So how do you decorate your fish tank?

I really envy those folks who can manage to create fantastic aquascapes with live aquatic plants.  I can grow weeds of magnificent proportions in the back garden but I just don't seem to have the green fingered touch when it comes to my aquarium.

Fortunately for fishkeepers like me there are plenty of ornaments and artificial plants on the market to help me achieve the look I want.  From the resin tree root meant to replicate nature to the downright whimsical fluorescent castle there really is something for everyone.  You can pretend all you like that that Spongebob ornament is 'for the kids' but it is OK to admit that you enjoy it too!

Twin Aquarium Tree Root

But a word of caution, don't just put any old thing into your fishtank.  Genuine aquarium ornaments and decorations are made from special materials that do not leach harmful elements into the water.  If you have gotten hooked on watching Tanked or Fish Tank Kings (and I really envy some of those installations) you will note they take great care to properly seal anything unusual that goes into the tank.  And lets face it most of us just don't have that kind of stuff lying around the house.  So if Junior wants to make a feature of his old Hot Wheels collection at the bottom of the tank do not let him...it won't take long for the metal to wreak havoc with the water and do great damage to the fish's health.

Aquarium Artificial Plant Rings

Have fun with your tank and decorate it as you wish.  As long as the things you put in aren't harmful then frankly the fish aren't really that bothered.  They are just interested in having places to swim around and in and out of.  An ornament or plant can also provide shelter for a shy fish that needs a break from more boisterous tank mates.  The bubbling ornaments that you connect to an air pump not only add interest for you and the fish but can also help to keep the tank well aerated.  

Galleon Ship Wreck Bubbling Ornament

We have a great selection of ornaments on our website DLS Aqautics and Pets and from now until the end of June use discount code AMJ13 for 10% off your purchase.

If you would like to share pictures of your fish tank please email them to sales@dlsaquaticsandpets.co.uk and we will feature them on an upcoming blog post!

Are you and your dog ready for summer?

For the past several weeks we have been focussing on our swimming pets but with summer just around the corner we thought we would turn our attention to the dogs!

Now that spring is finally in the air (said hopefully while looking out the window on a rainy 11° morning) we need to consider what affect this change in season has on our dogs.  Just as we change our habits and want to look our best for the summer we need to consider how our furry friends fare as well.

Those bitterly cold mornings and dark afternoons don't really lend themselves to enjoyable trips around the park and, whether or not we like to admit it, we probably didn't get the dogs out quite as much as we would have liked.  As spring and summer finally arrive we are naturally drawn to spending more time out of doors which means the dogs will be doing so too.

It may be really tempting to blow off the cobwebs by breaking out the boots and grabbing the lead to take Fido out on a 10 mile ramble over the dales.  Unless both of you have kept up a similar fitness routine through the winter, then that hike is probably not a great idea for either of you.  Just as we need to break slowly into a new regime our pooches are the same.  Even though their fitness and endurance will get up to speed a lot more quickly than yours, they still need breaking in gently. 

Once you have built up some endurance by all means get out and enjoy the countryside or local park (if in the city) for nice long stretches with your faithful companion.  Just a few other things to keep in mind while you are out and about to help keep your doggy in top condition... 

• Keep the flea and tick treatments and worming remedies up to date as it isn't just us coming out of hibernation!
• Make sure your dog has plenty of access to shade on bright and sunny days, wouldn't want them to overheat!
• Pack plenty of chilled water for both of you and take frequent breaks to keep hydrated!  

If you don't have access to a park or nearby countryside you can still enjoy more time out in the back garden playing fetch after a stroll around the neighbourhood.  Even though you are close to home it still pays to remember to take frequent breaks, rest in the shade and give your dog plenty of chilled water to keep cool.

Have a great summer and please feel free to comment below on any plans you have for you and your doggy!  Maddy, Cookie and I are off to the park shortly as the weather has finally turned!

Fishkeeping is relaxing...Fact or Myth?

So I've been keeping fish continuously for just over ten years now and there are times when I really couldn't tell you the answer to this question I have posed.

In my heyday of breeding where I was maintaining upwards of 30 tanks, relaxing was certainly not at the top of the list of descriptors.  Exciting, heartbreaking, laborious definitely but relaxing...no way.

And it certainly isn't relaxing when I hear the disapproval in my OH's voice as I spill some dirty fishwater on the clean floor or try to 'sneak' another fish related purchase into the house!

Water changes, ammonia spikes, white spot, bacterial bloom!  Who could relax with all of that stress!

Is it all worth it?  Well, actually, yes it is.  I can't think of any other hobby where I can create a replica Amazon rainforest or Rift Valley lake in my own living room.  And all of that other stuff I mentioned has really only been a minor distraction in comparison to the joy and wonder this hobby brings me.

At the end of a long days work or when my brain  won't switch off from an issue I'm trying solve, I cant' think of anything better to do than sit with my fish and relax.

Why you should join a local Fishkeeping club

I still remember bringing home my first fish tank in all of its 2 foot glory, setting it up and religiously waiting the 10 days for it to cycle so I could purchase its first inhabitants!  I am sure many of you are having a nostalgic moment right now.

