There are millions of species of animals
That share this planet home
With the human family.
But for thousands of years
Only one and no other
Has been our most steadfast friend...
The Dog!

Breed List

Affen Pinscher  Afghan Hound  Airedale Terrier  Alaskan Malamute  Australian Cattle Dog  Australian Kelpie  Australian Terrier  Basenji  Basset Hound  Beagle  Bearded Collie  Bedlington Terrier  Bernese Mountain Dog  Bichon Frise  Blood Hound  Bordeaux Mastiff  Border Collie  Border Terrier  Borzoi  Boston Terrier  Bouvier des Flandres  Boxer  Briard  Brittany Spaniel  Bull Dog  Bull Mastiff  Bull Terrier  Bull Terrier (Miniature)  Cairn Terrier  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel  Chihuahua (Long & Smooth Coat)  Chinese Crested  Chow Chow  Clumber Spaniel  Cocker Spaniel (American)  Cocker Spaniel (English)  Collie(Rough)  Collie (Smooth )  Curly Coated Retriever  Dachshund Miniature (Long, Smooth & Wire Haired)  Dachshund Standard ( Long, Smooth & Wire Haired)  Dalmation  Dandie Dinmont Terrier  Deer Hound  Dobermann

Elkhound  English Setter  English Toy Terrier  Flat Coated Retriever  Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff)  Field Spaniel  Finnish Spitz  Fox Hound (American)  Fox Hound (English)  Fox Terrier (Smooth)  Fox Terrier (Wire)  French Bull Dog  German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)  German Short-Haired Pointer  German Wire-Haired Pointer  Giant Schnauzer  Glen of Imaal Terrier  Golden Retriever  Gordon Setter  Great Dane  German Spitz  Grey Hound  Griffon Bruxellois  Groenendael  Himalayan Sheep Dog  Indian Spitz  Ibizan hound  Irish Setter  Irish Terrier  Irish Water Spaniel  Irish Wolf hound  Italian Grey Hound  Jack Ressell Terrier  Japanese Chin  Keeshound  Kerry Blue Terrier  King Charles Spaniel  Komondor  Labrador Retriever  Lakeland Terrier  Leonberger  Lhasa Apso  Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)  Maltese  Manchester Terrier  Mastiff  Miniature Pinscher  Miniature Schnauzer  Indian Breeds

Neapolitan Mastiff (Italian Mastiff)  New Foundland  Norfolk Terrier  Norwich Terrier  Old English Sheep Dog  Papillon  Pekingese  Pharaoh hound  Pit Bull Terrier (American)  Pointer (English)  Pomeranian  Poodle (Standard, Miniature, Toy)  Pug  Puli  Pyrennian Mountain Dog  Rhodesian Ridgeback  Rottweiler  Saluki  Samoyed  Schipperke  Schnauzer (Standard )  Scottish Terrier  Sealyham Terrier  Sharpei  Shetland Sheep dog  Shih Tsu  Siberian Husky  Silky Terrier (Australian)  Skye Terrier  Sloughi  Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier  Spitz German  Spitz - Indian  Springer Spaniel (English & Welsh)  St.Bernard  Staffordshire Bull Terrier  Sussex Spaniel  Thai Ridgeback  Tibetan Mastiff  Tibetan Spaniel  Tibetan Terrier  Vizsla  Weimaraner  Welsh Corgi (Cardigan & Pembroke)  Welsh Terrier  West Highland White Terrier  Whippet  Yorkshire Terrier

 

Native Indian Breeds

A lot of good work has been done by many Indians, some of whom have spent their entire lifetime on the documentation of the Indian breeds. But unfortunately for us all the standard for many Indian breeds has not found common consensus.

Caravan Hound, Combai, Chippiparai, Rajapalayam, Rampur Hound, Kanni, Mudhol Houndl 

The Alangu: This is a breed from South India from the Thanjavur and Tiruchi districts. This is a tall breed with a noble carriage and short coat. The dogs may be red, fawn and black with white markings on their chest. The muzzle is black. The brisket is deep, and the limbs are well muscled. The back is long with the tail tapering to a fine point. The ears are set high on the skull and pricked. It has a long and graceful stride. 
The Kuchi is also a native of Thanjavur, but it is a small dog with a long coat. It is about 25cms in ht. and weighs about 7kgs. It is very thinly built. The tail is heavily feathered and curled up to look like a ball of hair over the short back.It is a good hunter of vermin. 
The Kaikadi is named after a nomadic tribe in Maharashtra. It may be white, tan, and black. The dogs are small (about 40 cms or less) with thin long legs, but powerful thighs and hocks. They make excellent watch dogs. They can hunt hare and vermin. The tail is long and tapering. The head is long and thin with prominent eyes and long ears that stand erect when alert. 

