GOLDFISH

Goldfish Goldfish require little care if given the attention they need. They are an easy, delightful pet to keep. The variety of bowls and aquariums available today can provide a suitable environment for the goldfish and will make attractive additions to your home. The most common goldfish available today is the comet goldfish, named after the comet shape of its tail. Other common types of goldfish include the Fantails, Calicos and Black Moores. These are similar in shape and show the same distinctive three part tail. Other types of goldfish show many varied and unique shapes. Celestials (whose eyes face upwards), Orandas (who have a distinctive hood on their heads), Bubble Eyes and Sarassa Fantails are just a few of the more exotic goldfish available today.

GOLDFISH BOWLS:

The most common place goldfish are kept is in the goldfish bowl. Goldfish require a larger amount of space per fish than tropicals and should be kept in the largest bowl you can get. The best rule of thumb is to keep one goldfish for each gallon of water. Goldfish bowls come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many of these bowls are rectangular in shape while others are “drum” shaped. The surface area of the bowl is where the carbon dioxide produced by the fish is exchanged for the oxygen in the air. For this reason, it is best to fill the drum shaped bowl only 3/4 of the way, leaving as large a surface area as possible. Many people have difficulty in keeping the water clear even though the bowl is cleaned and the water dechlorinated on a regular basis. Goldfish are considered to be a cold water fish, meaning they do best in cool water where there is a larger amount of available oxygen. Since the goldfish use so much oxygen and the water is warm, bacteria develop quickly, the water becomes cloudy and the available oxygen is depleted. You can tell when the oxygen level is low when your goldfish are gasping at the surface of the water. One means of solving this problem of cloudy water is to keep the bowl in a cool location where the temperature will remain relatively constant. Goldfish bowls can become cloudy due to overcrowding. Too many fish in the bowl will exhaust the available oxygen very quickly. The extra foods and waste produced by the fish will also increase the levels of bacteria creating cloudy water. It is better to keep one goldfish per gallon of water than to provide him with a companion.

Overfeeding is another reason goldfish bowls will become cloudy. You can avoid this by feeding your fish very small amounts of food often, rather than one or two large meals per day. This way uneaten food will not cloud the water. The water conditions can be improved with a pump and filter designed for goldfish bowls. The increased movement at the surface of the bowl allows for faster exchanges of carbon dioxide and oxygen and the water is filtered to help eliminate some bacteria.

AQUARIUMS:

Of course, goldfish can be kept in an aquarium. Be careful to keep the number of goldfish at a minimum since overcrowding can cause problems; 1 to 2 fish per gallon of water is recommended. Provide filtration in the form of a corner filter, an under gravel filter, a sponge filter or an outside power filter. The aquarium can be lit using an incandescent or fluorescent reflector. If you use an incandescent reflector, remember that it will produce heat and should only be on about 4 hours per day. Gravel can be used for decorative purposes, a means of providing some additional filtration and as an anchor for plants. Real or artificial plants can be used. Goldfish will eat certain types of live plants.

MAINTENANCE:

Unlike tropical fish, goldfish are considered cold water fish, and prefer water temperatures that are cooler than most tropicals require. This is one reason that goldfish are not recommended as additions to the warmer community tropical fish tank, since they use more oxygen per fish than do the tropicals. When goldfish are kept in bowls, water changes are necessary. Make sure that the new water has been dechlorinated and is about the same temperature as the water the goldfish was in before the change. Keep the bowl in a location where dust and kitchen greases cannot coat the surface, causing a oxygen supply problem. In the filtered aquarium, only partial water changes are necessary. Every week or so, remove about one-quarter to one-third of the water from the tank. An aquarium siphon works best because it will remove the water from the bottom of the aquarium where it is most dirty and also clean the debris from the gravel. As with goldfish bowls, the new water should be dechlorinated and be approximately the same temperature as the water that was removed.

FEEDING:

The dietary requirements of goldfish are simple. Keep in mind that the goldfish is primarily a herbivore who prefers plant foods over animal foods. Basic goldfish flakes are an excellent place to begin, but should be supplemented with a variety of other foods. Conditioning (vegetable) flakes are helpful, as is the addition of some soft live plant foods, like anacharis. They can also be fed freeze dried tubifex worms and pelleted type foods. Feed the goldfish only the amount of food they can consume in about 5 minutes. Some experimentation might be necessary, but you will be rewarded by having a clearer bowl or aquarium.

