[ Rules ] [ ot / g / m ] [ pt / snow / w ] [ meta ] [ Server Status ]

/ot/ - off-topic

Name
Email
Subject
Comment
File(20 MB max)
Video
Password (For post deletion)

The site maintenance is completed but lingering issues are expected, please report any bugs here

File: 1664544711185.jpg (146.83 KB, 550x379, pets.jpg)

No. 1358370

Previous thread >>>/ot/82226

Everything about pets you have or want. Give advice about pets you have, advice on whether or not you should get one and which kind, if you have one and are worried about it, resources links, facilities etc.

No. 1358372

File: 1664545103129.jpg (23.98 KB, 780x450, List-of-The-Best-Pocket-Pets-B…)

>>1358370
i hate the fact that you cant bathe majority of rodents. Like yeah there are some who you can bathe but even then you are only allowed to bathe them rarely, and no matter how good you take care of them and their cage they still end up stinky due to no bathing. ahhh i just want a rodent that can be bathed.

No. 1358380

>>1358372
imo bunnies dont stink at all, and dont need baths
i miss smelling mine in their nape, so good and warm

No. 1358384

>>1358380
Rabbits arent rodents so that's probably why they smell nice

No. 1358389

>>1358372
My hamster smells good and is a very clean animal. She goes potty in the same spot every time and uses her sandbath regularly so she is never greasy. Though she does piss in her wheel and run in the piss so it grosses me out when I see people online put their hamsters on their beds

No. 1358416

>>1358372
I've had guinea pigs that were alright with baths, as long as it's very shallow water and you're not wetting their face. Then you put them in a towel and carry em around like a baby afterwards. Good times

No. 1358424

>>1358416
how many times a year are you able to bathe them?

No. 1358440

>>1358423
I think most guides say to only do it 4 times a year. I used to cater differently depending on the pig. Some are good at keeping themselves clean, some are more skittish than others so it'd only stress them. The most chill pig that I ever had happened to also be the worst one for just laying in pee sometimes so I bathed her more often and it wasn't an issue. I had shampoo that's made especially for them. I used it sparingly and got years out of the bottle.

No. 1358446

>>1358389
animals that take sandbaths are so fucking cute, makes me wanna cry seeing them roll around and floof up

No. 1358447

>>1358440
>I think most guides say to only do it 4 times a year.
Yeah thats not for me then, i prefer a animal that could be bathed atleast 1 a week.

No. 1358466

>>1358447
get a liguana, i don't think anything fluffy will like to be bathed so often

No. 1358995

>>1358372
>>1358447
That's such a retarded reason for wanting an animal lmao, just become a pet groomer or some shit.

No. 1380996

File: 1666295949158.jpg (71.4 KB, 600x1015, e4683caa45d5cb6c17c8f35cc3a046…)

i want a hamster, nearby breeder waitlist is over a year tho. been wondering if hamsters of different coat types are harder to take care of. like long hair rex hamsters are so cute but do they get more tangles cus their fur is curly?

No. 1381009

>>1380996
I've owned long haired syrians and they definitely do require care. I had a good boy and he didn't mind me brushing him with a toothbrush but he occasionally did get mats I would just cut out. The nature of hamster behavior with the burrowing and nesting in shredded paper with long fur doesn't mix well. I have short haired syrian now and while she isn't as floofy it's nice not having to brush her. Just my 2c

No. 1381028

>>1381009
Also, they need HUGE cages and wheels that won't ruin their spine. Victoria Raechel on Youtube is a good source.

No. 1381223

File: 1666306311002.jpg (69.24 KB, 534x502, 172426243_457466672141612_4492…)

>>1381009
>>1381028
thought that would be the case, i am used to trimming knots on long haired pets but I feel kinda bad having to do it at all, i always would feel awful trimming chunks to get knots and burs off of my moms cat. if I get to choose between a long haired and a short haired syrian I'll go with the shortie for sure. i already have a big space planned for it because I wanna see it burrow deep in a naturalist cage, but i think im gonna get a wheel right after I get the hammy so I can measure her and make sure shes got the right size in case shes the fatty in her litter, idk yet. anyway I will go watch some videos, thank you nona

No. 1381289

File: 1666309769895.jpg (26.97 KB, 467x259, a6fae9604b4d8ee27da272a3fe9d82…)

Any other nonas keeping reptiles? I have 4 lizards atm, with plans to get more when I have more money/space. I want snakes too but the people I live with are very afraid of them, so I'll have to wait until I move out. I'm afraid I'm turing into a crazy lizard lady but they're just the perfect small pets for me, they don't smell, make noise or need constant attention like birds/mammals do. I feel like there used to be some sort of stigma for people that owned reptiles being freaks but now I see a ton of normie women and insta thots that have exotic pets for pics, I just hope they are being taken care of as well as they can be and not just used for clout.