Dog Care & Health

Different breeds will have certain characteristics for which they were bred. Ask breeders at dog shows and look them up in breed books for further information. You must consider several things before deciding on a dog:
How much time can you spend with it? Dogs are social creatures. They will not be happy left out in the back yard alone. You must be committed to spending several hours a day with it.
What space can you provide for it? If you live in a small apartment, you must take this into consideration: many dogs will not do well unless you spend a good deal of effort in meeting their needs. Don't be fooled by size into thinking a dog will be OK in a small apartment --  A  terrier for example requires a lot of exercise. Conversely, many Mastiffs are content tojust lie on the floor and do nothing at all while you are
gone.
How much money can you set aside for it? Even if you get a dog from the shelter or otherwise inexpensively, you will have to buy food, pay for veterinary checkups, vaccinations and routine medical care over the lifetime of the dog. Not to mention replacing anything the dog may damage or destroy, or  money  for medical emergencies. Do you have the financial resources for this?
How much exercise can you give it? If your time is limited, you should look for smaller or less active dogs that can obtain enough exercise in your home or from short walks. Note that not all small dogs are less active, or larger dogs more active.
How much training can you do? Regardless of the dog you get, training will make your dog much more compatible with you and what you want to do. A trained dog can go to more places with you without disruption, and can be more easily a part of your life.
How much grooming can you do? How much hair are you prepared to have in your home? You should give serious consideration to these factors: some dogs shed little and require no grooming (clipping, stripping, etc); others shed little but require more grooming; others shed but do not require grooming; and still others both shed and require grooming. Do note that just about all dogs will require some nail clipping regardless of conditions. If you get a dog that requires regular grooming, are you prepared to pay for its grooming or learn to do it yourself and to do either regularly?
Which sex do you want, male or female? There are pros and cons to either sex, all of which are generalities and may or may not apply to a specific dog. By all means, if you have a preference, get the sex you want. If you are not sure, it really doesn't matter.
What characteristics do you want in a dog? Different breeds have been bred with specific purposes in mind. Dogs bred for scent, for racing, for retrieving, etc, will exhibit these traits. Consider which characteristics you would like and which will annoy you. Reading up on dogs in breed books (some are listed below) and talking to breeders will give you some idea of these kinds of characteristics. This also may be a reason to choose a purebred: characteristics in purebreds appear more reliably because of their consistent breeding. Do recognize, however, that dogs show individual personalities, and variety exists within each breed. Breeds are only a general indicator of what to expect.

 Common Problems faced by Dog owners in India.

Tick Infestation
In India, the most commonly faced problem is external parasitic "infestation by ticks". This leads to other medical problems and diseases transmitted by the tick itself. More than that it becomes a problem to the entire household because the ticks reproduce very fast. There are many chemical preparations available in the market which can be applied externally and injectable formulations to combat external parasites. Please ask your vet for advice and follow these basic steps:
* For Mild Infestations:
Apply the recommended medicines externally after a thorough bath.( be sure  to tie the mouth to avoid the dog from licking the medicine)
Allow the Dogs coat  to dry completely.
Search and remove the ticks by hand-picking and put them into a bottle of kerosene. Destroy them later by burning, because ticks can exist without water and food for even upto a six month period.
*For Heavy Infestations:
When the infestations is too heavy to be controlled in the above manner, take the advice of your vet and use injectible drugs that will control parasitic infestations.
If you can afford it, buy a Anti-Tick collar and change it according to the manufacturers recommendation.
Usually, a regular check weekly, and bathing once a month ( or less frequently according to weather conditions) will ensure that you will not face such problems. Frequent bathing will remove the natural oil and sheen of the coat.
* The housing quarters of the dog and all the places where the dog sleeps or uses should be sprayed with pesticides as advised by the Vet. This has to be done simultaneously while treating the dog.