HEALTH:

Goldfish can suffer the same types of diseases as tropicals and can be medicated accordingly. The most common problems occur due to overcrowding. Goldfish especially are susceptible to a number of diseases that can be traced to crowded living conditions. Some signs to look for are a lack of appetite, scraping the body against the rocks or gravel, white spots the size of grains of salt or frayed fins. All these problems can be cured using medications for fish available at pet stores. A good diet, plenty of room, and proper living conditions will all help to minimize any potential problems.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Questions

Do Ruffin’s stores sell items made in China?

Products made in China are almost impossible to avoid in any store these days so yes Ruffin’s stores do have products from China. With suppliers bringing things in from all over the world we will inevitably have products like toys, dishes, aquarium ornaments, cages etc. from China. What we don’t have are any foods or treats or chews from China


Does Ruffin’s carry raw food for dogs?

Yes most of the Ruffin’s store carry frozen raw diets available in a variety of meats.


How many Ruffin’s stores are there?

There are currently 14 Ruffin’s stores located though out Southern Ontario. Check our store locator for one near you.


Cats

My cat had FUS crystals, he had the operation to remove them and is now on a food from the Vet that is very expensive. Is there an alternative?

I hate to go against what your Vet is telling you so I will suggest you discuss my answer with them before switching foods. That being said my answer is yes there are alternatives. Companies like Hills and Royal Canin that make the Vet diets also make Urinary diets that are available at pet stores. Stop in at your local Ruffin’s and our staff will be glad to show you your choices.


Should I give my cat catnip?

Sure, catnip is an all natural product that contains no harmful ingredients. Pick out a good quality catnip or catnip toy (hold it up to your nose you should be able to smell it) and introduce it to you cat. Observe your cat and if you feel they get a little too excited for your liking simply stop using it. Catnip is not addictive and will cause and long term affects. I should note that some cats have little or no reaction to catnip but don’t be disappointed just find something else you cat likes.


I just got a new kitten what kind of cat litter should I use?

The world of cat litter just keeps expanding with new offering made of the most unusual materials popping up all the time. The most popular litter is clumping clay litter, low cost combined with great odor reduction keep this litter on top. How ever we don’t recommend clumping litter for young kittens as they tend to ingest the litter while grooming. For kitten I prefer a regular non clumping clay letter or one of the alternative litters made from Pine, Wheat, Corn or grass like Smart Cat.


Should I feed my cats wet food or dry?

This is an endless debate and I see nothing wrong with feeding either food or even mixing the two. The quality available in dry foods today would have astounded me 20 years ago. It is now easy to find good diets containing high levels of protein that cats readily eat on any pet store’s shelves. Canned or wet foods remain popular with many due to the varied diets and healthy ingredients they offer to the cats we love. For me it comes down to a matter of preference and time. Dry foods offer perfectly healthy balanced diets with convenience at a slightly lower cost than canned.


Dogs

My dog is finicky and I have a hard time finding a food she likes. She like Beneful but I want to feed something better, what food works for finicky dogs?

This is one of the most asked questions in our stores. Finding a food your dog loves to eat can sometimes be very hard. All I can suggest is that you experiment. There are lot of very high quality palatable foods out there. Try different protein sources like Duck, Fish or Venison. One of the foods I often recommend for fussy eaters is Oven baked Tradition OBT for short. Oven baked is the only company that baked their food in ovens like you would a cookie the result is a mouth feel and bite many dogs like. Switching off Beneful can be difficult, you see Beneful uses sugar in their food, there’s no reason for it except dogs love the taste, it’s not good for them and it can make it hard to get dogs to change foods but the health benefits are worth the effort.


My dog has fleas what do I do?

External parasites like fleas, ticks, and mosquitos can make your pets life miserable and can carry disease. My preference is to use flea drops from companies like Zodiac and Infestop. They work quickly and keep on working for up to a month. Just make sure you get the drops right down to the skin when applying. For fleas around the home I prefer the 1-2 punch of a fast acting less expensive insecticide using pyrethrins in main areas along with a residual insecticide for cracks and crevices, under furniture etc. where fleas like to hide. Nothing can replace vacuuming for ridding a home of fleas


Can Cockatiels learn to talk?

Yes Cockatiels, Budgies and many other birds in the parakeet family can be taught to mimic words, sounds and whistles. Patience and repetition are important. Start with simple single syllable words and build your birds vocabulary from there.


How can I tell if the Budgie I have is a boy or a girl?

