But for many, having a pet can be very inconvenient and challenging. It’s especially difficult for those who are unable to spare extra space for their pets. Pets like dogs, cats and rabbits require certain room-space in addition to indoor as well as outdoor surroundings. Though these pets also inhabit indoors, they require outdoor surroundings as much.[break]
Owning a pet certainly comes with extra responsibilities but you wash your hands off of certain things if you’re smart in choosing the right kind of pet. While cats and dogs are the most popular pets, many people are also seen to be fond of fishes. And a new addition for pet lovers can be owning a pet turtle.
The Week is here to help you know these indoor pets better and elaborate some of their necessities.
Fish
Having fish as pet can be relatively easy compared to having other pets if you’re careful with certain measures. Fish are beautiful yet delicate animals. To own a fish, the first and foremost requirement is an aquarium or a tank.
Get an appropriate tank
After getting an appropriate size of tank or aquarium, which depends on your choice of fish that varies in size and species, you need to have all the proper equipments such as filters, heaters, water conditioner and test kit. The aquarium will become a sort of a world for your fish and you surely want to make it as healthy for them as possible.
Some pet owners say that a 20-gallon tank is better than a five-gallon one. Though one might think that smaller tanks are easy to maintain, experts say that it’s just the opposite. For an instance, a five-gallon tank needs a lot more water changes than a 20-gallon one due to the buildup of dangerous chemicals that will soon kill the fish. In a 20gallon aquarium, the dangerous chemicals will be more widely dispersed.
Research on species
Putting fishes that are comfortable in captivity and that they even breed regularly will be wise to start off. Usually, such fish are inexpensive as well. These fish will habituate the owner to take care of them and can overlook small mistakes as they are not greatly sensitive.
You can build up the population gradually. But while putting different species of fish, you need to do a little research on their compatibility with different species. Some species of fish are also known to eat other fish. Adding too many fish at once can also overload the filtration system.
Water test and change
The ideal water for the fish tank must contain zero ammonia, zero nitrite, and under-40 nitrate. You can test and maintain the water as required by using a test kit. You also need to change the water in the tank to avoid harmful chemicals produced to affect your fish. But one of the biggest mistakes fish owners make is changing all of the tank’s water. Experts say that changing part of the water regularly is the best solution to keep fish healthy.
To do a water change, get a gravel vacuum and siphon out any waste in the substrate. This will pull out water at the same time. After treating tap water with water conditioner, you can replace the water in the tank from your tap.
Turtles
Turtles are supposed to be very easy to care for. If they are properly cared for, turtles can live for many decades. Even if you decide to keep them indoors, you need to pay close attention to its diets, living arrangements, and treatment. A pet turtle needs enough light, shade, and moisture, clean water, and a basking lamp to keep them healthy. And above all, they need the pet owners’ love and attention.
Indoor tank
If you decide to keep turtles indoors, it’s important that you follow certain criteria regarding its habitat. A tank must be of at least 40 gallons capacity to accommodate a pet turtle. In addition, there must be enough room to put a land area, and a water area. There should also be an additional place where the turtle can bask in the heat of a sunlamp.
It’s important to remember that terrestrial turtles can maintain body heat longer than aquatic turtles. Thus, the ideal temperature for its habitat may vary, but in general, the temperature of the tank should be around 80º during the day and 70º at night.
Remember, it’s not just a novelty item!
Turtles are cold blooded animals like any other reptile species; therefore, it’s not advisable to take the turtle out of its tank to show it off or play with it. The sudden changes in temperature can affect the immune system of your pet as their body requires longer time to adjust to the changes. A turtle is not just a novelty item and it should be treated with love and responsibility. Remember, turtles are intelligent enough to know who its friends and enemies are.
Water for the tank
Due to the presence of chlorine and fluoride in tap water, it’s wise to avoid tap water for turtle tank. Using tap water can also disturb the ph balance in the water. It’s advisable, therefore, to use natural spring water for drinking water as far as possible and de-chlorinated water for the swimming area. The chlorine from water can be removed by letting it sit for 24 hours before putting it in the tank.
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