Pet Tax. Karson and Kennedy found an article today that you need to register your pets with the government.

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Tropical Freshwater Aquarium Fish. Guppies are probably the most popular tropical freshwater aquarium fish as they are easy to keep and attractive. They are adaptable to a wide range of conditions and get along well with other community tank species. The males have highly colored, flamboyant tails although the females are much duller so it’s easy to tell if you have male or females, unlike some other species! Guppies are livebearers and in this article we’ll explain how to breed them successfully.

Guppies are livebearers and produce live fry. A female guppy can store sperm from the male so can produce batches of offspring from the same insemination. She will produce fry thirty days after insemination and may have as many as sixty fry in each batch. An older, larger female will have more fry than a younger, smaller female.

How should you prepare the female?

The female needs to be in top condition to produce healthy fry so her diet should be supplemented with live food such as blood worms, daphnia or brine shrimp.

Should you separate the female before she gives birth?

if the fry are born in a community tank they will provide a meal for the other fish! it is much better to have either a separate tank or a breeding compartment within the tank to move the female to prior to the birth. As a precaution, or if you can’t provide this, make sure there are plenty of floating plants to provide hiding places for the tiny fry. A breeding compartment can be purchased which separates the female from her fry as soon as they are born and can be placed directly in the aquarium.

How should you look after the fry?

The fry can be fed on tropical flakes that have been finely crushed supplemented with brine shrimp. The water in the tank should be partially changed at least once a week. Fry will grow rapidly and will be adults in two months.

Conclusion

Although guppies are one of the easiest tropical freshwater fish to breed you will need to take care of the female so that she produces healthy young and take precautions in your aquarium to prevent the fry ending up as a meal for your other fish. Although it is not essential to have a separate breeding tank it will make it easier to care for the fry and to breed your guppies successfully.

For more information on tropical fish keeping please visit us at Tropical Freshwater Aquarium or for some good deals on aquariums Cheap Aquariums for Sale.

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How Did Cats Become your Pets?. Like the dog, the modern domesticated cat is the result of generations of selective breeding. However, the roots of feline domestication are thought to go back millennia. Relatively little is known about the initial relationship between humans and cats. Nevertheless, we do know that the Ancient Egyptians were obsessed with them.

Cats in Ancient Egypt

In fact, it is thought that the beginnings of domestication began in Ancient Egypt. There are numerous paintings of cats dating back as far as the third millennium B.C. Of course, it is difficult to ascertain whether these are wild or domesticated cats. However, it is commonly believed that by approximately 1600 B.C. cats were at least somewhat domesticated, due to the frequency of their appearance in Egyptian art.

The Start of Modern Domestication

In almost all cases of animal domestication, humans selected and bred animals that could be of use to them. However, it is thought that this may not necessarily be true of cats. Of course, cats became very useful to humans in the hunting and eradication of vermin, such as rats and mice.

Interestingly though, it is believed that humans did not seek cats out for this purpose. Instead, cats were attracted to humans, due to the abundance of food and the warmth of fire. As humans realized that cats could be of benefit to them, they offered them food in the hope that they would stay.

Cats: The Most Domesticated Wild Animal

For a long time, the cat was not considered to be fully domesticated even though they were living with humans. For many cat owners, the animal’s independence and willful nature are the attraction. But it begs the question “why are cats unlike all other domesticated animals?”

Well, the answer is a combination of things. First, cats, with only two exceptions: lions and cheetah, are solitary animals. In their natural environment, cats live and hunt alone, subsequently, they do not recognize the hierarchy of a group, herd or pack. Obviously, with animals, such as wolves, it is very easy for a human to take the role of pack leader and exert dominance. However, cat’s do what they want to do and answer to no one.

Additionally, for centuries, cats were seen as a handy asset in killing vermin, but it did not appear necessary to selectively breed them. In fact, humans did not interfere with cat breeding until the latter part of the 19th century. Partly, this was due to various superstitious and religious views surrounding cats. Consequently, unlike horses, dogs and every other domesticated animal, cats are thousands of years behind in the breeding program.

Selective Breeding in Cats

Subsequently, it could be argued that the true domestication of cats did not begin until the late 1800s. Obviously, a large part of selective breeding is concerned with personality as much as it is on appearance.

