Ryan N

Can I use a titanium heater in a 10 G Rubbermaid container at temperatures near 90F? I read a website selling them saying it is not for use in small areas such as sumps but there was no explanation. There is no water movement in the container and the heater is placed at the bottom with suction cups so the glass does not touch the plastic.

I'm looking for a submersible heater that can heat water to about 90 degrees Fahrenheit . I was using a Visi-Therm 100 W that was set at 89F in 10 gallons of water. It worked for about 4 days then shattered in the water. Anyone know of a good submersible heater that can achieve this? It is not for use in an aquarium with fish, or anything live for that matter. Just thought someone in this section of the forum may know the answer. Thanks!

Now that Proctor & Gamble bought Natura Pet Products, I expect to see a lower quality ingredients being used in their lines shorty. Proctor & Gamble made Iams and Eukanuba some of the worst brands after they bought it, and I'm sure they will do it to Natura as well. Natura has Evo, Innova, California Natural, Healthwise and Karma.

If you use these brands do you plan to switch? If so, which line of Natura are you currently using and what do you plan to switch to?

Why do so many people think canned food is a treat and should not be used as a steady diet? It is much better than dry food; it provides the moisture that dogs and cats need to help their kidneys digest food properly.

Saying dry food cleans their teeth is like me saying I eat a butterfinger every night to clean my teeth. Have you ever left dry food on a paper bag overnight? The bag looks like McDonald's french fries were left there instead. Dry food is full of sugars, fats, and oils to get your pets to eat the food. Just look at the ingredients on what your feeding your pet. I bet 75% of the people looking will find low quality by-products, corn wheat and soy listed before any actual meat. Research the dog food pyramid and you will find raw and freeze dried raw at the top, followed by canned food, and dry kibble at the bottom.

What type of food do chinchillas need? I'm looking for a high quality chinchilla food but I'm not sure what their requirements are as far as the source of protein (meat or vegetable/fruit based), and the amounts of protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates. The only food that seems to be recommended on the web is Mazuri, but it is made by Purina so if it is anything like their dog or cat food it isn't going to be too healthy. Thanks!

Our cat named Cosmo hasn't been feeling too well lately. He slept on my bed all day Thursday and into Friday. Friday night he slept under the covers for the first time. Today his weight loss is very noticeable, he doesn't want to eat or drink. He cries when you try to pick him up. He is 3 years old and when we adopted him at 6 weeks he had FIV. There is constant discharge from his eyes, but today his noes is dripping clear discharge and there is dried blood on his nose. I thought he had herpes, but I've been going through all the vet's papers and haven't found the results of his test. Does the Cat Flu seem to fit well with his symptoms? He will be taken to a vet on Sunday. I have him sleeping on my bed surrounded by a blanket to help keep him warm, and a humidifier is running in the same room to help with his dry nose. IS there anything else that can be done now? Would A Hi-Calorie supplement help since he hasn't eaten in at least 2 days.

What other vitamins and supplements should any cat with FIV be on? Thanks!

Why does Purina use by-products, corn, and corn gluten in most of their products? If by-products are grade 4D meats (dead, diseased, dying, and decayed) and corn is indigestible, and glutens are by-products of corn or wheat (also indigestible among other issues), why does Pro Plan advertise their products as healthy, digestible food for animals?

Since a member from Pro Plan is in this section I'd just like to throw out a question for them.

Why does Purina use by-products, corn, and corn gluten in most of their products? If by-products are grade 4D meats (dead, diseased, dying, and decayed) and corn is indigestible, and glutens are by-products of corn or wheat (also indigestible among other issues), why does Pro Plan advertise their products as healthy, digestible food for animals?

I can't imagine Kaytee or L&M are any good. What brands of hamster, rat, and other small animal foods are of high quality?

Why do Guineas need a Vitamin C supplement? If they are being fed high quality food (Oxbow), why is it needed? Also, I heard somewhere that The Vitamin C liquid for use in water is not absorbed as well as it would be if the supplement was in a pill form. Why is this? How would you get a Guinea to eat a supplement in a pill form?

