Snakeheads have some pretty terrible nicknames such as Frankenfish. They have gotten a lot of media attention lately since they found a breeding population in a pond in Maryland. They have since been found living in other waters in southern USA but are still not to be considered established in any area. This is largely due to massive government work to keep them from establishing themselves.

The fear for snakeheads has its basis in the fact that they are ferocious predators that can swallow fish of half their own size. This has meant that many now fear that Snakeheads could do massive damage to the eco systems if the where ever to establish themselves in the US. A result of this fear is the ban to import snakeheads that was imposed 2003. This has however not stopped live snakeheads from being available in Asian food markets and the aquarium trade.

They are originally found in Africa and South East Asia where they are appreciated food sources. Snakeheads vary in size from very small to very large. The largest species can reach over one yard (almost one meter) in length. Snakeheads differ from many other fishes due to the fact that they breathe air by using something called a labyrinth which enables them to consume oxygen from the atmosphere. This means that they can live for long periods on land as long as they can stay moist. They use this ability to walk to new areas to live and feed in. Snakeheads drown if they can’t access the surface to get air.

They are popular aquarium fishes and many aquarists are opposing the decision to ban snakeheads and believe that snakehead import for the aquarium trade should be allowed. They believe that import at the very least should be permitted in colder states where snakeheads can’t survive in the wild. They have a point in this believe since snakeheads re unable to survive in most areas in the USA due to the fact that they need warm water to survive. Allowing snakehead import in some states will however make it harder to enforce the ban in the states where they could survive which could serve to justify the nation wide ban.

There is no doubt that the Snakeheads has triggered fear, myths and controversy in the USA

Read more about the group of fish called

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Tags: aquarium, frankenfish, snake, snakeheads

There are Dreamtime stories of frightful monsters, some mythological and some which may be real creatures. Some of them are evocative of prehistoric animals, which supposedly became extinct long ago. It’s been speculated that some of these animals may have still been living in Australia a mere two hundred years ago. Perhaps they are still to be found.

The Bunyip first came to the notice of Europeans as they started moving into areas formerly occupied by Australian Aborigines. The whole continent seemed a harsh and unfriendly place to the white settlers. The sun glared on eyes used to softer, wetter climes, the colours were too bright and the native animals grotesque.

Indeed the fauna was so peculiar that the notion of a savage beast lurking underwater in wait to seize the unwary seemed perfectly reasonable. After all, Europe had plenty of phookas, nixies, dixies, kelpies, selkies, merrow, mermaids and all manner of marine boggarts, why shouldn’t there be one in the Great Southern Land?

Unfamiliar with the country, the settlers regarded the Bunyip as just one more bizarre Australian animal. Indigenous legend told of him, that he was to be found in and around water, just below the surface, waiting for an unsuspecting traveller to seize and devour.

There were many attempts to capture a specimen throughout the 19th century. Sightings of a strange water creature were common near waterholes and estuaries but, although many claimed to see the creature, it was always from too far away, and it moved too fast, to accurately describe.

Also, encounters with the Bunyip were commonly at dusk, when the shadows deepened under the mangroves.

So the descriptions vary widely. Some say the Bunyip has a long neck, tusks and flippers. Or that he is scaley, with a tail like a horse and a head likea bird. One day he appears as a huge snake with a beard and a mane and the next day he looks like a brutish and furry half-human.

If you do come across the Bunyip, it will be near water. And most commonly at night. Creeks, lagoons, billabongs and rivers are his habitat and he will emerge from the dried up river bed or waterhole when you least expect him. He especially loves the wetlands around estuaries.

If you hear a loud bellowing cry, stay away from the water.

Is the Bunyip a prehistoric survivor? The Diprotodon was an Ice-Age marsupial that co-existed with the early Aborigines before becoming extinct. Is this what is still remembered? Or perhaps there’s a Lost World full of dinosaurs somewhere in the Outback, a lot of dreamers have thought so.

