Beginner’s Guide ToThe Nitrogen Cycle

‘The Nitrogen Cycle’ is the most important thing a fish keeper can learn about. It is an essential part of keeping fish alive and healthy in an aquarium.
What Is ‘The Nitrogen Cycle’?

‘The Nitrogen Cycle’ is a process in which bacteria convert toxic substances into less toxic substances. This is important in an aquarium as the toxic substances which fish produce naturally can quickly make them ill, or even kill them if not removed. Housing these bacteria is the main purpose of your aquarium filter.

Fish Medical Guide: Diagnosing Symptoms

It is frustrating when our fish are not healthy, however, there are things we can do to help them. This article addresses some of the more commonly seen symptoms of illness in freshwater fish kept in aquariums. . This article covers some of the more common illnesses and is by no means a complete listing, however, it should help you gain more understanding of common symptoms. At GAB  stop by the Sick Fish Forum and tell them what’s going on.

Hamster Health

Caring for your hamster’s health requires a multi-faceted approach. To put it simply, a hamster’s health is largely dependent on the level of care that you provide for them. Owning a hamster means that you are taking on the sole responsibility of ensuring that your hamster remains in good health. There are many things that you can do to care for your hamster’s health, most of which only require a small investment in time.

HAMSTER HEALTH CONDITIONS

Hamsters can develop several potentially serious health conditions, some of which can be easily cured if caught in their early stages. Always pay attention to any changes in your hamster’s behavior, as this could be your only way of knowing that your hamster is sick. A common symptom of many health conditions in hamsters is a lack of interest in food. This could be a symptom of many different conditions, and should be a sign that you need to pay close attention to your hamster’s health.

PREVENTIVE CARE

Aquarium Lighting

One important aspect of keeping tropical fish is aquarium lighting. This is an often overlooked area that can sometimes be confusing for a beginner to aquariums. The confusion may come from the many available types of fish tank lighting that you can use to light your tank. The main types of light are:

• regular fluorescent lights,
• compact flourescent,
• high output (ho) flourescent,
• very high output (vho) flourescent
• metal halide
• LED - Light Emitting Diodes

How To Set Up a Reef Tank

INTRO
This article provides information on how to get your saltwater aquarium or reef tank setup. There are many different ways that you could set up a marine reef aquarium. This is but one way and it works for us.

Some of the equipment listed below is optional, such as the sump and refugium. These are optional pieces of equipment but very nice enhancements to a tank. Please read the setup info below and if you have any questions, comments or critiques, please let us know using the reef tank setup comments form using the link provided below.

Equipment Needed:

Saltwater Aquarium Types

This article will give you a general introduction into the three main types of saltwater tanks. When getting started with saltwater it is recommended to get the biggest tank you can accomodate. Bigger tanks give you more room for error when it comes to water quality.

There are basically three types of saltwater aquarium setups:

• Fish Only
• Fish Only with Live Rock - FOWLR
• Reef Tanks

Fish Only
This is the least expensive type to set up because you don’t necessarily need the better lighting that the other setups require. Check out the Saltwater Aquarium Setup page to get an idea of the equipment needed, minus the live rock mentioned in that article.

Proper Cockatoo Care

Major Mitchell Cockatoo

To help keep your cockatoo healthy and happy, you need to know how to care for him/her.

HOUSING-The bigger the cage, the better, but there are some general guidelines for cages. For a smaller cockatoo, its cage should be no smaller than 30″ wide by 20” deep by 43″ deep. For larger cockatoos (such as umbrella cockatoos), the cage should be no smaller than 40” wide by 30” deep by 50” tall, but no matter what size the bird, the cage must be made strong enough for a cockatoo to hang onto when (s)he climbs around, and can withstand a cockatoo’s powerful beak. The bars of the cage shouldn’t be any farther apart than 1”.

Parrot’s Bill Of Rights

1. GET TO KNOW ABOUT PARROTS BEFORE YOU BRING ME HOME - I am not a domesticated pet like a dog or cat. I still have the spirit of the jungle in me. I have special needs, which you may find hard to fill. Please don’t learn these too late for my well-being. And please don’t acquire one of my cousins wild from the jungle – it will jeopardize his survival and well-being, and that won’t be a party for you either!

What to feed your Hamster

To keep your hamster happy, you may choose to add treats into their diet. Forhamsters, a treat doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be an unhealthy food! There are many healthy options for hamster treats, which can actually help your hamster’s dietary nutrition level.

TREATS TO AVOID

There are some foods and treat items which may not be healthy for your hamster. Feeding your hamster unhealthy or dangerous food items can put their health at risk, and may even induce an allergic reaction. In general, avoid any food items that contain a high amount of sugar. Sugar can cause digestive problems, obesity and diabetes in hamsters when fed in excessive amounts. Other foods to avoid feeding your hamster are: onions, garlic, chocolate, buttercups, raw kidney beans, toffee and any type of candy.

COMMERCIAL TREATS

Hamster Lifespan

Like any small pet, hamsters do have an average life span. This may vary slightly by breed, genetics and general upbringing. Most hamsters are fairly short-lived, though there are some exceptions to this rule. To help your hamster live longer, there are some general pet care procedures you can follow to increase the chance that they will surpass their lifespan average. However, it is important to remember that hamsters are different than many other pets, due to the rate at which they age.