Worm Infestations
Hook worm and round worm infestation  is the most common problem faced by Dog owners. Sometimes, even with the utmost care in Cooking the dogs become infested with the ova, and the adult worms that develop cause many problems. The dog loses weight or develops a pot-belly. This health loss can be prevented by simple means, such as regularly deworming the dog. Take your Vet's advice and deworm you dog once in two to three months. Hook worm infestation particularly can cause a loss of blood. It is not unusual in an untreated case to see a huge ball of worms inside the stomach if the dog is operated on.

Mange and other Skin Infections
Demodectic Mange and Sarcoptic Mange infections are quite common in India. The Demdectic Mange is found in small numbers in a normal health dog itself, but cause a problem when the dog becomes sick or if there is a disorder in the immune system. They result in bald inflammed patches of scaly skin, please take your vet's advice in treating this condition. Regular grooming and keeping the dog clean usually avoids the problem.

More Dog Related Links: Some important / interesting Dog sites www.akc.org www.k9web.com/dog-faqs www.doginfomat.com www.doggypaws.com Dog Health n Care http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs               This site is a particular favourite and highly recommended by  the me for any health related queries. www.healthypet.com www.veternet.com/search.html. www.vet.net Some Famous Pets Websites Petstation.com Pets4you.com Indiatimes Pets  Centralpets.com Some Famous Pet Breeders PuppySites.Com PoulVet.Com DogsIndia.Com  PuppyFind.Com

---

Cats are born hunters. Their hunting instincts are not dulled even if they are domesticated. It is this that leads them to surprise and shock their owners with gifts of dead birds and snakes. Here are some interesting facts about the cat's hunting habits.
Training The Hunter
Since cats are natural hunters, try not to teach your cat how to catch mice. Russian writer Anton Chekhov once narrated an anecdote about how his Latin teacher failed in teaching his kitten to hunt. Whenever the kitten refused to chase the mice, the teacher punished the kitten. After the animal grew up into an adult cat, it always cowered in terror in the presence of a mouse.

The best teacher for a kitten is nature and the mother cat. The mother usually teaches a kitten how to hunt by first bringing it a dead mouse to eat. Once the kitten gets used to eating it, the mother brings it a mouse that is just barely alive. Eventually, the mother offers it a mouse that has strength enough to run, so that the kitten can chase and hunt it down. The mother cat never punishes her little kitten.
Some cat owners try the opposite: they punish the cat every time it hunts an animal. This, again, is of little use, as the cat merely stops bringing the owner gifts and simply hunts for pleasure and food.

Animals It Preys On
Studies indicate that:
60 to 70% of a cat's prey is small mammals, 20 to 30% birds, and 10% other animals
14 to 30% of the wildlife patients of most wildlife rehabilitation groups are victims of outdoor cats
If each outdoor cat only killed one bird per year, it would equal close to 40 million birds annually
Rural cats kill 39 million birds every year in Wisconsin alone.

Myths And Misconceptions
Cat owners have several myths and misconceptions about the cat as a hunter and how to deal with it. Here are some of the most common myths:

A well-fed cat will stop killing birds : Not True. The cat's need to hunt is independent of its urge to eat. Cats hunt for the sake of hunting.

The hunting instinct of a cat is natural, so, it should be left free to hunt: Not true. The cat does have natural hunting instincts, but cats are not naturally found in such large numbers in the wild. The local wild life has not evolved to deal with such large numbers of cat. Letting your cat out to hunt naturally in your backyard would disrupt the delicate balance.

Cats need fresh air and exercise. Indoors they would be depressed or go crazy: Cat's have been seen to be perfectly content indoors. One way to let your cat have exercise is by keeping two cats. They can enjoy chasing each other indoors. Plenty of sunshine in the house, a view of the world outside and occasional outings should suffice.

Tying bells around a cat's neck and de-clawing a cat would reduce its ability as a hunter: It may be effective, but most often isn't. The cat moves with such grace that it can hunt despite the bells. De-clawing, on the other hand, is cruel as it makes the cat vulnerable to other cats and animals. Besides, a cat can kill even without its claws.

What Can You Do
Try to keep your cat indoors as much as possible.
Educate your friends who own cats about how cats can be a danger to the local bird population.
Remember, While outdoor cats commonly have a life expectancy of fewer than 5 years, indoor cats can live for up to 17 years.
Don't feed stray cats. The food also attracts native predators, such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and opossums.
Feeding stray cats is bad for the birds and the cats. The cats you feed will still kill birds and other wildlife. Feeding cats can also cause their populations to explode, resulting in a high density of non-native predators.