There were many sightings of the Bunyip in the 1930s with reports of beasts emerging from caves by creeks at night and pouncing on sheep. But this was the time of the Great Depression. Plenty of tramps had humped their bluey and taken to the road, for going bush, waltzing matilda, was the only viable option for many men in those hard times. The logical place to strike camp for the night is near water, and a sheep is an easier animal to catch and cook than a possum when you’re hungry.

Tramps by the riverbanks and Dipotrodons in the bushes are pretty rare these days, but one Australian creature you don’t want to bump into is the saltwater crocodile!

Susanna Duffy is a mythologist and life-long collector of ancient tales and forgotten lore. She presents a weekly radio programme in Australia and a fortnightly ezine with customs and celebrations, folklore and fable, tall tales and true from our legendary past.

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Tags: monster, snake

“You’ve created your own monster, you know”, my mother said ominously. My Rex cat, Houdini, had just burrowed his way inside my sweater for the third time that morning, letting out a squeal of indignation when I tried to resist.

Houdini has separation anxiety. But in his tiny little mind, separation means I’ve been out of his site for at least two minutes. Or I’ve closed the bathroom door and left him on the other side. Or he hasn’t had his ears scratched or his belly rubbed in eons (about ten minutes.) Houdini follows me everywhere, like the most faithful of hounds, and craves my undivided attention almost as much as his next meal.

If all of this seems annoying, it’s not nearly as bad as when the little fellow plunks himself down in front of me and literally tears chunks of his own hair out because I’m not paying attention to him. With Houdini, it’s always been easier just to give in.

My husband takes all of this in stride. My mother, who (fortunately for Houdini) only visits now and then, thinks it’s the height of absurdity.

Growing up under Mom’s roof, I learned that dogs and children should obey, and cats just mind their own business. I adopted my mother’s dog training philosophies successfully. Cleo (a fine-looking mastiff and our now-famous website mascot), is a perfect lady. She’s a wonderful dog with the gift of self composure and not one to question authority. Cleo would never stoop to the kind of antics that are Houdini’s specialty. Besides, she’s too big to crawl inside my sweater.

So why does this particular pet behave like a spoiled child? Why do I give in to him? Is it because I forgot to have children? Mom swears that those little squealing sounds he makes don’t come from a cat. “He’s manipulating you”, she tells me. “He’s learned how to sound like a baby”.

Maybe I’ve got what I like to call “lap dog syndrome”. I’m referring how we treat smaller pets who are easily cuddled and coddled, are highly portable, and who look adorable wearing funny little outfits. Some might call it “empty nest syndrome”.

Consider my Grandmother Rosie and her Toy Poodle, Cocoa.

Cocoa arrived long after Rosie’s children had grown up and left home. Rosie knitted lots of little sweaters and hats for Cocoa to keep him warm and stylish. She kept a mixture of Coke Syrup and Pepto Bismol on hand to settle Cocoa’s nervous stomach. And dog food could never pass his lips, so Grandma cooked fresh chicken for Cocoa every night before sitting down to her own dinner.

We had to spell out “c-o-o-k-i-e” and “P-e-p-t-o B-i-s-m-o-l” around the dog so he wouldn’t get over-excited. And Grandpa Henry was obsessed with keeping Cocoa clean. This was one poodle who never had tear stains under his eyes, and whose little “tushy” was spotless.

Bear in mind that we’re talking about the late 60’s, when treating pets like children wasn’t really “mainstream”.

Today, it’s commonplace. The pet industry is huge, and much of it caters to our desire to spoil our “children”. So these days it’s easier than ever to create your own monster. Besides bending to your dog’s every whim, you can shower her with gourmet treats, dress her to the nines, and offer her a standard of living well above what many of the world’s humans aspire to.

Today, Grandma wouldn’t have to knit any sweaters herself, and there would be plenty of remedies made expressly for Cocoa’s nervous tummy. Grandma wouldn’t board her baby when traveling. Instead, she’d hire a professional pet sitter, or take Cocoa with her to a pet friendly hotel. The hotel might even have a dog gift shop, with lots of squeaky toys and delicious “c-o-o-k-i-e-s”. And Cocoa would go everywhere with Grandma in his own little dog-sized carrying case, probably made from fine imported leather or snakeskin.

