New Pet Site

[kwterminator]

Hi everybody! This is my very first post!

I have recently built a site called http://www.meandmypetsplace.com. I was looking for some people to help me out. I need some reviews, what do you guys think of my site? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Oh, and can you please submit stories and pictures of your pets to my site? You'll understand once you visit it.

Thanks!

[Evey]

Pretty good for newbie pet owners. You might want to consider some info on nutrition or basic health.

Shadow's profile & pics have been submitted!

[kwterminator]

Thanks, where do you think I can get some more info on that kind of stuff? I'm not really a professional when it comes to taking care of pets, I just do enough so that my pet is happy and healthy...please, keep the reviews coming!

[Evey]

I e-mailed a copy of an interesting little scoring system for dog foods to your site. I have another one somewhere, but my computer has hidden it. When I find it I will forward that as well.

[ANNSMD]

I checked out your site and even put my pomeranian Smokeys profile! I think your family should be very proud of all the hard work you have done putting this together. I think that anyone with a pet is always looking for information. I have been searching the Library and internet on anything and everything that will help educate me. Good Luck to you and I hope you continue the good work!:)

[Evey]

Where are the profiles? I don't see a tab for them, and I tried to search for them but could not locate them.

I know when I built my website I had to go back & tweak it about a dozen times.....

[kwterminator]

Hi, the profiles can be found at the bottom of the breed pages. Evey, you submitted a Pomeranian, so you should click on Pomeranian and go to the bottom of the page. There'll be a link that says something like 'Go to Profiles.' But you're right, other people might want to see some other profiles. I have no idea how to make it so they can though...thanks for the reviews everybody, keep them coming!

[Evey]

Also, for the dogs you are missing the biggest group of all, the good old mutt. That is where I would find my dog (the Pom is someone else's, and very cute I might add!).

[kwterminator]

Evey, I DO have a section for mutts. Except I call it "Mixed Breeds" on the dog page. Take a look, it's there!

[Evey]

Found it! Guess you guys are still trying to decide which one of Shadow's cute photos to post.....

[kwterminator]

Actually, I've already picked one of Shadow's cute pictures. I didn't want to put Shadow in the mixed breeds because I've realized that many, many people have mutts. So I put Shadow in the Golden Retriever section since you merely described Shadow as a "golden mix."

[Evey]

When you click on the profile under Golden it takes you back to the top of the page. It is working in other breeds.

[Bettachris]

the fish section can be improved in my opinion. if you would like any help just let me know.

[kwterminator]

Yes!!! I would greatly appreciate help! Please! I really need it!

[Bettachris]

i am unavalible all day today, but here is something i wrote and i just copied it from my site that is under my sig.

Beginner fishkeepers
Welcome to the world of fishkeeping. If you are doing research before you get a new tank than you have stopped at the right thread.

Lets start with the basics:

The tank- There are many types of tanks and tanks come in different sizes. In general fishkeeping the larger the tank the better. the more gallons you have the more room there is for sucess. I would recommend getting a 29 gallon- 55 gallon for a starter tank. Often local fish stores will suggest a 10 gallon, which is ok but you can really stock alot of fishes in this tank.

Water- Water is not just water when it comes to fish, alot of it is a numbers game. Each area has its own water ph. Tap water is ok to add to a fish tank, the only thing is you need to get a de-choroline chemical like stress coat. Ph values are important with fish. Fish come from all over the world and all types of water. 7.0 is a neutral ph level. Most tap water is around 7.2 . Any level below 7.0 is considered acidic. South American fishes often like acidic water. Any level above 7.0 is considered alkaline. Fishes usually from Africa like high ph levels. It is important to keep fishes that are within close ph ranges from eachother. You wouldn't want to mix and african cichlid with an amazon fish.

Temp - water temp is also important. Fishes are classed in two different water temps, one being cold and cool water fishes like goldfish, and the other being tropical fishes like tetras and barbs. As a general rule you never want to mix goldfish with tropical fishes. There are a few exceptions to the rule as well.

Cycling- When you first get a tank i know it is hard not to get fishes and get the tank ready that day. You should first set the tank up with water and decour stuff like gravel, filters, etc... than it would be a good idea to let the tank sit for a day and let your filter work on cleaning the water. Next you are ready to get some fishes. It is important not to get alot of fishes. These fishes are not meant to be your final stocking. You need to get a few small hardy fishes to cycle your tank. These fishes basically have a hard job of adjusting the the poor water. Their real job is to poo in the tank and add ammonia to the tank. This is the process called cycling. After about a week and there was no major crashes in the tank than you should do a 25 % water change and than you can get new fishes. When stocking a new tank always stock slow. If you stock like crazy you will overload the tank and it's chances of crashing increase.

Stocking: The one inch per gallon rule is really out dated. But unfort it is very easy to overstock a tank. too much overstocking will lead to alot of illness, high ammonia levels, high nitrites, high nitrates and can lead to a tank crash.

Here is a general stocking for a 10 gallon:
5 cory catfish,
4 white cloud minnows,
3 male guppies,
1 pair of cherry barbs.

All of these are very common, cheap and hardy fishes.

Key terms: You will often hear these terms
LFS = local fish store
cycling = adding ammonia to a tank(same as seeding)
water parameter = ph,ammonia,nitrites,nitrates levels.
HOB= hang on back filters

Filters: Filters are very important for your fish. There are really 4 main types of filters. And Bio,mechanical,chemical filtertation.

Internal- There are internal power filters. Such as furval 400 and the whishper 10i. These filters are good for tight spaces.

Sponge filters- they run off of an air pump. While they dont really work that well from big active community tanks with alot of fishes, they are great for baby tanks.

HOB- Hang on the back filters are probably best for a 55 gallon or less. These filters just attach to the back of the tank and you fill it with cleaning media that you want.

Canister filters- These are big filters meant for 55 + gallons. They are great and powerful. Tend to be more excpensive but are worth it for larger tanks.

Under ground filter- considered old technology now, but still affective. it stays under the gravel and has one-four pipes sticking out where u can add a power head.


Things to get at a lfs:
Day 1) tank, stand, hood, light, gravel(xxxxxx pounds), Filter, air pump, air tubes, air stones, heater, live plants, python syphon, stress coat, stres zyme.

Day 3) After everything is set-up, a few small danios for cycling

Day 11) start stocking slow, i would also get a few more live plants, Medications like melafix, and pimafix are good to get as they will treat a wide range of illness.

Live plants: live plants are important to help keep your water parameters in check. live plants aren't as techincal as they are said to be. Amazon sword plants are hardy, java ferns are hardy. Best to stick with these.

Conclusion: If you have any other questions or problems just let us know.

by: bettachris


anyway i can help you alittle tomorrow but this weekend i have alot of stuff to do, so if you just want to pm me or just post any questions just let me know and i usually check once a night during this time and i will get back to you.

[krazy4birds]

Good luck with your website, I see a lot of hard work and hours that goes into making a new site, and I am glad you are getting so much help. However we do not make it a practice to promote other web sites in the main sections. I really appreciate your cooperation and I really do wish you much great success! If you have any questions feel free to PM me! Thanks so much Judy

[kitty_luver]

Great website!

[kwterminator]

I'm really honored to have gotten 3 out of 5 on my site so far! My site has only been online for a month! Keep the reviews coming!

Evey, can you resend that dog food grading thing? I seem to have misplaced it...I saw it, but then lost it...

[furryferals]

Nice site!!I gave it a 5:D
and I bookmarked it so I can find it easy:)