No. 1433034

File: 1670216276669.jpg (133.75 KB, 1071x1427, 9a3e4156-e275-4022-8040-66e98e…)


No. 1433043

>>1381289
I had an iguana as a child I loved so much, he was such a relaxed and nice pet. I loved petting his spines and feeding him dandelion greens
What kind of lizards do you have?

No. 1433045

I got a Bluetooth feeder thing with a camera so I can see my bunnies even when I'm at work! 12/10 recommend this purchase to other pet owners, makes being out of the house much more bearable.

No. 1433336

>>1433034
The pic is funny and cute but I honestly don't get owners who let the dog chew on their shoes. It's literally so easy to train your dog not to go in certain rooms (I trained mine so she won't go in the bathroom, kitchen and upstairs) and if the dog has a chewing problem why not get it some kind of chew toy? Or excercise it enough?

No. 1433438

>>1433336
My dog had a shoe chewing phase and then he just grew out of it. No amount of training, positive or negative reinforcement or redirection or tiring him out would work. He was like a teething baby magnetized towards shoes. I remember I had a pair of nice sandals I never even got to wear he ruined them. Why do I own this creature again

No. 1500837

is it okay to wash a guinea pig once a week if you are only washing their bottom. Like if they end up laying in their pee or have diarrhea ….is it okay for me to bathe them regularly.

No. 1500845

>>1500837
There's videos online of that. Make sure it's relatively a pleasant experience for your little potato, like use warm water, maybe get a giant Tupperware or flat baking dish to put water into so they can stand straight. Just don't put them on their back while you're washing their little bottoms, their spines are very stiff and can't handle that. You might also just want some non scented baby wipes to wipe their little behinds.

No. 1501349

File: 1676513202174.png (881.77 KB, 1064x1048, betta.png)

been thinking about owning a full moon betta fish in a good tank. pic related looks like one from a good fish store that i think about a lot. that or im thinking of cute little shrimps but i fear i wont know enough about salt water tanks so they would die.

No. 1501361

>>1501349
there are tons of fresh water shrimps anon and they're super easy to care for if you make a live plant tank. if you have a local aquarium store, you can ask about some. i'd recommend neocaridina shrimp because they're not as sensitive to water temp or ph as crystal shrimp. they're also tiny so you can keep a lot! i was trying to find a pic of my tank but couldn't.

No. 1501374

>>1501361
aww those are cute I will look into it. maybe I could start freshwater then get a saltwater tank when I'm more comfortable. there was a tank of black, orange, red shrimps which looked so cute, maybe freshwater. I don't remember what type they were though.

No. 1501414

>>1501349
Betta and shrimp are great pets to get into the fishkeeping hobby. There's a bunch of freshwater shrimp, I recommend neocaridina shrimp like the other anon. They're easy to care for, don't require a lot of space and come in fun colours (though don't house them together with other colours or they'll just all end up brown). You can even house them with bettas, though some bettas may try to eat them. Aquascaping is really relaxing, you can make this beautiful planted tank for your pets. The main thing as a beginner is you'll want to set your tank up before you get your fish and shrimp so that beneficial bacteria start to grow. If you introduce the shrimp and betta too soo it can really stress and possibly kill them. Give it some thought and feel free to come ask questions if you decide to do it

No. 1505252

File: 1676941742330.gif (941.08 KB, 350x196, oxCvECTF4hAAAAAC.gif)

I'm considering either getting bunnies or hamsters. I'm planning on getting at least two since they are social creatures and I read they can get depression and die early if they are alone so they need one of their own kind. So my question is: if I get two rabbits and then one dies before the other one what do I do? Do I get another rabbit? I'm scared that I will end in an endless loop where I get a new rabbit to replace and old one just to make sure that the other rabbit doesn't feel alone. This isn't practical but it depresses me to see an old rabbit that doesn't have a rabbit friend

No. 1505257

>>1505252
when it comes to social animals that are paired like that, you wouldn't really want to replace one member of the pair anyway. They tend to die pretty close to one another, and by the time one of them did die the other would be very unlikely to get along with any new pet you introduce.

