Exotic Freshwater Fish

You can have a fish tank of some exotic fish even in your home. However, there are many factors you will need to consider while setting up a tank. If you are maintaining a tank with the same freshwater exotic fish species, then taking care of them will be easier. However, when keeping a variety of fishes, make sure these exotic pets are compatible with each other, and don't become aggressive and try to kill each other.

Top 10 Exotic Freshwater Fish

Given below is a list of ten most attractive and freshwater exotic fishes, which can be maintained in an aquarium.

Dwarf Gourami: All gourami are great addition to a community fish tank, are quite easy to take care of. There are two varieties of this fish, the blue and the flame red. These are not picky eaters, and you can feed them fish food and as a treat frozen blood worms once in a while.

Neontetra: These are one of the most attractive looking fish for aquariums. They are commonly known as neon fish, and have a bright-colored horizontal streak in the middle of the body, with red color near the tails. They are peaceful fish, and are best maintained in school of 6 or more.

Angelfish: These are pretty common pet fish, and come in total black, silver or streaked or marbled patterns. They are peaceful, and easy to care for fish. Angelfish are pretty cheap, and perfect for beginner fish owners.

Rainbow: This fish is called the rainbow fish because of its interesting array of colors, as it reflects the colors around it. These are hardy fish, and should be maintained with 6 or more number of the same fish species.

Jewel Cichlid: This is another beautiful freshwater exotic fish, which is quite easy to take care of. When cichlid care is properly maintained, their colors can look great. These fish are orangish in color, with purple fin tips, and white spots all over the body.

Tinfoil Barb: Another good fish for beginners, this fish is sold in pet stores and is very easy to take care of. These fish like to jump out of tanks which don't have any hoods. These freshwater fish are silver in color, and around 13 inches in size.

Oscar: The oscar fish might not be very shiny, but are perfect for novice fish owners, as it is very easy to take care of, and does well in basic aquarium conditions. They are around 13 inches in size, and color varieties like albino, brown, dark gray and olive-green can be seen.

Glassfish: Indian glassfish is a rare exotic fish for aquarium, due to two reasons. The fist reason being it is very attractive, as it is transparent and you can see the bone structure inside it. The second reason for it being a rare aquarium fish is that they are difficult to maintain, and hence not recommended for beginners.

Pearl Gourami: These are another attractive gouramis aquarium fish with their orange bodies, bluish fins and spotted body pattern. These are easy to take care of fish. They are peaceful in nature, and are around 5 inches in size.

Killifish: This is one of the most attractive freshwater fish, and its coloration can vary from pink, silver, maroon, white, red to orange. These are around 2 inches in size, and quite easy to take care of.

The above list has general information about some of the most beautiful exotic fish which live in freshwater. Make sure you study the individual fish characteristics and care factors well, and then set up a community tank. Another important check you need to do, is to see that the fish are legally allowed as pets. So, select these as pets wisely, and enjoy a stunning looking community tank!

Interesting Horse Facts

Did You Know..?

Hyracotherium was one of the first horses that lived about 50 million years ago. It had 4-toed front feet and 3-toed hind feet, and resembled a fox more than the horse of today.The prehistoric horse, Hyracotherium, went through innumerable transformations over millions of years to become the modern one-toed horse.

In the beginning, horses were wild animals. Around 3500 B.C., things changed and people began taming horses and using them to carry things, instead of only hunting them for meat.

By 3000 B.C., this majestic beast was completely tamed and domesticated, and now only 1 wild subspecies of horse exists, which too, has been declared "rare".

Here are some more interesting facts about these beautiful creatures...

Interesting Facts About Horses

♞ First off, let's see the terminology associated with the horse:

• Foal - Male or female horse less than 1 year old.
• Yearling - Male or female horse between 1 and 2 years old.
• Colt & Filly - Colt is a male horse between 2 and 4 years old, while a filly is a female horse between 2 and 4 years old.
• Mare - A female horse older than 4 years.
• Gelding & Stallion - Gelding is a castrated male horse older than 4 years, while a stallion is a non-castrated male horse older than 4 years.

♞ A horse is a member of the "equus" family. This word originates from the Greek dialect, and means 'quickness'. Equus caballus, is a term given to modern-day horses.

♞ Foals have milk teeth, just like human babies. At around age 3, these start getting replaced by permanent teeth. A horse's teeth can give a good estimate of its age!

♞ A horse's head weighs 11.84 pounds on an average, while its heart can weigh an amazing 10 pounds.