 Once the kitten has settled down to the new home, it is necessary to keep the kitten free from boredom. Cats by nature are inquisitive and need lots of mental stimulation.

Toys For Kitty
There are a lot of toys one can make at home to keep a kitten happy. Alternatively the market too has quite a few toys that will help keep the new pet busy.

Any toy that is selected and given to a kitten must have a few basic safety features. The first point is that the material must be such that the kitten cannot chew it. All kittens go through a teething phase where they bite and chew things indiscriminately. The toys must not break on chewing or else the kitten may choke on them. They should be made of non-poisonous materials and even if the pet chews up a little no harm must be done.

The more noisy the toy, the more it will stimulate the kitten. A rolled up piece of paper tied to a long string dangling from a door knob is more than adequate to keep a kitten active for long periods!

Visiting The Vet
Once the new member of the family has settled in its time for a proper veterinary examination. If possible details about the parents medical history too must be provided to the vet. This will be very helpful in coming to an understanding on how the vaccination schedule is to proceed.

The vet after a through physical examination will probably give the kitten a dose of worm medication.In the subsequent visit the vaccinations against the numerous viral diseases will start. The last shots will be against anti rabies.

Neutering Your Pet
In case the owner does not wish to breed his cat then it would be advisable to neuter it at the earliest. This statement is especially true for the Tomcats who tend to stray.

The cats can be safely neutered after they reach the age of eight months. In the female cats the surgery will be the only permanent solution against having litters at frequent intervals.

 

Bathing a cat is not the most pleasant experience - your cat would hate you for it and you would probably come out with designer scratches on your forearms. Yet, occasionally it may be essential to give your cat a proper dip-and-scrub bath. A cat is usually a vain creature, completely self-absorbed, unabashedly lost in self-love, spending most its time grooming and cleaning itself. So, do not impose a bath on your cat unless it is absolutely necessary.  It is most difficult dealing with a cat that has developed matted fur problems. This can cause much pain to the cat, and eventually even damage the delicate and tender skin under his fur. However, if the matting is not too extensive, you may like to begin by trouble shooting the fur-balls with some initial grooming .  Try to keep talking and reassuring you cat as you bathe him. It would not make the experience pleasant for the cat, but at least it might help soothe his nerves. A bath is recommended only in the following situations: If your cat has a flea/tick problem and needs to be given a medicated bath. If your cat's coat appears to be greasy and dirty.  If your cat has got his fur in a tangle with mats and knots.  If your cat needs to wash away toxic matter from its fur.  Getting Down To Bathing Garfield Bathe your cat in the sink rather than a large bathtub. This is more manageable and less threatening to the cat. Place an old towel at the edge of the sink and around your forearms. This will give your cat something to dig his nails into, prevent him from slipping, and help reassure it. Do not dip your cat into a sink already filled with water. That might shock him. Instead, begin filling the sink after keeping the cat in it.  Try to prevent water entering the cat's eyes and ears.  Be careful to use only a shampoo meant for cats; some dog products are lethal to cats.  Lather the shampoo well into the cats fur and wash it thoroughly.  Dry your cat using a soft towel.  Follow this up with combing or brushing the cat.  Try to keep talking and reassuring you cat as you bathe him. It would not make the experience pleasant for the cat, but at least it might help soothe his nerves.

More Cat Related Links: Some important / interesting Cat sites A Cats Life Cats of the World The Cats Meow Cats World Cat Health n Care www.healthypet.com www.veternet.com/search.html. SoftClaws Vet Info Some Famous Pets Websites Petstation.com Pets4you.com Indiatimes Pets  Centralpets.com Some Famous Pet Breeders BuyingCats PoulVet.Com AnyPet.com  Cyberpet.com

---

 

Here are my tips for setting up a fresh water aquarium.

1. Get the largest tank you can afford and have space for. The larger the tank, the better for the fish. A 30 gallon aquarium is not any more difficult to maintain than a 10 gallon aquarium.

I would tend to stay away from high tanks, as they have a greater tendency to get pressure cracks, and can be more difficult to clean. My personal favorite is a 29 gallon tank. It’s large enough to look beautiful and has plenty of room for fish to move and grow.

Whatever size you get, be sure to rinse it thoroughly before setting it up. Use a clean sponge to wipe down all sides and the bottom and rinse again.


