The Quixotic Mystique of the Wolf Dog

Some will claim they had the most spiritual awakening since sharing their life with a wolf dog, also commonly known as a wolf hybrid. You will find an equal number of owners that will argue it was the worst mistake they ever made. Fact is, they are both right. Fact is, either way; it is an experience neither will forget.

Those that report there were mystical happenings of being in touch with one of nature's wild creatures, most likely were very lucky to either have an exceptional animal, and/or the experience and skills of effective leadership. They most likely, will tell you stories of what wonderful pets they are.

On the flip side, there are horrific stories of dangerous, unexpected, frightening experiences; some even tragic for owner and pet.

Before even considering a wolf dog, do your homework. You can never ask enough questions. Start with; are they legal in your state, county and city? Do you need a permit to own one? Check your insurance. Will you be covered, should there be a liability incident? Do you have the experience and skills to work with, and control, what could be a difficult animal? Do you have the time and energy to devote to the animal? Do you have the financial resources you may need, to live with this animal? Scrutinize the breeder. How did you hear about them? What is their history? Is breeding the wolf dog their passion or are they doing it merely for the money? How often do they have a litter for sale? What are their breeding practices? What are the conditions of their facility? What dog breeds are used? What species of wolf is used? How often do they introduce "new blood" into their breeding? Are the same pairs bred continuously? How often does the female "get a break"? Get honest, non-biased references...not only from the owners of puppies purchased from that breeder, but also from the breeder's veterinarian. Check with animal control. Are they complaints reported about the breeder or their animals?

Bottom line: A wolf dog is not for everyone. They have their own unique personalities and sometimes difficult temperaments. Take a long, hard look at the reasons why having a wolf dog is so important to you. Be honest with yourself. Just thinking you have what it takes is not enough. You have to be sure, and you have to be willing to make a 100 percent commitment to your animal. Be prepared for the worst, and wish for the best. Most importantly, be sure you are doing it for the right reasons.

Siberian Husky Puppies Make Wonderful Companions

Siberian husky puppies are a sturdy and able animals that were bred for hard work.

In fact the Working Group is how the AKC classifies them. They are affectionate but are also very self-reliant.

The Siberian husky grows to a height of 18 to 24 inches. Forty to sixty pounds is the average weight range. The female dog is much smaller. The head bears a wolf-like appearance. They have heavy fur, which evolved from living in the extreme cold conditions of Siberia and are very prone to shedding. There are two distinct components to their thick coats. Close to the skin is finer fur that traps heat almost like the down on a duck. The surface layer is heavier hair for shelter from cold weather. This outer layer is somewhat water repellent and helps to keep the skin dry.

Their bushy tail rolls up over their backs. It serves to keep their nose warm when they are curled up asleep. Siberian husky puppies can have blue, brown, or yellowish eyes. They do not always have eyes the same color. Also each individual eye is sometimes known to have two colors. For show purposes the American Kennel Club allows all these combinations.

These dogs are simply not the best choice for some people. Households with small children and other small animals are best advised not to own a Siberian husky. The dogs get along fine with older, larger kids.

Also Siberians are a poor choice for people who have never owned a dog before. They are very self-reliant because of the fact they are workers. As an owner you must be strong and determined in order to keep these dogs in line. Siberian husky puppies should be taught discipline at a very young age. A large fenced in back yard is a virtual prerequisite for ownership of this animal.

They are aggressive and tireless and love exercise. Having come from a cold climate they need to be allowed outside to give them a respite from the typical warm home in the winter. A large play area is necessary and the fencing needs to be strong and sturdy. These are intelligent dogs and will escape through the slightest weakness in your fence.

Aging individuals and people with physical disabilities should not choose to own a Siberian. They are rambunctious and playful and need lots of activity. They get along well with people who like lots of exercise.

The summer heat affects them to the extent that they may become a bit lethargic and a little less active.

The Siberian husky puppy is not a good choice for a watchdog. Oddly enough, this dog would more likely run from a burglar.

If you need a quiet dog to keep the neighbors from complaining this is not your dog. They make noises like a wolf and tend to howl.

In ideal environment would be a home on a large fenced lot with no close by neighbors.

Japanese Koi Fish

Koi fish were developed from common carp in ancient China in Jin Dynasty, and were later transferred to Korea and Japan, and are still popular there because they are a symbol of love and friendship. A variety of colors and color patterns have since been developed. Common colors include white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream. The most popular category of koi is the Gosanke, which is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties.