No. 1505258

>>1505257
samefagging but source: had pet rats as a child and tried introducing them to a class pet rat that I was taking care of for the weekend and they did not like her.

No. 1505259

>>1505252
omfg nona are you me? I was considering getting rabbits, but did not for that exact reason: the endless rabbit loop. I don't know if I can commit to having rabbits for the rest of my life.

No. 1505297

File: 1676948316126.jpg (49.66 KB, 640x551, blackotterrex.jpg)

>>1505252
You both absolutely need to make sure you get two. I was like you and thought the exact same thing, but read over and over there needs to be two. I found it easier to buy two siblings since they already know each other and mine didn't need to be bonded. I could see what people mean by they need the other. They're extremely social animals.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but they'll be happier, be able to be groomed better, and they'll do more cute things together. Two rabbits also don't need much more space than one. If the rabbit is alone, it'll be extremely anxious always. A human can't replace a rabbit companion no matter what you do.
>>1505259
Look into Rex rabbits. (Pic related. The color is called black otter rex and I love it) They have very short, low-maintenance luxurious coats and live generally 5-8 years compared to some rabbit breeds that live much longer.

No. 1505394

>>1505297
those bunnies are so gorgeous wow

No. 1505574

>>1505257
Sounds difficult. I would feel bad for the lonely one if one died. I have been considering gerbils since my hamster died but I think I won't. I heard they can randomly stop liking each other and they are so destructive they chew up water bottles and wheels. In comparison hamsters are angels

No. 1505580

>>1433045
That's beautiful nona. I hope all pet owners love their animals as much as you do.

>>1505252
>>1505297
You don't have to get stuck in an endless cycle. There's usually two options when you're bonded rabbit's companion dies. One, you can adopt a second older one. There are lots of older bunnies at the shelter and since they live about ten years, if you get one the same age, then they will pass at roughly the same time.
Two, this one is sadder as an owner but it's what people around me do with sheep since they have the same problem. If your rabbit's friend dies, you can find another person who's rabbit has also died and give away your rabbit to them in it's final years. It's sad, but it also ensures that your rabbit has a friend until the end.
The third option is you can always foster a bunny for your older rabbit and then give it back to the shelter when your bunny passes, but this one comes with the risk of becoming attached to the foster and adopting it, and then needing another rabbit as your new bunny's friend.

No. 1505603

File: 1676988431337.jpg (200.39 KB, 1600x1067, IMG_3927-scaled-e1618513445767…)

i recommend prairie dogs, they are adorable and communicative. Better have two females though, because when you have male and a female the male protects her and is a little mean sometimes. I really like how their face looks when you scratch them and they enjoy it kek

No. 1505610

my dog howls in his sleep sometimes when he has a nightmare, he wakes up disoriented and sometimes he'll keep howling as he runs around in panic for a good few seconds before he realizes his dream is over. does anyone else's dog do this? how did you help him?

No. 1505612

>>1505610
I do what your dog does so please let me know when you find out.

No. 1505615

>>1505610
Not sure where your dog sleeps but would a blanket or clothing item with your scent on it help calm his nerves while he is sleeping?

No. 1505620

>>1505615
this happens even when he sleeps in bed next to me, I've been trying to pet him in his sleep whenever I notice he's having a nightmare to see if it helps but I also need a more long-term solution because I can't always stay up all night
I'm also afraid of leaving him alone because I hate the thought of this happening and me not being there to comfort him

No. 1505635

>>1505620
Bless you, I've heard weighted blankets can help and not that it's something that's backed up beyond personal experience but dogs sense of smell is their strongest sense so find a smell he really likes and plug in an air freshener with that smell while he sleeps. I know dogs brains are less complex but it should help him from getting anxious.

No. 1528096

File: 1679239950209.png (353 KB, 1136x836, fountain.png)

since my cat likes to drink from the toilet bowl, i'm going to buy a water fountain for him. any tips/advice/personal experiences with those things?

No. 1528105

>>1528096
Don't get a plastic one! I have one and it's such a pain to clean I feel like it's always dirty. My cat is also a goober and likes to try and knock it over, so I'm planning on getting him a ceramic one. I saw one on amazon for $80 which I think would be a good deal beach it's filtetless and I've probably spent over $80 on filters for his cheap plastic fountain.