I wonder how many owners of large breeds behave this way? Are there other syndromes out there, like “macho dog syndrome” (a guy thing, no doubt)?

The truth is, all pets start out small and cuddly. No one is completely safe from creating their own monster, large or small. So thank goodness there are enough great resources available for anyone to become a virtual dog training expert. (Or cat, or parrot, or horse…)

I’ve learned my lesson with Houdini: It’s much easier to teach your pet the rules from the start. Puppy training is easier than dog training. And un-creating a monster is a heck of a lot tougher than creating one!

But I’m weak. For now, it’s easier just to give in. And besides, it time to rub Houdini’s belly…

© 2005, Carolyn Schweitzer. Lifelong dog-lover, power-shopper, and former family dentist Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of great-dog-gift.com great-dog-gift.com View the html version of this article (with cute photos) at great-dog-gift.com/dog_training_1.html great-dog-gift.com/dog_training_1.html The site offers a wide range of choices for dog gift shoppers, plus shopping and gift-giving tips. She’s always looking for new dog gift ideas and dog stories to share with her readers in her free monthly e-zine, “Cold Noses News”. You can reach her by email at mailto:netbrainer@verizon.net netbrainer@verizon.net

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Tags: dog food, dog training, monster, puppy training, snake

A geriatric or senior horse is typically one that is twenty years old or older. They often begin needing specialized care around this part of their life, because things simply begin to wear out. Just like humans, things start to not work as well as they once did. Their eyes, teeth, joints, liver, gut and kidneys all begin to lose their functionality. These are the areas of the older horse that you must begin to pay more attention to.

Older horses may have a hard time breathing; they may also have a hard time walking if they are becoming arthritic. Not being able to walk as well means that it is harder to walk to the pasture and back to the barn to get a drink and then back out to the pasture. If your gut is wearing out, it becomes harder to absorb all of the nutrients that your body requires. This is where owners need to step in and make life a little easier.

You will first want to have your vet check your horse’s liver and kidney function. They will do some blood work on your horse and check to see if there are any diseases or if they are malfunctioning. If there are any problems, your veterinarian will set you up with medication and a new diet for your horse. Your vet will then check your horse’s teeth. They will file down any sharp edges and look to see if they are missing any. You should have their teeth checked at least once a year.

From there you will want to move on to your horse’s digestive tract. As your horse gets older, he will have less efficiency in his digestive system and may require supplements to make up for any nutrients that he is not able to absorb properly. Generally, switching your horse to a senior diet will help him immensely as the nutrients are easier for the horse to digest. Senior feeds also have higher amounts of nutrients as well so that your horse has ample time to digest them. The key is finding one that your horse likes and then sticking with it. You will also want to evaluate the hay that your horse is eating. The best forage for your horse is grass as it is seventy percent water and hay is ninety percent dry matter. Most horse owners rely on hay for their horse’s forage, but you may need to get better and higher-quality hay for your senior horse. Hay cubes and beet pulp are excellent sources of fiber and may be soaked in water for senior horses with teeth problems.

The horse should be on a regular deworming schedule for his whole life. This will prevent any parasite problems in the long run. You will want to be sure that your program that you used while the horse was a youngster is still efficient for him as a senior.

Most senior horses will begin losing weight, as they are unable to chew as well. By adjusting their diet, you should be able to help them begin gaining weight. Senior horses are, however, prone to choke. Choke is an esophagus impaction due to not chewing their feed and hay all of the way. For these horses, you will want to find ways to make them eat slower. Placing rocks in their feed trough will help to slow them down. You also never want to feed pellets to a horse that has a history of choke without adding water to them. So, some horses may require senior horse soup. You don’t want your horse to gain too much weight, as their bones are becoming more brittle and they cannot withstand the extra weight.

Colic is another common problem in senior horses. Many horses will colic due to being unable to chew their food all of the way or if they don’t drink enough water. Some senior horses will not make the necessary trips to the water trough if they have to walk all the way across a large pasture. You may consider placing other sources of water in the pasture to aid your senior horse and insure that he doesn’t colic due to dehydration.

