Before buying Koi, you must create a proper habitat for them. They can be kept in anything from small containers to large outdoor ponds. The traditional indoor aquarium is less desirable than an outdoor tub or pond. Koi are cold water fish, so it’s important to have a meter or more of depth in areas of the world that become warm during the summer. In areas that get cold winters, it is useful to have a pond that is a minimum of 1.5 meters deep so that it won’t freeze. The bigger pond is the better.

The pond should include a pump and filtration system to keep the water clear. There are 2 types of filtration: mechanical and biological. Mechanical filtration clears the pond of dead algae, insects, and Koi wastes. Biological filtration make a nitrogen cycle, which is wastes from your pond. Without biological filtration, the waste will turn into ammonia and kill your Koi within just a few days. To keep your Koi alive, you must have the proper water quality.

Koi are bottom-feeders and like the medium sized pellets. They can even be trained to take the food from the feeding person’s hand. It is important the variety, fresh and quality food for them. You can give them occasional fruits and greens also.

You need to protect them from the predators, such as cats, foxes, herons, kingfishers, raccoons and badgers.

Koi reproduce through spawning in which a female lays a vast number of eggs and males fertilize them. Spawning usually takes place 1, 2, 3 days. The temperature needs to be around 18 degree. Remove eggs as soon as they are laid to prevent parents eating them. Once the fry have hatched, after about 4-5 days, you will need to move them to the growing on ponds. The
Japanese breeders start culling generally at 4 weeks. As the fish get larger, cull out any with deformities, missing fins, two heads etc. Ideally you should cull several times in the season. The fry need live and natural food, for example: daphnia or infusoria. You do not give them dry or artificial food because of the ammonia, which can kill the fry.

To your success.

You can find some additional information on Koi Fish at koifish.mybebo.net koi fish site.

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Easily recognized by its unique blueish coat, the Bluetick Coonhound is a member of the hound group of dogs. Thought to be descended from French Bleu Gascogne Hounds (hence the blueish color) and English foxhounds, Bluetick Coonhounds were originally registered as English Foxhounds. Breeders broke from this when they chose not to follow the breed standard of a hot nosed dog and chose to continue breeding Bluetick Coonhounds as cold nosed creating a distinct breed.

Prone to slobbering Bluetick Coonhounds have a tri-colored coat that has blue specks in it (which are actually black hairs) and brown spots. The coat requires minimal maintenance. The occasional brushing is all that is necessary. Their eyes are brown and they have excellent eyesight, allowing them to see well at night. Bluetick Coonhounds generally live about 11 to 12 years and reach an average height of 20 to 27 inches and average weight of 45-80 pounds. Described as intelligent and social, Bluetick Coonhounds are fiercely loyal to their families and are good with children but should be watched carefully as some can be a bit aggressive. Bluetick Coonhounds make excellent watchdogs.

They will bark loudly and almost uncontrollably when a stranger approaches their territory with their distinctive medium-toned bark, sometimes described as a bugle and sometimes described as loud by nearby neighbors. The bark of an individual Coonhound is easily recognized by its owners. For this, and other reasons, they are not recommended for apartment dwellers. Bluetick Coonhounds are hunters by nature and are not good with other household pets.

Though fairly easy to train, when outside, Bluetick Coonhounds should always be kept on a leash, as their hunting instinct will take over, should an interesting scent come their way, and are prone to running off. They will tree small animals, particularly raccoons, if allowed to run free (and there are competitions to test this ability). Bluetick Coonhounds need plenty of exercise. It is best to have a large, fenced in area where they can roam about freely as they tend to get bored easily and need many activities to stop them from becoming destructive.

Bluetick Coonhounds do not have any unusual or breed specific health concerns, though inactivity can lead to obesity, and their ears should be checked frequently to ensure they are infection free.

There is a website that has great information on Bluetick Coonhounds and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25 years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970’s-80’s.

Stop The Fleas

stopthefleas.com stopthefleas.com

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Canine distemper is a very life-threatening disease, which is triggered by a highly contagious virus that attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory and the nervous systems of dogs. Canine distemper disease can also affect other wild members of the canine family, such as coyotes, raccoons, foxes as well as wolves. Younger dogs are more susceptible to becoming infected although; older dogs can become infected as well, however without as much regularity.