No. 1528113

>>1528109
Ugh, can't delete for typo. Meant to say the pump filter gets clogged with kitty hair. That's what you sometimes have to pull out of the filter to get the pump working again.

No. 1528115

>>1528109
Ugh, can't delete for typo. Meant to say the pump filter gets clogged with kitty hair. That's what you sometimes have to pull out of the filter to get the pump working again.

No. 1649502

necroing but whatever it's relevant and thread isn't too too old yet. Anyways, I'm going to get a kitten (kittens?) in a few weeks. I'm still debating on whether I should get two or one. Researching online has told me that they'll end up maladjusted, destructive, bored, etc etc etc if you only get one. And I'd really appreciate if they wouldn't completely wreck my apartment, and it seems like getting two could possibly mitigate that.
Otherwise, any advice for a first time kitten owner?

No. 1649504

>>1649502
I've got two, and at one point we lived in a studio. Having two kittens is so much easier bc they'll play with each other if you're busy. Good luck with your kitten(s?)!

No. 1649511

>>1649504
I live in a one bedroom! my previous next door neighbor had two cats in an identical layout so I know it's possible. I don't have much of a life but i do worry about one kitten getting lonely when i'm gone for class or my part time job, even if it's just for a few hours at a time.

No. 1649552

>>1649511
I mean, cats sleep a lot. Even when I work from home, my two spend a lot of time sleeping, haha. But yeah it sounds like two would be best. I mean, I always want two. I guess it just depends if you can get two who are bonded / littermates or something.

No. 1649620

>>1649502
I would get two. They will occupy each other and will get less lonely. There's something people refer to as "single kitten syndrome" that theorizes a single cat household is a poorly socialized cat household. I have noticed the difference between single cat households, and kittens introduced to households who have others to keep them occupied.
My parents got a cat a while back. They were able to bring her in from being a feral street kitten, but only my parents could touch her for more than a brief moment. After being socialized regularly with my cats for around 3 weeks, she's become very affectionate with me, less stressed, and begs for attention from my parents less. They didn't have a lot of time for her, but having playmates alleviates her loneliness.
It is best to get them as littermates as >>1649552 says, so there is less stress introducing them to each other, but it isn't necessary. Just don't force them into each other's spaces before they're ready! Kittens are curious and love playing, so they will get used to other kittens more easily.

No. 1649626

>>1649620
I kept seeing that phrase pop up. If I couldn't get littermates (or want two that don't look exactly alike lol, there are so many black cats around me i feel like it would take awhile to learn to tell them apart if I got two) i'd definitely get two of the same age. Do you have much experience with male vs female cats? I've read that once they're spayed/neutered they don't act significantly different but I've also heard that some neutered males still spray and I want to avoid that as much as possible.

No. 1649634

>>1649626
Unrelated kittens around the same age could work. Momma cats IRL often combine litters and will help each other raise them. So it could be done.

For male vs female… I have two neutered males now and they don't spray. In the past I had a male cat that was neutered and he'd try to spray, but he wouldn't leave anything behind. It's unfortunately up to the individual cat. But most of the neutered males I've had have never sprayed.

I havent had much difference between males and females in general though.

>>1649620
Awww sounds so cute, the little feral kitten! I'm glad she's doing so well

No. 1649855

>>1649626
I grew up around cats, my family always had several at a time, and never have I encountered a neutered male cat who still sprayed. I'm not saying the chance is 0 but I think it's very unlikely.

No. 1651173

>>1649502
i also recently got two kittens! i think if you want a single cat it's better to adopt an older one from a shelter, since they'll be calmer.
kittens definitely need a lot of play time and i'm really glad they can play with eachother (even though they still bother me to play with them when they're bored).
i have no advice though as i'm still figuring things out with my two girls.

No. 1723996

My partner has had a kitten for 5 weeks, he just got a new kitten around the same age but smaller size and the first one hates her and wants to kill her. He lives in an apartment he got from his mom and his mom just invited herself over, and let the cats in the same room, she hates cats and probably won't cooperate. My partner is sick right now and unable to go to a store or get feliway so what can he do? We live in different countries so I can't do anything in person.

No. 1724084

>>1723996
He can’t just order it online?

No. 1724127

>>1724084
No because he has all his money in cash so he can't pay with a card.