I heard there was a new canned dog food from Merrick. Does anybody know what it is? I know there are seasonal foods they make, but are there any other ones that are being made? Thanks!

We have a 2 year old female cat with FIV. She is usually very active and regularly accepts her food. Recently she's been sleeping often, and would rather stay inside during the day than be out. She's become a very finicky eater.

Currently she will only eat chicken. I don't feed them dry food, as I am aware that the low moisture in dry food causes their kidney's to work harder eventually causing kidney failure. She is fed Weruva canned food, a grain-free food made with human-grade ingredients. She will also eat freeze dried raw food if it is chicken. I've tried raw food, but she is not interested.

I don't mind always getting Weruva chicken for her, but I would like to be able to switch her protein source to another type of meat for better nutrition. What could be causing her eating habits to be off, and could her recent abnormal behavior have anything to do with it?

There's a tagged pigeon on our deck, It has an orange tag taht reads 134 RI 2009 on one leg and a blue tag on the other leg. What does it mean and what do we do?

Do vets recommend it because they think its a good food or because they are getting it for free from the manufacturer and sell it for a 100% profit. I'd like to ask a vet why a food that has ground corn meal and animal-by-products as the first 2 ingredients used makes that food good. It is absolute crap, but is recommended by vets and animal shelters becuase they get the food for free in exchange that the person who adopts it will continue buying it until the dog dies.

I have no experience with ferrets, but I've used L&M Bonanza food to feed my other hamsters and mice, so I figured that brand would be good for a ferret (ferret food from L&M Bonanza). We'll, I had a customer today that said it wasn't good because it contained grains and ferret food should only have meat in it. I don't want to carry L&M at my store if it isn't as good.

What kind of nutrition do ferrets need, and what do you think is a great food for them? How does everyone else feel about L&M foods for the other small animals they make food for?

Thanks!

I opened a healthy pet supply a little while ago and have since been researching and getting a better understanding of why most pet foods are bad. I have my 2 cats eating high quality (Weruva) canned food and sometimes we mix in frozen raw food (Bravo or Nature's Variety).

I don't feed dry becuase cats should have more moisture in their food and it will help to prevent UTI in our cat with Feline AIDS and herpes. Would dry food be ok if water were added to it? I don't mind avoiding dry food, I'm now just curious if there was a way to continue feeding dry in a matter that is moist and better to eat?

My sister has had this dog for 3 years now. This picture is when she got them in March 2006 (the black dog). http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8981/justgroome... They were both adopted and were told it is a minipin/chihuahua mix. He seems to have more hair in the summer than in the winter as in this pic http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gizandbaby....

Its been 3 years since those pictures were taken, and he only has hair down his spine, on his tail, and parts of his face.

I've been looking online for hours for reasons. One reason that seems to make sense is Canine Recurrent Flank Alopecia. Less melatonin due to shorter days in the winter causing less hair seems reasonable. He always lays in the sun, but he shakes and usually has a sweater on in the winter During spring and summer it seems his hair seems to fill in on his back, but his stomach and chin is still bare.

The other cause for hair loss I saw is hyperthyroidism. It seems miniature pinschers are more prone to this, which is why I'd like to know what type of dog he looks like.

I plan on getting him to a vet to be checked to see if either are the cause. Vets in the past came up empty for causes.

I have 3 red hooks in a 55 gallon that are about 6 inches now. They are really aggressive when it comes to feeding, and I'd like to add something to the tank that can hold its own during feeding. A shoal of medium fish would be nice, or maybe a catfish that gets to about 6-8 inches. Any suggestions?

I just got stung by my lionfish while cleaning my tank. I didn't expect the initial sting to hurt like it did. I'm assuming at most my finger or hand will swell up. Anyone else been stung by theirs?

The only online store that I found selling them were asking $16.49 each, and they were sold out. I was surprised to see them at an aquarium store for only $3.99 each. What do they usually sell for?

Also, why are most rainbowfish somewhat expensive? Bosemanis, turquise, furcata, celebes and the Sepik Rainbowfish (Glossolepis multisquamatus) all cost me about $10-$15 per fish.