Therefore, it is thought that older pedigreed breeds of cat, those that have been selectively bred for the longest, tend to be more docile and interested in human interaction than the non-pedigree cats. Although there have been no official studies of cat temperament and the differences between pedigree and non-pedigree felines, breeders and cat fanciers, who have experience of dealing with both types of cat, state that there is a marked difference in behavior and character.

That said, there is still so much that we simply do not know about feline domestication. The attraction between cats and humans will perhaps always remain a bit of a mystery. The fascination that the Ancient Egyptians had for felines and the cat’s inclination to abandon solitary existence to live with us humans will probably never be fully explained.

Samantha Markham is a freelance writer from the United Kingdom. She is working on behalf of remmeer.com, a high quality supplier of pet-related products. As well as a range of items for cats, remmeer.om provides unique gift ideas for cat lovers, including Laurel Burch cat handbags and WhimsiClay ceramic cat figurines.

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Need Obedience Training, Small dogs like big dogs. Are you annoyed by your neighbors little dogs yapping all the time? Do most small dogs seem to jump on you? Do you tend to avoid friends’ homes with small dogs because the dogs are not well trained? Why do people not feel a need to have a well trained pet? Small dogs have a reputation of having no obedience training.

You have just picked out this adorable puppy and brought him home. He’s so cute and cuddly. Everything he does makes you smile and laugh, even when you wish he wouldn’t do what he has done? Their fur is so fluffy, their bark is high pitched and you love to keep him on your lap or just hold him. Well, that’s all fine and well, but even small dogs change with age. They may not get to be sixty pounds but the cute will vanish after you are tired of picking up messes, chasing them down when they run out of the yard, and worry if someone has taken them while they’ve been on an accidental solo stroll.

What is the intention of someone who gets a small dog? Some small dogs are not always viewed as dogs at all, by their owners. People do tend to baby them more because of their size, but we all do that to a degree, no matter how big our dog is. After all, we research breeds, read ads and some of us have even paid for a plane trip just to get `that’ dog. Those of us who obtain our pets from a shelter feel the same way, `they are so lucky to have us.’ Maybe not.

Small dogs need obedience training just like large dogs do. They bite, bark, they jump up on people, chew, poop on the floor, jump on cars and scratch the paint, run out in the street, and the list goes on. These cute little things, left to their own devices, will run off company and won’t be let into your friends’ homes. They seem to create chaos in the quietest of surroundings. If this sounds like your dog, and you’re looking for someone to blame, look in the mirror.

Owners simply need to understand the annoyance of a dog that is not trained. The obedience training for smaller dogs is very similar to that of large dogs. No matter the age of your pet the training needs to go on, even if you got him from someone else. There are certain things that are unacceptable in dog behavior and you will enjoy your pet much more if you can count on his manners. A well behaved dog doesn’t need to do tricks, but he does need to come on command.

If you are frustrated with the results you are getting from training your own small dog, take him to a class or hire a trainer to come to your home. Even if your dog does good most of the time, it is important that you can count on his listening and reacting properly to your commands. An obedient dog has more fun and you will enjoy his company for years to come without worry.

I work with healing energy and teach different kinds of healing modalities such as Reiki, Quantum Touch®, essential oils, sound healing and the metaphysical properties of stones. My blog is filled with alternative healing methods and ideas to help us all live an emotional, spiritual and physically healthier life at http://www.zenergygal.com Watch for my forthcoming book on alternative ways to Tweak Your Health.

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Compare your Pet Insurance to receive best deals. Now you need to give some thought on how you’re going to take care of your pet in case of an accident or illness. Unlike your personal insurance coverage, you are not restricted to the company that your business chooses. The choice is up to you. With this choice, some research is required. The time to compare pet insurance policies is now, but you first need to consider what is most important to you and your family of pets.

When looking for a pet insurance company, there are several things you will want to consider. Think about the age of your pet, the need of having it spayed or neutered, the number of pets you have and any known pre-existing conditions your pet may have. All of these things will factor into your premiums.

When you’re comparing companies, note the premiums of course, but also look at the co-pays, the deductibles and any caps on coverage. For example, some insurance companies will only pay for an illness one time. If the illness runs into another year, they think it’s necessary for you to pay that second year.

Another thing to consider is a semi-HMO plan for your pet insurance. At the current time, there is only one company, Pet Assure, that offers anything similar to an HMO. This plan has you pay a membership fee and in return you receive a discount of 25% off the services. This plan also requires you visit one of the veterinarians on their pre-approved list. So while it’s still not a true HMO, it does offer an alternative to monthly premiums that the traditional insurance companies charge.