2. Use one pound of gravel for every gallon of water the tank holds. Ten pounds for a 10 gallon tank, 20 for a 20, and so on. Be sure to rinse the gravel thoroughly before putting it in the tank. A colander works well for this. Just rinse a little at a time. If you are using an undergravel filter, be sure to put it in place before adding the gravel.


3. There are several types of filters available. If you are going with a 10 or 15 gallon tank, an undergravel filter alone will suffice. Just be certain you get a strong enough air pump to get a good air flow through both sides of the filter.

My personal favorite is the Whisper brand of air pumps and power filters. If you are going with a 20 gallon or larger tank, I recommend using both an undergravel filter and an outside power filter. When the tank is new, just the undergravel filter alone will be enough for the first few months, but to be able to go for about 6 months without have to clean your aquarium, having both filters is necessary. All you will have to do is change the filter cartridge on the power filter every couple of months, and add water to the tank as it evaporates.


4. Most tropical fish need warm water. This means they need a heater to not only keep the water warm, but to keep the temperature consistent as well. A change in water temperature can make fish sick.

There are many heaters available, and they come in a variety of sizes to match the size of your tank. You also need a thermometer. I like the kind that float around in the water. I find them to be the most accurate. You may have to stick you hand in the water to turn it around to read it sometimes, but that’s really not too difficult.


5. There are many water conditioners available so that you can set your tank up and add your fish on the same day. I would recommend waiting 24 hours before adding fish. This will give the water time to become the right temperature with the use of a heater. I would still go ahead and condition the water and also get some ick medicine to have on hand as well. If you don't know what ick is now, you will.


6. When buying fish, you need to be certain to get the ones that are compatible with each other. There are non-aggressive fish, semi-aggressive fish, and aggressive fish. Aggressive fish (such as oscars) will eat non-aggressive fish (such as guppies). I would recommend buying fish at a reputable pet store where someone can help you get fish that are compatible.

If you are getting tropical fish, I would avoid putting goldfish with them. Goldfish like cold water, and they have a body slime which can be harmful to tropical fish. goldfish are also dirty. I would not recommend getting an algae eater right away, but bottom feeders (such as catfish or sharks) are good.


7. I enjoy live plants in my aquariums, but the fish eat them so eventually they start looking shabby and need replacing. A mixture of real and artificial plants can be nice. Be creative when decorating the tank. Use large rocks, or get a little extra gravel to form hills. It looks nice to slope the gravel, making it low in the front and higher in the back. Just experiment and have fun with it!


8. My last tip would be to NOT put your aquarium near a window. This causes algae to grow at a much faster rate. A fluorescent light is much better than an incandescent for the same reason, and it’s best not to leave it on for long periods at a time (like all day). Have fun and enjoy!

There are a few questions you should answer before you go to the store and start buying fish.

• What size tank you will buy? Buy a tank as big as you can afford and for which you have space.
  
  
• What is your local water like? Bring a cup full of your tap water to your local pet store and ask to have the water tested for pH and hardness. If you are short on free time you will probably prefer to buy fish that thrive in your water type, rather than spending your evenings trying to adjust the water to the fish.
  
  
• What kind of fish do you like? Fresh water or salt? Warm water or cold?  Salt water fish tend to be much more brilliant in color but are also more expensive and the tanks require more care. Fresh water fish are easy to find and come in a huge variety of shapes and colors. Tropical, or warm water fish are abundant in the stores, but do require a heater and some attention to the water temperature. Cold water fish, like goldfish or koi, don't require a heater, but have other needs that tropical fish may not.
  
  
• What sort of support is available to you? Is there a good, reputable pet store nearby with knowledgeable staff? Wal-Mart may carry fish, but does the sales staff there know anything about them? Have you perused usenet or the web?

Great! Now you are ready to go buy your fish! Of course, buying the fish is just the first step. For tips, tricks and helpful fishy hints, read on!

Now that you've decided that you want to set up an aquarium, and have done some research into what is necessary to do so, here is some basic information on a few different kinds of fish you can add to your aquarium.

GOLDFISH

So, you are interested in goldfish?  A good choice in my opinion! Goldfish are fun, animated, fish with a lot of personality. A few things you should know...

