Happy Pets

The first thing to note is that a cat’s nutritional requirements will change throughout the course of its life. Their mother’s milk contains all of the nutrients that kittens need for the first month or two of their lives, after which, in the wild, they would be weaned on mice and other sources of fresh flesh. Your kitten should have been weaned before it moves in with you, but because its nose and stomach will probably have become accustomed to a particular diet, you will probably have to wean it off this gradually before switching to your preferred alternative full-time. (more…)

In the interests of maintaining good hygiene, it’s important that your cat has its own food and water bowls (separate ones are more practical than combined versions) rather than borrowing a saucer or dish from its human family. These are available from pet shops and should have a heavy base so that they won’t tip over when your cat is eating or drinking. Battery-operated, covered food bowls are another option, many of which contain a type of cooling system that keeps food fresh in hot weather or over extended periods and may also incorporate a timer that you can set so that the lid springs open at a certain time when you’re not around to feed your cat. (more…)

The young of these fishes develop inside the body of the female until they have absorbed the yolk-sac and are then released. Most livebearing fishes are easily sexed : male fishes have the anal fin modified into a rod-like structure called the gonopodium, through which the fertilizing spermatophores are introduced into the female. Gestation is approximately 3o days and broods may number from 20 to 200. It is possible for the females of some species to deliver successive broods without a repeat mating with the male. (more…)

On the 18th or 19th day after the egg has been laid, a tiny hole appears in the side of the egg. At this time the chick can be heard chipping at the shell and making his very first “chirps.” Just a matter of hours later, the chick emerges from the shell. The parents clean the baby, for there is a kind of afterbirth encrusted on his body. Shortly thereafter they will feed the little one by regurgitating food into its mouth. It is best to leave the chicks with the parents for a few days. They do seem to get a better start by doing this. (more…)

Breeding Cockatiels in an aviary, where there is plenty of dirt, sunshine, fresh air and flight room is relatively simple. With a good diet, large nest boxes, and conditions as near to their natural habitat as possible, they settle down with their mates and nature does the rest.

However, when the birds are confined to a small cage, provided only with commercial seed, subject only to room temperatures, the situation is radically changed. In fact, it may be more than difficult to get a pair on the nest. (more…)

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…)

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…)

A number of American and African Cichlids are smaller and less aggressive than the larger Cichlids, and are suitable for the community tank.

Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma agassizi 70 mm 21 in. Amazon basin : shady streams. The elongated body is brown, with a blue sheen in the male and dark-edged scales. The caudal fin of the male is spear-shaped, with a white outline inside the dark margin. The long- based dorsal fin is edged in red and white. Females are more drab, with a yellow-brown body that has a dark, horizontal line running along the flanks and a slanting, dark line through the eye. The caudal fin is rounded. In general, females of the Apistogramma genus (except for the following species) are similar and difficult to identify. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F), or slightly higher. Diet: all foods. Breeding: secretive; deposits eggs in caves or upturned flowerpots. (more…)

Although a cat’s maintenance costs are relatively low, there are certain unavoidable expenses that cat-ownership will incur over the years. These include providing your feline with the minimum of two meals a day of a nutritious proprietary cat food; buying cat litter for anindoor cat; settling an annual veterinary bill for vaccinations; and funding any additional veterinary treatment that a cat may need as a result of an accident or illness. Investigate these costs by paying a visit to your local pet shop or supermarket and veterinary surgery, noting down prices and asking for information. (more…)