♞ A little about their head markings:

• A narrow white mark, which runs down the face from the forehead, is called a Stripe.
• A white mark, which covers one or both the lips and proceeds up to the nostrils, is called a White Muzzle.
• A broad splash of white that covers most parts of the forehead between the eyes and carries, right down the nose to the muzzle is called a Blaze.
• Any kind of mark, which appears on the forehead of a horse, is called a Star, irrespective of whether it resembles one.

♞ A horse has 4 gaits:

• Walk (2 beats) - The average walking speed of a horse is 4 - 5 miles per hour.
• Trot/Jog (2 beats) - 8 - 12 miles per hour is the average speed at which a horse trots.
• Lope/Canter (3 beats) - A horse can canter at an average of 12 - 16 miles per hour.
• Gallop - Horses can gallop at 26 - 32 miles per hour.

Besides this, some horses have a varied gait referred to as ambling.

♞ The height of a horse is measured using the unit, "hand", where one hand equals four inches. So if a horse measures 16 hands, it is 16x4 which is 64 inches tall.

♞ Some people have a fear of horses. It is called Equinophobia.

♞ There are more than 350 breeds of horses in the world!

♞ A horse's mood usually mirrors the emotions of its owner. If you are in a bad mood, your horse may act out, but if you are in a good mood your horse will be well-behaved and easy to work with.

♞ A fully grown 1000 lb horse will eat anywhere between 16 - 26 lb of food, and drink 10 - 12 gal of water!

♞ If you hold your hand out to a horse and it approaches you, while then blowing warm air onto the palm of your hand, it means that he/she wants to be friends with you. If it rests its head on your shoulder, it means that he/she trusts you.

♞ Horses use their facial expressions to communicate. Their moods can be determined with the help of their nostrils, eyes and ears.

♞ Horses cannot vomit, and hence digestion problems could be fatal to a horse. The leading cause of death in horses is reported to be colic.

♞ Horses can sleep lying down as well as standing up. They sleep only 3 - 4 hours per day!

♞ The hoof of a horse is like a fingernail. It grows throughout its life and needs to be clipped regularly so that it does not cause discomfort to the horse. A farrier or blacksmith is the person who cares for a horse's feet.

♞ Horses, zebras and donkeys belong to the same genus, and hence can breed with one another! A cross between a horse and a zebra, is known as a zebroid, or zorse. To be more specific, the offspring of a stallion and female donkey is a hinny, while the offspring of a mare and male donkey is a jack. A cross between a donkey and zebra is known as a zedonk.

♞ A horse has two blind spots. One is located directly in front of them while the other is located directly behind.

♞ Of all land-dwelling mammals, horses have the largest eyes, and since they are located on either side of its head, they have almost 360º vision! They can see different things with each eye!

♞ Horses cannot sleep more than 3 hours per day. Even the three hours of sleep is not taken at a stretch. Rather, they sleep sporadically throughout the day in 10 - 15 minute spells.

♞ Within a couple of hours after being born, a foal can stand and walk!

♞ A year is added to a horse's birthday on January 1st (Northern Hemisphere) and on August 1st (southern hemisphere) irrespective of their actual birth date. Their actual birth date is considered only when they are going to be used for endurance riding.

♞ Horses usually live for around 25 to 35 years. Some of them live for 40 years or more but these cases are not very common. Ponies live longer than horses.

♞ In most cases, the foal (young horse) is born at night, away from danger and prying eyes.

♞ Only two subspecies of horses have never been domesticated. They are Tarpan Horse and Przewalski's Horse. The first species is extinct, while the second is a rare species.

Special Mentions♞ Old Billy was the oldest recorded horse who lived to the ripe old age of 62!

♞ Falabella of Argentina, is the smallest breed of horses. They do not grow more than 30 inches in height.

♞ Little Pumpkin is the smallest pony in history - it stood high at 14 inches and weighed 20 lbs.

♞ Poe, a horse who lives in Ontario, Canada, is reported to be the tallest horse, measuring 20.2h at the withers! He stands almost 10 feet tall when he's holding his head high!

The horse industry is very important in America for various reasons. According to a study by Deloitte Consulting LLP for the American Horse Council Foundation done in 2005, 2 million Americans own a horse. The horse industry provides around 5 lac full-time job opportunities, with almost 8 lac employees (full-time and part-time). About 4.6 million people are a part of the horse industry (includes owners, full-time and part-time employees, service providers, and volunteers). The goods and services of the horse industry amount to around $40 billion and its impact on the U.S. GDP is more than a 100 billion US dollars! In terms of taxes, the horse industry pays almost $2 billion to the government! In a nutshell, horses are important - for various reasons. They are adorable creatures and should be taken care of, as they deserve it.