• Goldfish, when kept healthy will grow! Make sure that they have a big tank, and do not overcrowd them. 1 or 2 in a 10 gallon tank may look sparse at first but soon that tank will be too small!
• Goldfish should be kept separate from tropical fish. Warm water will stress them and they will get sick.
• Buy a lid for your goldfish tank. Golds are very animated and like to jump and splash, especially at meal time.
• Fluorescent lamps are preferable for goldfish; they highlight their vivid colors but do not add much heat to the water.
• Goldfish are bigger than most tropicals and will produce more wastes. Because of this you will need to do more frequent water changes. Also, an under gravel filter may not be able to keep up with all the goldfish poop; invest in a good over the back type power filter. Invest in an ammonia test kit as well as a pH test kit to help you gauge how often to change the water.
• Goldfish do well with a bit of salt in their water, 1 teaspoon per gallon is good to prevent illnesses. If they do get sick, often adding more salt can help them recover, up to 1 tablespoon per gallon.
• Goldfish are one of the most bred and genetically altered fish around. They have been raised in captivity for hundreds of years. With all that time to try new combinations, there are many varieties of goldfish, from plain comets to pop eyes, to fan tails. The sleek comets need more swimming area than the bent looking ryukin types.
• Goldfish do well on a diet of specialized goldfish food, or pond food. They also benefit from periodic additions of plants like anacharis, green water, and vegetables like peas, just 'pop' the cooked pea between your fingers and drop the inside part into the water. If your golds are still small, mash the pea so they can fit it in their mouths.

BETTAS

Bettas, or siamese fighting fish, are beautiful fish and a welcome addition to any tropical tank or displayed alone in a bowl or small tank. A few Betta hints...

• Bettas can live in small bowls because they can breath air directly from the surface when needed. If you do choose to display one this way, you will need to change the water at least every day.
• Bettas like live foods and may not thrive if fed only flakes. Brine shrimp, tubiflex worms and bloodworms are all good foods. If you can't find them fresh, frozen is second best, then dried.
• Siamese fighting fish get their name because the males will fight to the death if kept in the same tank. You can however, keep one male betta in a community tank.
• Males can be kept in community tanks with females but after breeding, they often fight. You are better off to keep them separately.
• Want to see your male betta show his stuff? Place a mirror next to the glass, or turn on the hood light and turn off the room lights, when he sees his reflection on the glass he will start posturing to scare that other fish.

PLECOSTAMUS AND BOTTOM FEEDERS

One of the biggest mistakes a new fish keeper makes is buying algae eaters and bottom feeders before the tank is able to support them. A good fish store should ask about your tank before they start scooping up fish like chinese algae eaters, plecos, and catfish. You will be throwing your money down the toilet if you buy these fish before your tank is ready. To save your mind and money, remember this:

• Not all catfish type fish are created equal. Some eat only algae, some are bottom feeders, scavengers that eat left over soaked food, droppings from other fish, and dead fish and plant material.
• If you have an algae problem, a chinese algae eater or a pleco can help but if the tank doesn't have a lot of algae, they can starve. If your tank is clean of greenery and your algae eaters are looking unhealthy, try supplementing their diet. There are algae pellets, pleco wafers and other diets available. Plecos especially, do well with the addition of some zucchini slices, lettuce leaves or clean driftwood. Many fish stores carry little clips with suction cups on them, made for submerging plant foods for these fish.
• If your fish tend to leave a layer of waste on the bottom of the tank in between water changes, you may want to invest in a bottom feeder or catfish. A good fish store should be able to point you to the right type of fish, if there isn't a good store near you, invest in a good fish book. One with pictures can be especially helpful when trying to find the right fish in the store.
• For algae, don't forget about fish like mollies, who love algae. Also, snails will eat it, but will also eat any live plants. There is also the elbow grease answer, use a razor blade or special algae scraper to clean the glass.

Routine water changes are an important part of aquarium maintenance. Even with impeccable care and feeding and a wonderful filter, fish produce wastes that build up in the water and can eventually kill them. Routinely changing some of the water will clean out the toxins and protect your fish.

• In a new tank, ammonia is your biggest concern. Fish wastes contain ammonia which can quickly build up and hurt or kill the fish, sometimes in a matter of a day or two. If your tank is less than 6 months old, be sure to check the ammonia levels often and change enough water to bring the ammonia down to a less dangerous level.
  