Once a dog develops the disease, more than fifty percent of them die from canine distemper, with and even lower survival rate in puppies by twenty percent. Therefore if a dog is able to survive canine distemper, it is highly likely that is general health is damaged permanently.

Some cases of canine distemper can leave the animal impaired by its nervous system with no real hope of recovering totally. It is common to find either complete or partial paralysis, as well as negative effects on the dog’s perception of sight as well as in its sense of hearing and smelling. Once infected the animal is more susceptible to other diseases, like pneumonia. However, CDV or the canine distemper virus is not contagious to humans.

Contact with mucous or discharges from the infected animal, such as run off from the eyes and nose can transmit the canine distemper virus. As well as the exposure to an infected animal feces and urine can also produce the canine distemper virus.

It is possible for a healthy dog to contract the canine distemper virus when exposed to any areas that have hosted an infected animal, such as kennels and even your back yard. Since the canine distemper virus is an airborne virus, it is able to stay alive outside of its host animal for long periods of time.

There are some scientists who predict that every living dog of twelve months in age has had contact with the canine distemper virus at some point in its life, therefore it is nearly impossible to prevent your pet from becoming exposed to the virus.

The canine distemper virus and its symptoms are not so easily recognized. Since this is so, it is rare for immediate treatment to be given to the infected animal. Often the canine distemper virus is confused with other ailments such as a bad cold since the majority of infected dogs show signs of a stuffy head and run high fevers. Other internal problems can develop, such as severed inflammation of the stomach as well as bronchitis and pneumonia.

One of the symptoms you should be aware of when looking for signs of the canine distemper virus is a discharge from the eyes as well as squinting. Especially if this occurs along with sudden weight loss and diarrhea as well as vomiting, nasal drips and coughing, as these are sure signs that there is good reason to be concerned for your dog’s health.

In the more advanced stages of the disease, the nervous system will give signs such as complete or partial paralysis or even strange twitching or nervous ticks. Generally, dogs that have become infected will show signs of having no energy and become limp, with little to no appetite. Some cases of the canine distemper virus can cause a surge in the dog’s keratin cells, which will result in the dog’s footpads becoming hardened by its sudden growth.

Methods of Preventing CDV

Since canine distemper has varies signs and is far spread it is best to visit your veterinarian as soon as possible for a diagnosis if your pet does display any of the signs mentioned above.

Comparable to many diseases, which are viral, surviving an infection will generally cause the development of an ample immunity; this is required for the protection of the animal from the infection of distemper, lasting the remainder of their lives for a dog. On the other hand, there are many dogs who do not survive the infection, especially puppies.

The surest and safest manner of protection is still with a vaccination. Until there are scientific developments in distemper vaccine, which can give a life long, immunity with a single series of inoculations with a guarantee, vets will recommend that your dog be vaccinated yearly for distemper.

Puppies that are born to a mother dog who has survived the disease will pass on certain immunities to their litter when the first milk produced is fed to the puppies during their first few days of life. The amount of antibodies a mother has will differ, in the amount of immunity a puppy can receive from her. Even so, it will never be complete immunity and it will diminish quickly over time, by approximately half in eight days and then again by nearly three-fourths in two weeks time.

Since the proper time for vaccination will vary from one animal to another, it is not possible for a pet owner to know exactly when it is time for their pet to be vaccinated. A veterinarian can best determine when is the proper time to begin your animal’s vaccination by basing their decision on the dog general health and his own experience as a vet.

It is imperative to closely observe any hints of ill health as well as regular care to maintain and assure a general good condition and health, for your animal. If your pet shows any of the signs below, experts encourage you to consult with your veterinarian immediately:

1. Foul breath

2. Abnormal limping

3. Loss of appetite

4. Excessive water consumption

5. Abnormal viciousness or lethargy

6. Excessive tarter deposits on teeth

7. Abnormal eye and or nose discharge

8. Fluctuating weight losses and gains

9. Difficulty getting up or lying down

10. Abnormal and uncontrolled stool production

11. Loss of hair, open sores, ragged or dull coat

12. Constant head shaking, scratching, licking or biting of body

The canine distemper virus infection may not always be the case when concerned with these symptoms in your pet; however, it is better still to consult an expert with these concerns so that the problem may be attended to as soon as possible.