It was mentioned before that you need to consider the age of your pet when considering what policy to buy. This is true because some companies will not insure your pet after a certain age, usually about eight years old. One company however will, Petshealth. They are one of the only companies that offer coverage to dogs up to ages 13 and more. However, they do have a pre-existing health clause that you need to be aware of.

Read all of the policy before you buy, prioritize the criteria you need in a policy and ask lots of questions before you make a decision. Compare pet insurance companies and the policies they offer. Your pet and your wallet will thank you in the long run.

Visit our blog to discover even more reasons to compare pet insurance

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24 Pieces Ferret Facts. In this article there are 24 pieces of information that will assist you in understanding who and what ferrets. In order to properly care for your pet Weasel need to know these facts.

Ferrets…

1….share genetics with weasels, otters, badgers, skunks and minks. They are not rodents.
2….can be thought of as somewhere between cats and dogs but smaller.
3….are playful like puppies – except they never grow out of it.
4….can be trained to do anything a dog can do. They can be litter box trained like a cat.
5….are people oriented rather than person oriented. They are able to bond with a number of humans over the course of their lifetimes although its can take up to a year to complete the bonding process..
6….are cross species social. They enjoy being with other ferrets, humans, dogs and cats. Ferrets do not do well with mice, birds or other small animals.
7….are primarily indoor pets. They should be in a harness and on a leash if outside.
8….are not carriers of rabies. There is no record of a human ever contracting rabies from a ferret.
9….are not noisy creatures. They chitter when excited.
10….smell like ferrets. A neutered ferret does not have an offensive smell. Regular cleaning of his cage and bedding will help keep smells under control.
11….have relatively poor eyesight compensated for by acute senses of smell and hearing.
12….life expectancy is 6-8 years although they can live up to twice that length of time.
13. Baby ferrets are called kits, females are jills and males are hobs.
14. Males tend to be about 16 inches long and weigh nearly 3 pounds. Females grow to around 12 inches and weigh in at one and a half pounds or so.
15….tend to sleep 15-20 hours per day. They are crepuscular, i.e. most active just before dawn and just after dusk.
16….are very energetic and love to play.
17….make good pets and are people-friendly.
18….require more attention than cats. They are more likely to “have an accident” and miss their litter box than cats.
19….are not a good pet for families with small children under the age of six.
20….are extremely inquisitive and will attempt to explore everything in their environment. Ferret-proofing a room for them to run around in is a must.
21….will chew things. The danger is they may swallow small pieces and experience intestinal blockage – an emergency visit to the veterinarian.
22….are illegal in Hawaii and California. Many municipalities have made ownership of ferrets a crime. Their illegality stems from misinformation. First, many consider ferrets to be wild animals like raccoon or skunk. History shows that ferrets have been domesticated for over two millennia. Second, domesticated ferrets offer no rabies threat. If a ferret contracts rabies (rare due to almost universal vaccination against it), it tends to die before it is capable of passing it on to others. As of this date, records indicate that no human has contracted rabies from a ferret in the United States. Third, the danger of escaped or abandoned ferrets forming feral communities is minimal. Most domesticated ferrets are neutered. Their ability to survive in the wild is almost zero. An escaped ferret will be dead within 72 hours of release into the wild. There is no evidence of even one feral ferret community in the U.S.
23….need to spend a significant amount of time outside their cages in a supervised environment.
24….need to make regular visits to the veterinarian for shots and annual checkups.

Dr. Arthur Young is a ferret enthusiast. For more great information on ferret care, visit http://www.getagripon.com/ferrets/

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Holiday Best of List from Petfinder. The folks at Petfinder.com having been thinking about superlatives now that it’s holiday time. If you’ve got better ideas — or more ideas — for any of these categories, please share.

Best way to incorporate your pet into the holiday festivities: Throw a tacky sweater party and dress him/ her up for the occasion.

Best stocking stuffer: Petfinder.com’s Pet Promise Certificate. You can give the gift of adoption while allowing the recipient to choose the pet that’s right for them.

Most fun way to keep the pounds off: Exercise with your pet.

Most delicious holiday meal that both you and your pet can enjoy: Turkey. This festive favorite can be a treat for both pets and people – just make sure to feed it to your pet only in moderation. And no bones!

Best gift for pet-loving co-workers: A framed picture of their beloved animal to keep on their desk, or an agreement to swap pet-sitting duties.

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