Buying Necessities at the Exotic Pet Supply Shop

George was fascinated with reptiles at a very young age. This all started when the school went on a field trip to the zoo and was immediately followed a book entitled “Creepy Crawly Things” given at the end of the tour.

This fascination became a reality when George’s parents purchased a tarantula at the local pet store. This creature belongs to the arachnid family because of the venomous fangs that are used to kill prey.

The tarantula loves to eat fresh meat. Unlike other spiders that usually eat whatever gets trapped in the web, this one waits in a certain spot and ambushes the prey. The victims are usually insects, other spiders, birds and amphibians.

Since it is quite difficult to catch these creatures, the best place to get them is from an exotic pet supply shop.

The first thing any owner must provide is shelter for the pet. The tarantula should be placed in a glass aquarium with some rocks or old wood to make it feel comfortable in its environment. This will cost an average of $40 and is very easy for anyone to set up.

Some jell should also be purchased to give the spider some liquids together with live insects such as crickets or worms as part of its diet. This doesn’t hurt the wallet that much since the tarantula is only fed once a week.

Tarantulas are nocturnal animals so having a small lamp installed will be just right to give it some warmth in its home. The owner should make sure that it doesn't exceed 30 degrees, which could be too much for the spider to handle.

Even if many Americans prefer to have dogs, cats or fish as pets, there are many who prefer to have spiders instead. These eight-legged creatures are not noisy compared to other animals, don't produce any harmful odors from urine or feces and are easy to maintain.

The price for a tarantula on the market ranges from $20 to $50. This will depend on the type, the gender and age when it was purchased. The exotic pet supply store also carries books of how to take care of this kind of spider.

Deciding to own a tarantula or any other exotic pet is a huge responsibility. It will be a good idea to do some research first and know the dos and don’ts in order to have fun with this creature around.

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The Basics Of Aquarium Water Heater

An aquarium water heater is a device that converts electric energy into heat that is dispersed throughout the water in your tank. An aquarium water heater usually comes with temperature controls that allow you to choose a certain temperature range, or when the tank temperature drops below, the heater then kicks into gear. When the temperature exceeds the set temperature, the water heater then shuts off automatically.

Typical heaters are composed of a ceramic core wrapped in nichrome resistance wire. The two most common types of heaters are the ones attached directly to the thermostat and combination heating units with a thermostat, condenser, and pilot light.

Aquarium heaters often come with thermostats, so that you can place the heater in one side of the tank and the thermostat in the other. In theory, this is supposed to provide an even distribution of heat all over the tank because the heat from the heater needs to travel to the other side of the tank to reach the thermostat.

Types of aquarium heaters

There are a number of different types of aquarium heaters. These are the hang-on tank style, the submersible heater, and the heating cable system. The hang-on tank style is partially submerged in the water, which means that it only provides a small amount of heat into the system. The submerged system provides a more even system of heating for the whole aquarium. The heating cable system is the type of heater that you install under the gravel of your aquarium and is manipulated by a heating control unit. This system is used most often by owners of saltwater tanks but it may be used in freshwater tanks as well. This is often used to eliminate dead spots and provides even heat from the bottom up.

Factors to consider

Things to consider before you buy an aquarium heater include the kind of fish you have, the temperature in your room, and warranty of service. There are some fish that will not thrive in settings with drastic changes in temperature while other fish may tolerate these changes better than others. It is important to know the temperature requirement of your fish, since changes can affect their immune system, respiration, feeding, and breeding patterns.

You also need to know the room temperature since you will be subtracting this from the ideal temperature for your fish to give you the amount of heating your heater needs to provide. Also, get a heater with a reliable warranty in case your aquarium water heater breaks down.

Tips for buying and using aquarium heaters

If you are an aquarium owner, using multiple heaters at one time and keeping a spare on hand is always a good idea. This way, if one breaks down, your tank still has other heating sources left. Always keeping a spare on hand is always a good idea so that you can quickly replace the broken heater and keep the tank temperature constant.
By: Jeffry Johnston

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Setting Up Your Aquarium

If you are just starting out with keeping fish as pets then you might be wondering if it is as simple as filling up a tank with water and putting in the fish or if there is more involved. There is a little more involved in setting up a fish tank than just shoving the water and fish into it, and this article should help you get started with the right steps to give your fish the best start.It really is important to prepare your aquarium and have it set up properly before putting any fish into it, otherwise there is the possibility of contamination which could kill your fish.

The first thing you need to do once you have purchased a fish tank is to wash it thoroughly. You should avoid using any chemically based cleaners as these could be harmful for the fish, it is recommended just to use clean hot water to wash the tank. You will also need to wash anything that will go into the tank, including filter, pump, gravel and ornaments. If you do use any dishwashing liquid to wash your items then you must rinse them thoroughly to make sure all trace of the liquid is removed as just the smallest amount can be harmful to your fish.

If you are using a second hand fish tank it is just as important to give it a thorough clean before using it to make sure that you remove any parasites that could be residing in the tank. Although you may not be able to see these microorganisms doesn’t mean that they aren’t there so it really is important to play it safe and have a clean environment for your new fish.

The next step for you to take is to choose where you are going to put your tank and put it in that spot before filling it with water. It is also advisable to place a thin layer of foam or a mat under the tank to avoid the glass cracking if the surface isn’t completely level. You can purchase these mats or foam from any good pet store.

Next you will need to read the instructions that came with your pump and filter to know how to place them into your tank. Some pumps and filters will need to be installed into the aquarium before adding the water. Some filters are flatbased filters that lie on the bottom of the aquarium and these will need to be added before putting the gravel into the tank. The next step is to put the gravel into the aquarium and make sure that it has been washed thoroughly first.

You can add the water next and once the tank is filled you should use a water conditioner to remove the chlorine from the water.
If you are using a previously used tank, then you may want to fill it with water before adding the pump and filter to test the tank for any leaks, once you are sure there are no leaks then proceed to setup the tank with the pump, filters and gravel.

If you are having tropical fish then now is the time to add the heater to your aquarium. Follow the steps on the instructions that came with the heater and you will also need to add a thermometer to make sure that the water is heating evenly throughout the tank. It is advisable to place the thermometer on the opposite side of the tank to the heater.

Next you can place your plants and ornaments into the tank. Your fish will be happier if they have somewhere that they can hide and if they don’t have anywhere to hide, they may continue to swim around looking for somewhere and this can be bad for the fish, so make sure there is somewhere for the fish to swim under.

Now that you have added everything to the aquarium you can plug in and turn on the pump, filter and heater. You will need to make sure that the electrical cords are safely away from the water and that you have a drip spot to avoid the water entering the power point.

You will need to purchase a water testing kit so that you can test the ph levels of the water and make sure that the water is at the right levels before adding any fish. You should continue to monitor the ph levels on a regular basis.

It is recommended to leave your aquarium set up for three to four days before adding any fish as this will give the water time to settle and become the right environment for your new fish.

Following these steps to set up your aquarium will help your new fish to adjust to their new home an dkeep them safe in a healthy system. Don’t forget that when you do add your fish to your aquarium you will need to keep them in the plastic bag floating in the aquarium for 10 to 15 minutes before releasing them into the tank.

By: Sheryl Polomka

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