By using good sense, taking the proper actions to any symptoms you find and staying in constant contact with your veterinarian, you will be able to give your pet the most favorable result in overcoming this serious disease.

proudpup.com” >ProudPup.com - Great deals on new and used dog supplies and accessories, training equipment, books, doggie health tips and more! Did you know that dogs have a genetic lifespan of 27 years? Find out how you can help your dog live well into it’s teens or 20’s. Download your copy of the Long Life Dog book by clicking this link: proudpup.com” >Proud Pup - Dog Supplies Cheap

Copyright 2007 – Ken Mathie. Editor PMCezine…
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

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Tags: healthy dog, raccoons

Two types of dog ticks are commonly found in the United States. These are the American dog tick and the brown dog tick. Their scientific names are Dermacentor variabilis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, respectively. The brown dog tick does not pose a threat to humans, as it rarely feeds on them.

American dog ticks are reddish-brown. The female has a silver spot, while the male has silver lines on the body. They are found in grasslands and woods. Larvae and nymphs feed on mice, squirrels, and other small animals, while adults feed on cattle, deer, raccoons, dogs, and humans. Adults are active between April and June. These ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia to humans.

Brown dog ticks are unique in the sense that they can live and grow indoors. They are found in kennels or in homes where dogs stay and can cause canine babesiosis, canine ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. These ticks are also reddish-brown and their preferred host is a dog. To prevent brown dog tick bites, it is necessary to treat the dog, kennel, and home with tick-killing pesticide. Outdoor pesticide treatment is also crucial.

Dog ticks must be removed immediately if found attached to a host. Tweezers or commercial tick removal aids should be used for this purpose. Gloves must be worn during tick removal. Ticks should never be touched with bare hands because they can transmit infections. The correct method is to slowly pull the tick out from the point of attachment, ensuring that its mouth is not embedded in the skin of the host. The tick should not be crushed in the process. After removal, the bitten area and the tool used to remove the tick should be cleaned with antiseptic. Vaseline, alcohol, nail-polish, or glowing match should not be used for removing ticks.

To conclude, dog tick bites need to be prevented at all costs as they have the potential to infect people and animals with serious diseases. People living in tick-infested areas need to examine themselves and their pets regularly to rule out ticks.

e-ticks.com Ticks provides detailed information on Ticks, Tick Bites, Deer Ticks, Dog Ticks and more. Ticks is affiliated with e-Mosquitos.com Mosquito Magnets.

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Are you thinking of building a koi fish pond? Keeping these magnificent fish in your garden can be great fun and it is not as difficult as you might think. With the right care koi can live for decades and some can become almost a meter long. Follow these tips to plan your pond properly so your koi will live long and happy life.

1 Depth is important

Depth of your pond is crucial. The minimum recommended depth is 4 feet, however it is much better to give your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your koi are protected from raccoons, cats and other animals who love a fish dinner. Deeper fish pond also helps to keep water cool in hot summer days

2 Make your pond as large as you can

Small ponds are not suitable for koi. Remember, with time koi can grow quite large and they will need a lot of room. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that with time you will probably want to add more fish to your pond. So it is better to create a large pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is a good size for a koi pond, bigger would be even better.

3 Use fish pond heater in colder months

Unlike tropical fish, koi don’t suffer much from cold; however you should never let your pond freeze completely. Installing a proper pond heater will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that koi only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster

4 Plan some shade for your koi

When selecting a spot for your pond, make sure it is out of direct sunlight. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond are a good idea - not only they add beauty to the overall design, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond under trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is no fun.

5 Plan to install a bird net

There are many birds of prey that would love to steal your koi. Don’t give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to cover it with a net.

6 Keep insecticides away from your pond

When landscaping your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides near the water. Even a small amount of common garden poison can kill your beautiful fish.

7 Get proper equipment for your pond

Several accessories are absolutely essential for a healthy koi pond. Ideally you will have to invest into a water pump, filtration system, water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is still, your fish might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filtration systems are expensive, so as an alternative you can make your own homemade filters.

There is much more to

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