Crazy Weather And Your Pets

Who knows what kind of weather we will have next week?   It’s has been a crazy time with weather patterns; a warm winter, tornados, hurricanes, floods, you name it, and someone has experienced it.   It is a good idea to always be prepared for the worst.   You may never need to act quickly, but you never know……

We have been told to have a “go” bag packed with water, flashlights, change of clothes, medications, etc., but let’s not forget about the pets.

It is a good idea to have sufficient water and food stored for all your pets in your home.   Make sure that you have a leash and collar for all cats and dogs, or carriers for them.   In case you have to make an emergency exit, your pet will be ready to move.   Also, make sure they have identification tags on them in case they should happen to escape in all the commotion.   Make sure you have a bag packed with four or five days’ worth of pet food and any medications for them that you might need in preparing for evacuation or power loss.

If you have a bird, reptile or small animal, make sure you clean the cage as soon as a hurricane warning or bad weather warning is issued.  In this way, it will be sanitary for a few days if you have no power.   It is also a good idea to have a small travel cage in case you need to take your pet with you in case of evacuation.      If you stay in your home with a pet in a cage, make sure you cover it.   This will keep them more secure and prevent things from flying into the cage in case of window breakage.   If you have to leave in an emergency situation it is always best to take your pet with you.   However, if you cannot, ensure that you place extra food and water into the cages.

If you have a fish tank, as soon as you hear about a hurricane or a bad weather pattern, change at least 25% of your water.   This will ensure that the water quality will be good if you should happen to lose power.   If the power does go out, feed your fish sparingly.   This will help the water stay clean and clear and prevent fish loss.   If it is out for a few days, try to do some water changes if possible.   Make sure you clean your filter before the power comes on.   All the scum, excess food, etc., will be hanging out in the filter; you do not want this going back into the tank.   There are also battery operated pumps that will help your fish survive by giving them oxygen.

If you have a pond, make sure you put a cover or net over it.   This will prevent the fish from escaping should the water get too high with huge rain fall, and will help prevent a lot of debris from falling into it.

Hopefully some of this information will be remembered if you run into some bad weather or power loss; if we can be of any further assistance, please call Animal Kingdom at 845-278-6400.   We are here to help.   Let’s be prepared for the worst, but expect the best!

“Natural” Fish

The aquarium hobby has seen different fads throughout the years.   Fish, in particular, have seen many changes.   There are hybrid fish, genetically engineered fish and even painted or injected fish.   Everyone has their own opinion on these, some are in agreement, and some are not.

You can still, however, create a visually stunning tank with natural fish.   There are some beauties out there and we would like to mention just a few.

The Black Emperor Tetra has to be one of our favorites.   This fish is a vibrant purple and blue with a broad horizontal stripe.   It even has an interesting shape!   Some of them have blue eyes and some green depending on the sex of the fish.   How much more beautiful can you get?   They are extremely hardy, love to swim in the middle of the tank and will really show up against the backdrop of green plants.   Keep them in schools of six or more, and you will have a very beautiful tank.

Another colorful all natural fish would be the Silvertip Tetra.   The males are more colorful, being a shiny yellow-copper color.   The females are a little paler.   They also have bright white on the tips of their fins (hence the name), and black at the base of the caudal fin.   They have an interesting trait; at night when they are resting, their color will fade and then come back when they become active again in the morning.   These fish will also lose color if they are frightened.   They love to be in a planted tank and will show up great on a dark color substrate.   These fish also like to be in shoals.

The Von Rio Tetra is another beautiful choice of fish.   They have a beautiful red color on their back when they become established in a tank.   If they are frightened, or if water conditions are not healthy, they tend to lose their color.   They love to be in groups of six or more and are very hardy.   A great choice for a community tank!

The Congo Tetra is another great colorful choice for a tropical tank.   When they are small, the color is not very good, but as they mature…wow!   These fish get greenish/blue/gold bands on their bodies, and their fins get elongated with white streaming tips.   They prefer soft water and low light.   They are hardy but tend to be shy.   They are considered to be the rarer of the tetras, but if you have these fish, hang on to them.   You will not be disappointed.

Another beautiful fish we have to mention is the Paradise Fish.   This fish has been around for a long time, almost as long as the goldfish.   Their colors of red and blue are stunning.   And, their unique shape is beautiful as well.   These fish can survive in cooler water and can be somewhat aggressive.   They are a labyrinth fish, which means they can obtain additional oxygen by breathing air from the surface of the water.

Last, but not least, we have to mention the Pearl Gourami.   A mature male is probably one of the most colorful and striking fish you could ever own.   He will have white polka dots with a black stripe going down the body.   A bright orange red color will extend from the mouth down the bottom half of the body to the tips of the anal fins.   Just gorgeous!

There are, of course, many more au natural fish.   Many love clown loaches, neon tetras, cardinal tetras and the dwarf gourami.   They all share vibrant colors and would be great additions to the appropriate tank.

We hope you will seek out some of the above fish and learn more about them.   We also look forward to learning what some of your favorites are.