Looking After Your Dog, Part Three – Dog Crates

Just as you relish having your own room where you can enjoy a moment of solace, your dog likes having its own room, too. Dogs still retain a few of their ancient characteristics, and would love to have some kind of a den a little, cozy place of their own. Some people may have an aversion to dog crates, since they believe that its much of a cage. However, dog crates offer a superlative home for your dog where it can feel safe and secure.

Dog crates come in a variety of styles and materials and choosing the best for your dog can often be a bewildering experience. It pays to shop around, since some dog crates are more robust than others. The most prevalent type of dog crates are those made of plastic or heavy welded steel wires. Plastic dog crates are lightweight, portable, and are easily dismantled for travel or storage. On the other hand, steel wire crates are not that flexible but still offer better ventilation relative to the plastic version. The material and style of the dog crate should be durable enough to resist chewing.

A crucial aspect to consider while buying a dog crate is its size. A dog crate should be large enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lie down with ease. Your dog should be able to stretch out on its side and sleep comfortably. Moreover, if you own a growing puppy, it is recommended that you purchase a dog crate with dividers. This way you could expand the crate size as your puppy grows.

A good quality dog crate for a medium to large dog can cost anywhere between $50 and $125. A durable dog crate will last throughout your dogs life. Moreover, it will certainly save you from an awful lot of dog trouble damaged furniture, carpets and other belongings.

Just check through ads in popular dog websites in order to find a few genuine companies that offer great pet products. Buy that durable and comfy dog crate, thereby providing a haven in your home for your dog.

Mustang Horse Names

The feral horse that roams the plains of western America are the mustang horse breeds. The mustang horse breeds are a hardy, free roaming horse that is the descendant of the Spanish horses brought by the Spanish conquistadors. The Mustang is a popular sports mascot that stands for the qualities of hardiness, grace, speed and independence. Before we look at some of the mustang horse names, let us go into the details of mustang horse history.

Mustang Horse History

Thousands of years ago, before the beginning of time, there were many prehistoric horses that lived in North America. It is said that these horses died out during the last ice age around 10 to 12,000 years ago. There were many Native American stories and myths about these magnificent creatures that roamed the earth.

When Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, he brought with him horse breeds of Andalusia, Arabian and Barb ancestry. Soon began the reintroduction of horses to North America which became known as the mustang horse breed. The wild horses became a common sight in both north and south America. These were not wild horses, but Mustang that were left, strayed or stolen, who soon became wild or feral horses.

The Spanish horses brought by the Spaniards were known for many qualities, of which hardiness was one of them. This was the main characteristic that helped the breed survive in the world and flourish as a breed that was made to survive.

As the Native Americans learned to mount the horse and horse riding, the number of wild horses grew. An individual Native American could own a hundred horses and the tribe could own over thousands of horses. As the nomadic tribes moved from place to place, it was obvious to lose some horses. Thus, the wild horses were scattered across the lands of America where they could multiply freely.

With the colonization by the English, French and Dutch, the mustang population knew no bounds. But with the intervention of the white man, the men began to pick up the choicest horses and turned the lesser quality breeds into the wild mustang breeds. These inferior horses were called the broomtails.

The mustang breeds survived in Nevada, Wyoming and other Western states with a trace of Spanish traits left in them. The mustang were known to have many colors, like coyote duns, smokies, blues, blue roans, shining blacks, rusty browns, red roan, toasted sorrels, splotched appaloosas, cream-maned palominos,snip-nosed pintos, flea-bitten grays, black-skinned whites, etc. This was something about the mustang horse history. Let us now read about the mustang horse names.

Names for Male Horses

• Amigo
• Allstar
• As Good As it Gets
• Black-Jack
• Blanca
• Chico
• Cigarette
• Cloud
• Condo
• Diego
• Flame
• Fru-Fru
• Glue-Boy
• Go Van Gogh
• Happy Trails
• Hidalgo
• Hombre
• Incognito
• Loco
• Mario
• Merryleg
• Monarch
• Mosaic Appaloosa
• Motorcycle Mustang
• Nacho
• Native Jewel Pony
• Pablo
• Paco
• Pancho
• Pepe Peso
• Pollo
• Power
• Prairie
• Salvador
• Si
• Sky of Enchantment
• Sounds of Thunder
• Teacher
• Uno
• Zack Attack
• Zeus
• Zippity Do Dah

