Guinea Pigs, known to enthusiasts and professionals as cavies, are herbivores – they eat plant matter. Grassy hay is at the top of the list. Timothy hay is among the best options, though alfalfa can be fed in small quantities. Alfalfa, a legume not a grass, has more protein and carbohydrates, so it’s more commonly…
Guinea pigs are not the most robust of animals. As such, they can succumb to an illness more quickly than many other species. Veterinary care should be sought more readily than it might be for cats, for example. But vets see many more cats than guinea pigs. This is a combination of the practice of…
You’ve saddled up your horse for a relaxing day in the saddle when you suddenly realize that you have no idea where to ride him outside of that same little paddock. Are there any more exciting options? Actually, there are plenty of great places to ride your horse, especially if he doesn’t mind taking a…
‘They breed like rabbits’ is a familiar phrase. And it’s true. Rabbits are prolific. As prey for a wide variety of predators in the wild, the species survived, in part, by producing many offspring. But that ease and number can represent a problem for pet owners. Breeding is best left to professionals or those who…
The question posed in the title is a legitimate one. Even though guinea pigs are familiar, they’re neither pigs nor do they hail from Guinea. These rodents, originating from the Andes mountains in South America, are so similar to rabbits they were nearly reclassified. They’re commonly called a cavy, a derivation of their scientific name.…
Ferrets require more care than cats or dogs. Though they sleep about 18 hours per day, when they’re awake they’re very active. They’re also extremely curious and love to explore. Unless they’re always caged, that makes them somewhat accident prone. If they’re always caged, they may not get the proper stimulus and exercise, representing the…
Fish are fairly hardy overall, especially if they have the proper living conditions. However, sometimes, despite your best efforts, at least one of your fish will become ill, probably with one of the more common fish diseases. If you have a sick fish, you will want to start by ruling out ICH, a fish disease…
Finally, you have the pond of your dreams, but things aren’t quite as perfect as you wanted them to be. How do you keep your pond in good shape? Here are some common pond problems you may encounter and how you can solve them. Leakage If your pond seems to be losing a lot of…
Having a water feature in your yard can be so enjoyable and soothing. Of course, you’ll have some hard work ahead of you before you finish installing that new pond, but once you’re done, you’ll be glad you took the time to add a pond to your garden. If you are planning on setting up…
Just like any other type of yard maintenance, pond maintenance varies with each season. These tips on maintaining your pond will help you keep it running well from season to season. Each spring, you’ll need to clean your pond thoroughly. If the pond is extremely dirty, you may need to actually catch the fish and…