Shout About Pets

What kind of an idiot needs to have food rationed? Surely we’ve all evolved to look after ourselves to at least that degree?

Well, no. Take a look at Americans. Clearly even humanity hasn’t quite got a handle on how much food is needed for survival. What chance have goldfish got?

Goldfish need to be fed very carefully or they can develop all sorts of problems. They can get fin rot or a fatty liver and too much food can have an effect on the quality of the water as well, which can lead to all sorts of other problems.

As a rule of thumb, only feed the fish as much as they can eat in four or five minutes. Anything not eaten after this time probably won’t be eaten.

Koi are a domesticated type of carp. Although their name derives from the Japanese word for carp, in this country ‘koi’ typically refers to colourful, ornamental fish of the carp family.

Carp are increasingly popular and are adaptable enough to be able to thrive in outdoor British conditions. If you’re interested in getting some koi of your own, it’s a good idea to construct your own pond.

Koi require a certain depth of water, so that they can avoid summer heat. It is also best to provide some shade over the pond for the same reason. This depth also protects them from extreme cold in winter as koi don’t really react well to temperatures below 10 degrees. The suggested depth for a koi pond is at least one metre and preferably a metre and a half.

Having planned what space you can afford and having dug the hole to a sufficient depth, you will need to put in some pond liner. Pond liner is used to ensure that water is retained in ponds and manmade water features. You can get preformed pond liner or a flexible sort that is more adaptable.

Having done this, you can plan and decorate the pond as you see fit, with whatever water features and filtration devices you deem necessary, before introducing your koi.

When you get your first fish tank you need to think carefully about where you are going to put it.  Fish are timid creatures and can easily get stressed and therefore ill.  Most fish illnesses are brought on by stress which is due to their environment.

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When choosing a coldwater fish you’d be surprised at the amount of varieties that are available to choose from.  Even the humble goldfish comes in many variations.  Take advice from the pet shop owner on the best mix of fish as some species are just not compatible together in the confines of a fish tank.

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When choosing any pet you need to carefully consider whether it will fit in with your life and family.  This is no different when choosing a fish. Fish are generally one of the easiest pets to care for as they don’t require training or visits to the vets however here are some things you should still consider:

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