Happy Pets

Lampeyed Panchax; LampeyeAplocheilichthys (formerly Micropanchax) macrophthalmus 30 mm 1 in. Nigeria, Cameroon : forest streams. The body is not cylindrical, but more laterally compressed. Its colour is a delicate blue, with a faint gold line running from the gill cover to the caudal fin. The caudal fin may have a yellow tinge, with red marks at the edge. The eyes are blue. Unlike some Killifishes, this species does well in hard, alkaline water. A shoaling upper water level species, perhaps too small for a community collection. Temperature: 23-26^°C (73-78^°F). Diet: live and dried foods. Breeding: lays eggs over period of days in plants or mops. Eggs hatch in two weeks and fry mature in six months. (more…)

The Egglaying Toothcarps include the so-called ‘annual’ fishes whose natural watery habitat completely dries up every year, thus killing the fishes. However, before this event occurs, the adult fishes lay their fertilized eggs in the mud of the stream bed, where they survive the rest of the dry season in a dormant state. The onset of the rainy season refills the stream bed and the eggs hatch. The fish then have to mature and spawn in their turn before the weather cycle is repeated. Aquarists have not been slow to take advantage of the fertilized eggs‘ ability to withstand semi-dehydration, and exchange fertile eggs through the post, often on a worldwide basis. (more…)

Golden Lake Nyasa Cichlid Melanochromis (formerlyPseudotropheus) auratus 100 mm 4 in. Lake Malawi (Nyasa). Has an elongated, bright- yellow body. Two black bands, edged on either side with white, run along the back from the snout to the base of the .caudal fin. The dorsal and caudal fins have black patterning ; the anal fin is plain yellow. During the breeding period, the male changes from yellow to blue/black, and the horizontal bands become yellow, edged with white. The dorsal fin turns to light yellow/blue; the caudal fin becomes dark with a yellow edge, and the anal fin dark with a white edge. This fish may be aggressive and should be given a large tank with many hiding places. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods, including vegetable matter. Breeding: mouth- brooder. (more…)

In their natural habitat the Clownfishes share a fascinating relationship with the Sea-anemone (Stoichactis, Discosoma and Radianthus species).

Normally, any fish venturing into the outspread tentacles of the Sea-anemone is fatally stung and consumed, but the Clownfish enjoys immunity (and safety from other larger fishes) as it swims in and out of its host. (more…)

Although related to the Clownfishes, these fishes have larger scales, and whereas the Clownfishes seek the relative safety of the Sea-anemone, the Damselfishes and Sergeant-Majors prefer to seek protection among the many coral branches of the reefs where they live. Some species have spawned in the aquarium. (more…)

Members of this family are deep-bodied and laterally compressed fishes. They are found mainly in the Indo-Pacific oceans, but one or two species occur in the Atlantic. They inhabit coral reefs, constantly pecking or scraping food from the surface and crevices of the coral heads. Their brilliant colours and startling patterns may be either a type of camouflage in the brightly lit world of the coral reef, or an aid in recognizing or communicating with fishes of the same species. The Angelfishes are distinguished from the Butterflyfishes by a spine at the bottom rear corner of the gill cover; many young Angelfishes have colours and markings that differ from those of the adult form. Angelfishes are territorial, and fishes of the same spebies will fight. (more…)

No wild members of the cat family have long hair resembling that of the domesticated cat. It is the result of centuries of careful (perhaps more often not so careful) breeding. Actually, long-haired‘ is a blanket term for a variety of breeds whose coats can differ considerably in length and texture. Here are some of the more interesting ones.

Angora

This was probably the first kind of longhaired cat to be seen in Europe. The Angora arrived in the sixteenth century, probably from Turkey (it takes its name from the Turkish capital, Ankara). It gradually lost favour to the Persian and the breed was dwindling fast until a few specimens were taken to the United States from Ankara Zoo. It has a longish body and tail, long legs withneat, dainty paws and a small head with large almond-shaped eyes that slope slightly upwards and large upright ears. Its fur is gorgeously textured, like mohair. White was the only acceptable colour when the breed was re-established in the United States, but other colours are now being bred in both Europe and North America. (more…)

Short fur is the normal length for cats. No wild cats have long hair, not even those living in cold climates - although their short hair is very thick. Short hair is always genetically dominant in cats, which means that if your charming, longhaired Burmese goes feral its descendants will revert to a short-haired state. Fur type and texture, and the exactlength of the hair, vary between breeds with the result that ’short-haired’ cats can look very different from one another. The sleeker, slimmer Oriental breeds are grouped separately as the Foreign Short- hairs.

British Shorthairs

The British Shorthair - and the European Shorthair, which is really just another name for the same type - is a sturdy, stocky animal officially described as compact, well balanced and powerful. It has a good depth of body, a full, broad chest and short, strong legs. (more…)

That quick run-down of some of the breeds deals with the general types. There is a huge number of variations of colour and pattern, but every time you think there could not possibly be room for another, a breeder will produce a new one.

In fact, cats, like some cars, come in only three basic colours: black, red and white. The other colours are simply interminglings and the patterns made up of combinations of them. Their names are not straightforward to the uninitiated. The red, for example, is not red at all but a rich brownish-orange — though not the hot marmalade colour of some cats, which is not to the taste of fancy breeders. (more…)