Budgies are one of the easiest pet birds to sex. If your bird is an adult look at the cere (nostrils above the beak). On an adult male it should be blue and a female will be brown. On juvenile birds the male is a light violet and the female is a light blue.


My dog is finicky and I have a hard time finding a food she likes. She like Beneful but I want to feed something better, what food works for finicky dogs?

This is one of the most asked questions in our stores. Finding a food your dog loves to eat can sometimes be very hard. All I can suggest is that you experiment. There are lot of very high quality palatable foods out there. Try different protein sources like Duck, Fish or Venison. One of the foods I often recommend for fussy eaters is Oven baked Tradition OBT for short. Oven baked is the only company that baked their food in ovens like you would a cookie the result is a mouth feel and bite many dogs like. Switching off Beneful can be difficult, you see Beneful uses sugar in their food, there’s no reason for it except dogs love the taste, it’s not good for them and it can make it hard to get dogs to change foods but the health benefits are worth the effort.


My dog has fleas what do I do?

External parasites like fleas, ticks, and mosquitos can make your pets life miserable and can carry disease. My preference is to use flea drops from companies like Zodiac and Infestop. They work quickly and keep on working for up to a month. Just make sure you get the drops right down to the skin when applying. For fleas around the home I prefer the 1-2 punch of a fast acting less expensive insecticide using pyrethrins in main areas along with a residual insecticide for cracks and crevices, under furniture etc. where fleas like to hide. Nothing can replace vacuuming for ridding a home of fleas.


Birds

How can I tell if Budgie I have is a boy or a girl ?

Budgies are one of the easiest pet birds to sex . If your bird is an adult look at the care (nostrils above the beak). On an adult male it should be blue and a female will be brown . on juvenile birds the male is a light violet and female is a light blue .


Can Cockatiels learn to talk ?

Yes Cockatiels budgies and many other bird in the parakeet family can be taught to mimic word, sounds and whistles . patience and repetition are impotent . start with simple single syllable word and build your birds vocabulary from there.


Fish and Aquarium

How often do I have to clean my aquarium?

Aquarium maintenance will vary based on the number of fish, size of tank and filtration but a good rule of thumb is to remove 10-25% of the water in the tank once a month. The water should be taken from the bottom of the aquarium using a gravel siphon. Remember to treat the replacement water to remove chlorine.


Can I put goldfish in with my tropical fish?

This would depend on a number of factors but in general it is not a good idea to mix goldfish and tropical fishes. The warm water favoured by tropical may be too warm for coldwater loving goldfish.


I hear I am supposed to add salt to my fish tank, how much do I add?

Yes salt is beneficial to your fish and improves the aquarium environment. Add the salt slowly to a maximum of 1- 2 teaspoons per gallon. Only add salt if you are replacing water and only I ratio to the amount of water you are adding. Don’t add more salt if you add water due to evaporation. Remember not all fish tolerate salt well, South American Tetras and Cory Cats do not tolerate salt well while Mollies do well with even more.


Reptiles

I’m getting a Crested Geckco and I’m not sure what to feed her?

Crested Geckos eat a slightly varied diet that can include fruits and insects. I like to feed live crickets along with powdered complete diets like Repashy or Exo Terra’s Ready to eat food cups.


Small Animals

I think my hamster is pregnant, when should expect babies?

A hamster’s gestation period is about 16 to 30 days depending on what type of hamster you have. The gestation period for a common or Syrian hamster is 16 days; for dwarf and Chinese hamsters it is 18 – 21 days, and for Roborovski Hamsters it is 23 – 30 days.


My ferret smells bad. I’ve only had him a short time and he descented but still smells.

Ferrets, even descented ones, still have a slight odour but it shouldn’t be that bad. Make sure the bedding is clean including washing any fabric beds and toys in your ferret’s home. Bathing your ferret with a good quality ferret shampoo or even a shampoo designed for deskunking will help.


My rabbit has red pee is she okay?

Red or blood in the urine is always a concern and a Vet should be consulted. However sometimes rabbits will have red in their urine from excess calcium. Does your rabbit have a Calcium block in their enclosure. Don’t leave calcium blocks in your rabbits home at all times as it can lead to excessive calcium intake.


How long will my hamster live?

The life expectancy of hamsters varies by the breed. Common short haired hamster will live approximately 3 years, teddy bear hamster 2-3 years, Roborovski hamsters 3-4 years. Proper care and good nutrition will help your hamster live a longer happier life.


STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK THE EXPERT