• In tanks more than a few months old, a biological filter will develop. Basically, the tank will flourish with bacteria that eat ammonia and turn it into nitrites and nitrates, which are less toxic to fish and can be used by plants in the tank. You can jump start this process in a new tank by adding special bio filter starters or adding water from an established tank.
  
• Even with a good mechanical and biological filter, water will still need changing, just less often than a new tank.
  
• A gravel vacuum is a great way to clean the tank while changing the water. It uses the pull of the draining water to suck debris from the gravel.
  
• With a new tank, use your test kits to gauge how much and how often to change the water. A small tank with a heavy load may need half of the water changed every 3 days, where a large tank with just a few fish may only need a small fraction of water changed every week or other week. Testing the pH and ammonia levels before and after water changes will give you a good idea if you have changed enough water.
  
• It may seem like a good idea to clean your filter while you are busy doing 'fish stuff' but try to ignore this urge. The filter media is a prime area for bacteria growth, so a portion of the biological filtration may be happening in the filter. The bio filter also 'lives' in the gravel. If you clean both the gravel and the filter at the same time, you may lose a large portion of your bio filter and risk an ammonia spike in the tank. Wait a few days between water changes and filter cleaning to allow the bio filter to bounce back.
  
• When you change the water, you will obviously have to replace the lost water with new water. Tap water contains chlorine which can damage the bio filter. If you can, place tap water in a bucket the day before you do your water changes. This will allow time for the chlorine to naturally dissipate. You can also buy preparations that will instantly 'age' and dechlorinate the water so you can use it straight from the tap.
  
• Another concern with tap water is dissolved oxygen. To check if your water has a lot of dissolved oxygen, fill a big container (like a flower vase) with water straight from the tap. Place your hand in the water and hold it there. Does your hand get covered with tiny air bubbles? If your water is bubbly, let it age overnight in a bucket, or those little bubbles can stick to the gills of the fish and hurt them. Your faucet aerator can also be the culprit of this problem. Try taking the end of the faucet off and see if the bubbles are still a problem. If you don't want to take your faucet apart, test the water from the hose.
  
• Try to keep the replacement water around the same temperature as the tap water to lessen the stress on the fish. For most fish, you can add water that is a bit warmer that the tank water without upsetting them too much but avoid adding cold water to the tank.

Short Cuts To A Happy Fish:

It is fine to decide upon having the quiet and gentle fish as a room mate and companion, but do you really know what are the basic rules for fish care?
Here are a few basic tips, which will ensure that your fish swims easy in its aquarium and you do not suffer the difficulty of fretting over a diseased fish (after all there are not too many vets who can handle that!):

Procure an aquarium appropriate for you and the kind of fish you intend to keep. Besides the aquarium the right kind of fish-food, water, filter, aerator, fish net, thermometer, and 'aged' water. While one might be tempted to buy plastic aquariums, it is advisable to buy a glass tank with a stainless steel frame, as it does not get scratched easily and are more durable than the plastic ones.

Try and ensure that the temperature of the water is kept at a constant 75 degrees (F) for tropical fish, and 65 degrees (F) for gold fish.
Add water plants and a light source to the aquarium as it ensures replenishment of oxygen supply. If the light source is artificial, make sure it is timed to switch off on a 12 hour cycle.
Keep the tank free from debris and add a bit of 'aged' water (water left standing for at least a day). Clean the tank once in four to six months.

While introducing the fish into its new tank try not to use your hands, a net is the safer way to move them.

Do not crowd the tank, this might lead to social stress or lack of oxygen. It would also lead to increased susceptibility to diseases.

Do not place the tank in direct sunlight.

Do not overfeed the fish, excess food may settle in the bottom and rot. Alternate the fish food to add a bit of variety for your fish. No one likes to eat the same dish every day!

Keep the tank covered, this would keep the fish safe from prowling cats, and dust. It would keep an over anxious fish from jumping over as well!
Do not keep a lonely fish. Fish usually live in groups and like company!

Do read up as much as possible about the behaviour, health and diseases of fish. The more you learn about fish, the more you would be able to enjoy and appreciate the little lithe creature keeping you company.

TYPES OF FISH 
Some of the fish that can be seen in a aquarium are catla, mahseer, gold fish (including black moor), angel fish, blue gourami, red tail shark, Indian tiger barb, glow light tetra, freshwater prawns and of course the Siamese fighters.

Some Links :

AmityAquatech

---