As time went on my collection of tanks grew bigger and I even caught the breeding bug after witnessing the miracle of birth amongst my Platty population.  I can picture some of you now with that wry smile, shaking your head and remembering your first spawn.  Most likely same as mine and completely accidental.    I can look back with hindsight and realise a Platty could probably spawn in a mud puddle and this spawn had nothing to do with my newly acquired fishkeeping super powers.

Fortunately when I started out on my new adventure the internet was teeming with information so I could sort out most minor problems with the help of Google and some advice from my local fish store.  What I couldn't do so well was figure out which information was useful and which was a load of old *carp*!  It took a lot of trial and error to figure out which was which.  What I lacked was contact with experienced fishkeepers, which brings me to my point.

Somewhere along the way I discovered that there were people in my city meeting every month to talk about...FISHKEEPING!  In my case this happens to be the Derby and District Aquarist Society (Hello to Simon et al) which meets once a month at Mr Grundy's Tavern.  What I found was a welcoming group of people interested in talking about the same thing as me; all the great stuff happening in my tanks.  Many of the group had been meeting and sharing stories and experiences for a very long time.  I can tell you that my knowledge of the hobby skyrocketed by being around people who had 'been there, done that and got the T-shirt'.  Imagine my delight being able to discuss Ph levels, a new filtration system or the latest shipment of livestock at the local fish store with people who didn't just glaze over at the slightest mention of fish.  You know the look I mean.

If you are in the Derby area the club meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 8 PM at Mr Grundy's on Ashbourne Road Derby.  The group has a Facebook page which you are welcome to join Derby and District Aquarists and their email address is Derbyaquarists@aol.com if you would like to get in touch for any reason.

Fortunately, again, the internet makes finding a club in your local area easy to to do.  You can find clubs listed on both Aquarist Classified's Fishkeeping Clubs  page or on Practical Fishkeeping Magazine Forum as an example but a good Google search will bring plenty of other results.  You will also find a variety of online fishkeeping forums to join but it can be tricky deciding which one is right for you.  I will cover the pros and cons of the online community in an upcoming post.

Over the years the number of fish tanks in my home has decreased but not the enthusiasm I first felt when I took up the hobby.  I don't get to my local club meetings as often as I would like but please be assured there is no substitute for being in the company of like-minded individuals who are as passionate about their hobby as you are.

Keep your dogs away from the Easter chocolates

Over this Easter season we can get easily carried away with all of the chocolate goodies on offer. We treat the kids, we treat ourselves and we think why not treat the family's best friend! After all how bad can a little piece of chocolate be for the dog? Well the truth is it can be very bad for our furry friends and in some cases fatal. Chocolate contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean. Theobromine increases urination and affects the central nervous system as well as heart muscle.

Dark chocolate contains far higher levels than milk chocolate but that doesn't mean milk chocolate is danger free. Once a dog tastes chocolate they will ever after crave it and they won't be able to differentiate between dark and milk!

I felt compelled to write this as our household went through a chocolate trauma over the Christmas holidays. My partner and I returned from a lovely lunch in town to find an empty gold box and chocolate wrappers strewn across the dining room floor. 500g of Dark Belgian Chocolates, minus a few that had been eaten, were now inside one or both of the dogs. We couldn't tell as neither were showing any signs and we hadn't caught them in the act.

We got straight on to Google and with the help of this amazing calculator
http://www.askavetquestion.com/chocolate_toxicity.php we knew it was an immediate trip to the Vet.

They were given drugs to make them sick and therefore get any toxins out of their systems more quickly. We were convinced that Cookie, our Chocolate Lab was the culprit, after all his favourite party trick is stealing things from the counter tops. As it turned out it was Maddy, the Lab/Collie cross, who had in fact eaten all of the goodies as she is the one who got sick...wrappers and all. Thanks to the vet nurses for dealing with all of that.

In the end all turned out OK as we acted quickly and made sure they were seen by a Vet. We took turns staying with them through the night to make sure no other symptoms occurred. That was one expensive box of chocolates, both emotionally and financially! I'm still tempted to load up on the Cadbury's Creme Eggs but you can be sure I won't be sharing with the furries.

Back to Work

What a great Easter weekend we had but now that’s over and today we all had to go back to work.    Our business is all about selling pet products via the internet and work from a warehouse/unit which means the dogs get to come with us every day!  Work is a brisk 34 mins away from home and on the way we go through a park which pleases the dogs very much!  When we get to work the dogs have their own jobs to do such as meeting and greeting anyone who gets within 100 yards of the building and when it’s sunny, they guard the entrance.



They both get a wage each day of a few dog chews and they seem very happy about that :) 

Oh well see you again soon!

Welcome to my blog

Just to say hello to anyone who drops by and to let you know I plan to use this blog as both a record of my own experiences with keeping pets and to give you an  insight  into some of the products I like and sell.

First let me introduce the family furballs

This is Cookie (Chocolate Labrador) and Maddy Golden Lab/Collie cross.

Chester

Chester is like myself, very interested in Fishkeeping.

Wacko

Sadly Wacko had to be put to sleep last week but he is still in our hearts and still very much a part of our family.  I will at somepoint share my experience of  losing our beloved friend but the first post is not really the one to do it.

I also keep fish and had experience with many different types over the years.  I currently have just one tank with Zebra Plecs but di have as many as 40 tanks at one point!

Anyway thanks for dropping by and see you again soon x