Proper trimming is also an absolute must for the senior horse. Their bodies are getting old and you don’t want them tripping over their long feet. You will also want to ensure that the younger horses in the pasture are allowing the senior horses to eat and drink. Many young horses will push them to the side at the feed trough or not allow them to stand under the shade tree. Vaccinations must also be followed on a regular basis to keep them from developing any other unnecessary stresses on their old bodies.

By following these simple guidelines, you will be able to have a happy senior horse that is still a little spry and ready for his occasional carrot.

Ron Petracek is the current article director for a rapidly growing equine social network community.
He was raised in Southern Idaho with a beautiful jet black morgan as his adventure companion, and the Snake River within a easy ride.
Horses and the outdoors are a solid part of his life.
For more great information and equine classfieds. Horses for sale,Horse trailer and tack please visit. theequineyard.com/network.php theequineyard.com/network.php

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Tags: snake

Many people who watch snake charmers play music to their cobras often marvel at the way the snakes seem to respond to the music. But research shows that snakes cannot hear high-pitched sounds. If a cobra is blindfolded, you can play music for hours and the snake will sit still. If you remove the blindfold and wave your arms, the snake will raise its head and spread its hood. Therefore, the cobra does not respond to the music, but to the movements of the snake charmer.

To find out how animals communicate, we must observe them carefully; we must carefully monitor the signals passed from one animal to another, as well as study their responses. Scientists and biologists have studied the ways in which animals communicate by observing animals in their natural environments, as well as in zoos, aquariums and laboratories. They have also had to travel to jungles or mountaintops to follow and document the movements and responses of the animals they observe. Other electronic instruments can turn these sounds into pictures on paper, called sound spectrograms, which can be more accurately examined and compared. Scientists also need to bring binoculars, cameras, recorders and other hardware to keep track of all the howls, cries, songs, grunts and barks of the animal world. As you can see, human hearing plays a very little part in the study of animal communication.

Observations and experiments have shown that all animals have a certain “language”. It is not a language like ours, for animals do not communicate with words or sentences. But they do have many signals– they employ body movement and a number of sounds to produce a response in another animal perceiving it. The signals play an important part in the social life of these animals. Most of these signals have to do with parent-young relationships, food hunting, avoiding enemies, meeting of the sexes and keeping in touch with other members of a group.

Vocal signals are constantly exchanged between many mother animals and their young. The hen calls for her chicks with different signals that can mean either food, sleep, or an emergency. Young chicks are also able to give distress calls that alert their mothers. This call is also important when the young birds leave the nest. It makes it possible for their parents to find them if they are accidentally hidden from sight and get lost. There is also a constant calling back and forth between baby and mother among deer, cows, sheep and goats.

Calls of alarm or distress, as well as a special kind of movement associated with it, are common in the animal kingdom. Many birds avoid enemies this way. Gulls are often pests on the landing strips of airfields, so playing fake alarm calls is a way of getting rid of them. Many kinds of deer have hisses or barks that warn the herd of danger. Alarm calls by baby monkeys and apes immediately bring their parents to their side. Warning calls by prairie dogs are signals for these animals to dash into their holes.

Animals also use their voices to produce food calls. The call brings many of the same species and from all directions, like what seagulls do when they spot a huge school of fish. Animal that hunt other animals have special hunting cries. The gray wolf calls the pack with a long smooth howl when it finds food. While the hunt is on, short rapid barks keep them together. When the prey is being pulled down, the wolves howl and snarl like a bunch of dogs.

All animals have ways of attracting members of the opposite sex with they are ready to mate. Sometimes males make thumping sounds and turn into different colors so they can provide a sound and a sight signal to the females. Some female snakes attract males by their movements and their odor. Odor is also a powerful signal used by voiceless mammals. Often there are special glands in their skin that give off powerful scents. These are then deposited on trees or rocks for prospective mates to follow.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to animals-guide.com/ Animals

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Tags: aquarium, snake