Koi fish make beautiful gifts if you know someone with a Koi pond. Even if they have other Japanese Koi fish the addition would be welcomed. Japanese koi fish are ranked on four factors with the first being the the body shape of the koi is the most important. This helps determine if it will grow to at least 30 inches. The second is its luster and you look for shiny luster over the entire body. The third factor is the depth of colour on the koi, which is referred to as its coat of paint. The last factor you look for is the pattern on the fish. In order to enter your koi fish in competition your koi fish must meet the criteria of patterns to enter. No two are alike which is nice they are almost like a painting each a piece of art.

Japanese koi fish are very expensive so you can imagine the care that goes into taking care of these fish. The process of the Japanese breeding is called the rearing technique. Some techniques have been improved upon in the states even to the point of improving the filtration system which has helped the fish and their health. Since these two areas vary greatly from breeder to breeder in Japan (there are many levels of filtration), the improvements with the breeders in the states are much improved in these two areas that are relative to the degree of sophistication of the particular Japanese breeder. You want to be able to trust your purchase and ensure the quality of the fish. By seeing the enhancements that the breeders have made to improve the living conditions you are more apt to receive a higher quality fish that will be with you for a long time.

Cichlid Tropical Fish - Don't Make This Mistake

Keeping cichlid tropical fish can be very enjoyable, but sometimes frustrating. More and more novice aquarists are taking on the task of learning how to keep African or American cichlids, but most are just unsure of how to take care of these very unique and beautiful aquarium fish.

Cichlid Care Mistakes

So what are some of the common mistakes that a lot of novice cichlid tropical fish keepers make? One of the most common mistakes that cichlid fish keepers make is the mixing of African and American cichlids. Pet stores make this mistake too! It breaks my heart to see these poor cichlids in pet stores that are improperly kept. Both the Africans and American varieties kept together are miserable and literally barely surviving. Their water requirements are very different and they just are not naturally supposed to be living together.

What is another mistake that a lot of cichlid tropical fish keepers make?

This is one of the most common mistakes that even the most seasoned aquarist makes. Not making regular water changes in their aquariums. No matter what species of tropical fish that you keep, regular water changes are literally the life-blood of all aquarium fish. The truth is, novice aquarists just don't know how to take care of their tropical fish much less make them thrive and even begin to breed. PH and salinity requirements are also very important. Take cichlid fish for example. African cichlids and American cichlids have very different water salinity requirements.

Goldfish Breeding Tips and Information

The Chinese have been breeding goldfish for one thousand years. Learning how to breed goldfish is easy, doing it is a lot harder than it looks. Doing it right the first time could make you and expert goldfish breeder.

First of all, for goldfish to breed, they need to be at least one year old. The best age for breeding goldfish is at 2 years or, how many goldfish breeding experts say, 3 years for better results. Breeding season runs from April to August, when it is warmer outside. Temperature is a very important factor that stimulates breeding.

You really have to be ready in breeding season. If you are not, you might get up in the morning and see your aquarium filled with hundreds of eggs laid by the female goldfish. If you do not move the eggs into another tank, at least 10 gallon, your goldfish will eat the eggs.

How can you tell the difference between male and female

The easiest way to distinguish goldfish sex types is in breeding season. If your look carefully, you will notice the following differences between the goldfish:

- males: have breeding tubercles(while color) on their gills and pectoral fins. When they are ready to spawn, the vent becomes much longer than usual.
- females: if you look from the top, you will notice they are more rounded(ovaries filled with mature eggs). When they are ready to spawn the vent become protruded.

Signs your goldfish are breeding

The male per female ratio is at least 2 to 1. The males will become aggressive and "chase" the female. When you notice them bumping into each others bellies, that means the male is encouraging the female to lay the eggs so that he car release the milt. But be very careful. If the males chase the female for more than one week or so, the female will become stressed and get hurt. So it is best to remove the female when you see this happening.

Females will start to lay up to 1000 eggs, from which few will hatch and become adults.

How to breed goldfish

These are a few steps you need to follow when breeding goldfish:

- increase the temperature with a heater (70 degrees F). Make it so that it is warmer in the day and colder in the night
- feed the goldfish rich protein food like blood worms or brine shrimp
- do a 25% water change every day
- sex the males and females
- separate the males from females for a few days in different tanks so that you create the desire to breed
- reintroduce the goldfish in the same tank as before

To collect the eggs and have no problems when moving them to a separate tank, you should create a spawning mop. Also make shore you have an internal filter because the external ones may suck up the eggs. With these in mind, you should have no problem when it comes to "how to breed goldfish". Good luck!