern. (more…)

When meeting a prospective feline member of your family for the first time, be it a kitten or a cat, a crossped or a purebred, the essential question to ask yourself is whether it looks healthy. If you have any doubts, it would be wiser not to adopt it: not only could you be condemning yourself to exorbitant veterinary bills and a new career as a feline nurse, but you could even have to suffer the premature death of your feline charge. (more…)

• Does the kitten look generally healthy and alert? If so, it has probably not contracted any life- endangering viruses or illnesses from its mother or environment.
• Any juvenile wobbliness aside, do the kitten’s legs appear to be functioning normally? If it seems lame, it may be suffering from a non-reversible birth defect, have a broken limb or be showing the first signs of a serious illness. (more…)

When the babies are first hatched, they are far from a beautiful sight, except perhaps to the owner who has waited long and patiently for their arrival. The head and neck are the largest part of their bodies, and their eyes, not open, almost cover each side of the head. The amount of feathers on the body varies. Some of them have a few straggly olive colored quills, while others are covered with a brilliant yellow down. They are very active and appear to be walking around on four legs, since they use their wings for support. They are born hungry and crying for food. (more…)

One would have to have a complete medical background to go into the history, nature and causes of all bird diseases. However, our purpose here is to advise you, the pet owner, of certain signs of illness and home remedies that may be used in their event.

Cleanliness is, of course, the prime requisite of a healthy bird. A good mite spray when needed, frequent baths and fresh, clean seed are of the utmost importance. (more…)

Fishes in this family are often referred to as ‘labyrinth’ fishes because they have a labyrinthine organ in the head which allows them to breathe atmospheric air if necessary. Another distinguishing feature of this group is the breeding pattern: the majority of the fishes are bubblenest builders. The nests are made of saliva-coated bubbles blown by the male, into which the fertilized eggs are placed following the nuptial embrace beneath the nest. The fry are guarded and kept within the vicinity of the nest by the male. The female is best removed after spawning as the male may attack her. When breeding, care should be taken not to allow any cold draughts of air to pass acrossthe water surface as the fry may become chilled. As it is, a fairly high mortality rate occurs within the first two weeks of life with many species, and the ratio of males to females may be low. (more…)

The species in this group live in a wide range of natural habitats in rivers and lakes. They include many aquarium favourites, such as the Blue Acara, the Angelfish and the Oscar. Most are fairly large and may be aggressive at times.

Sheeps-head Acara; Flag Cichlid Aequidens curviceps 75 mm 3 in. S0uth America, Amazon basin : rivers. The grey-green body is slightly iridescent under reflected light. The scales have dark edges, the fins are flecked with blue-green and the d0rsal fin is blue-edged. A peaceful fish. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: deposits eggs on an 0pen site. Parents 0ften eat their first spawning but, given a tank to themselves, usually prove t0 be go0d parents subsequently. (more…)

Unless you have already reserved a kitten from the litter of a mother cat whose owner you know, your first port of call when looking for a cat to adopt should be your local vet’s. Most veterinary surgeries display notice boards on which people whose cats have produced kittens, or those who sadly can no longer keep their older cats, can ‘advertise’ felines in need of a good home. (more…)

Unless you intend to breed from, or show, your cat, there is little that a pedigree feline can offer that a mongrel moggie can’t match. Just like people, every cat is a unique character, whether their lineage is uncertain or you can trace it back for many generations. Probably the only significant difference between purebreds like our Somali, Melchior, and crosspeds like his companion, Caspar, is that you can predict with reasonable accuracy how any kittens that a pedigree cat may have will look, especially if the other parent is of the some breed. And although it is often said that because moggies, unlike many pedigrees, aren’t inbred, their mixed gene pool makes them more resistant to disease and generally tougher, this claim hasn’t been scientifically substantiated (and in any case, many moggies are born into close-knit family groups). (more…)