Names for Female Horses

• Apple-oosa
• Becky
• Bedazzled
• Bela
• Bonita
• Buttermilk
• Carmen
• Catherine
• Christina
• Christmas Parade
• Clover
• Copper Enchantment
• Cyril
• Dancer
• Eliza
• Eloise
• Epona
• Esmerelda
• Evita
• Gabriella
• Ginger
• Golden Feather Pony
• Harriet
• Hazel
• Jewel
• Lucy
• Moondance
• My Dazzlin Desire
• My Dazzlin Destiny
• Nova
• Opal
• Paloma
• Proudbottom
• Ramona
• Renewal of Life
• Rosa
• Rosie the Apparoosa
• Ruby
• Silver Lining
• Snowflake
• Stardust
• Sunka Wakan
• The Old Gray Mare
• Viva Las Vegas
• Whinney
• Whirlwind

Mustang Horse Facts

• The mustang horse names also include Fuzztail and wild horse.
• The word mustang means wild and untamed in Spanish.
• The mustang breed has roamed freely since over 300 years. This has made it into a very thrifty, independent and hardy creature.
• The mustang was a favorite with the Native Americans and Cowboys due to its good cow sense that made it into a cattle working companion.
• The mustang were about 2 million in number at the beginning of 20th century that came down to less than 30,000 by the end of the century.
• Under the law for The Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971, the mustang are protected under the law.
• The mustang is about 13.2 to 15.2 hands high and is light weight, athletic and an intelligent horse known for its stamina.

You can read more interesting facts in the article .

This was some information related to the beautiful and sturdy mustang breed. With a lineage of great horses running in their blood, the mustang today is mostly used for stock work, riding and endurance riding. I hope this article on mustang horse name has helped you find the right name for your 'wild horse'.

Symptoms of Cat Fleas

Fleas are infectious external parasites, which thrive on the blood of mammals. Based on the respective host organism, several different types of fleas are identified. In cats, Ctenocephalides felis, a.k.a. cat flea, is the main culprit and one of the most widespread species. Being very tiny, it is hardly visible to the naked eye. So, a strict watch over your cat's behavior is the only practical solution to identify its presence. Prompt action is imperative to control these blood-sucking parasites and therefore, you need to be aware of all the signs and symptoms to watch out for.

Cat Flea Signs and Symptoms

Cats of all age groups, right from kittens to old cats, are prone to flea infestation. They can get infected after coming in direct contact with an infected pet, or while playing in garden that is already infested with fleas. And the worst part is that, they can transmit pathogens to pet dogs and humans as well. So, the signs that you should look out for in order to pinpoint the presence of cat fleas are ...

Skin Problems

Skin irritation is manifested in the early stage of cat flea infestation. The signs of skin condition caused by this condition mimic those of dermatitis and therefore, skin problem triggered by flea bites is called cat flea allergy dermatitis. Bumps, pustules, and itchy symptoms are caused as a result of the pet's sensitivity to the saliva of fleas.

Frequent Scratching

Due to allergic responses to flea infestation, the cat tends to scratch continuously. Thus, itchiness is another notable symptom that you need to keep an eye for. When examined carefully, you will find reddish spots in the cat's skin, which are nothing but marks left by flea bites.

Hair Loss

Frequent scratching may result in loss of hair in an infected cat. If your cat is showing skin irritation signs, check for the presence of hot spots and bald spots. For self diagnosis, you can wear hand gloves and full-sleeved shirt, and comb the cat's fur. You will notice small black specks, which is the flea dirt, and live fleas moving rapidly in between the fallen hair. Flea dirt comprises remains of undigested blood, which give red color when crushed.

Weakness and Lethargy

Pet cat with severe flea infestation may exhibit signs of weakness even when it is fed its normal diet. If bloodsucking continues and there is excess loss of bodily fluids, signs of lethargy and dehydration are manifested in the infected cat. Dehydration due to flea bites is more prevalent in kittens and weak cats.

Anemia Condition

Anemia is one of the symptoms that emerge when infestation progresses unabated. Being a blood-sucking parasite, the flea sucks blood from the infected cat. If the number of fleas is more, or if the infestation remains unchecked for a prolonged time, the pet will manifest anemia symptoms. In this case, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

How to Get Rid of Cat Fleas?

Flea control should be initiated at the first sign of infestation. It is important for the cat as well as other pets in the house, and even your family. You should never delay the treatment of this condition. Eliminating fleas from the cat's body is relatively easy, if you follow effectual tips, like bathing the pet with a cat flea shampoo regularly, applying topical flea killer, cleaning the cat's dwelling place, and cleaning household stuff.

If the symptoms of cat flea infestation persist even after treatment at home, you should get the pet checked by a trusted veterinarian. The vet will examine the symptoms and run some tests. According to the severity of these symptoms, the doctor may recommend bathing powder, therapeutic drops, or other commercial products for effective treatment.