No. 1724310

>>1724127
>doesn't have any money on a card
>doesn't think to lock one kitten up in the bathroom or bedroom to keep them apart
>doesn't have the balls to make his mother behave in his own living space
>can't be that sick or he wouldn't have gotten two kittens but still refuses to go to the store
>even if he's too sick, doesn't think to ask anyone in his social circles to get whatever he needs from the store for him
you're trying to solve a problem for a retarded family but you can't fight retardism

No. 1724324

>>1723996
is he not in the same apartment as them? he cant separate them himself?

No. 1724411

>>1724127
I’m seconding the other anons that your boyfriend has an idiot problem before he has a cat problem, but I’ve heard that putting extra cardboard boxes around the house can help with cats fighting over territory because they see each box as a completely new “room” that they can claim.

No. 1725478

My cat ate pieces of a towel. It's the middle of the night. Boyfriend is outside and going to the vet. I'm sad for my small baby kitty. She is an amazing cat and I'm so scared for her. Everything will be fine?

No. 1725528

>>1724411
>>1723996
I'm thirding to say my little cat liked it when I cut arch-like holes in a bunch of cardboard boxes then taped them together with some combo of horizontal and vertical holes. so if you have many spare boxes, each kitty can feel as though the rule over a small domain.

No. 1725555

>>1725478
Definitely. The ER will likely give her IV fluids to lubricate her GI tract. Worst case, if she ate a lot and it's really stuck, they'll do surgery to remove it. Which she'll heal fine from.

No. 1726436

>>1724411
>>1724310
>>1724324
Sadly you can't always control other people, especially a parent, if your mom or dad doesn't agree with you they're not going to listen to you. I deal with the same thing with my own parents, some people are just horrible and refuse to be considerate. He separated them but his mom keeps threatening to throw the cats out because she hates animals. The thing is this is completely ruining the introduction process and now they might never get along. And I'm scared one of them will get injured.

No. 1730124

I purchased a mattress for my dog a while ago because she had trouble walking and I thought it was because she often sat on hard surfaces. The issue it that recently she started destroying it… she bites off pieces of it every now and then and I don't really know what to do. I want to take it away because it's going to be in tatters soon, but then she will have to sleep on a hard surface again. She does sleep on it but during the day she destroys it. She's excercised, she plays, she has chew toys and I do redirect her when she starts chewing on the mattress but obviously as soon as I'm gone she will still chew pieces of it off. I don't know what to do kek

No. 1730125

>>1730124
I saged accidentally

No. 1730211

>>1730124
Easy solution, let her on your couch

No. 1830780

my weird cat keeps begging me to turn on the humidifier, she'll sit her fat ass down in front of it and scratch on it until i turn it on
why? i don't think cats care about air humidity, but i don't know.
at least it makes her happy

No. 1908213

File: 1709335267957.jpg (39.71 KB, 552x554, confusnecro.jpg)

>>1830780
I might be sorry to necro, but has this thread moved to somewhere else or are there just no nonnies wanting to discuss their animals? I want to hear about them!


Anyone else keeping fish here? Ive just added stock to a well-cycled tank, and I've got cloudiness I'm guessing is a bacterial bloom from the new bioload. I'm seeing a lot of suggestions to stop feeding until it's settled, but I feel really bad about that, especially considering my Endlers, one of which I think is still a fry.

Also I've got a male kitten (5mo) I'm hoping to neuter next week, any cat owners know how his behaviour will change, and on what timeline?

No. 1908375

File: 1709346481625.jpg (118.61 KB, 1536x2048, catsll.jpg)

>>1908213
managed a well produced picture/eh - please god I want to see your pets and long-winded descriptions. This is Gregers, (left) rambunctious but massive cuddler, hanging over his sister, Gina, less social but decidedly more intelligent. Both regarding Augervald, who has more evoultionary history than the felis could ever dream of.

No. 1908380

>>1830780
this is so cute lol what does she do when you turn it on? Just sit by it? Sniff the air?

No. 1908388

>>1908375
Awww they both look so soft. I’m dumb but curious, what type of sucky fish is that? It looks cool

No. 1908389

>>1908380
nta but Ive had cats that had different personalities when seasons changed, or the weather. Some were just cunts when it was arid. Im so certain the little princess sat and sniffed it, they're so fucking particular. In the best way.

No. 1908398

>>1908388
I'v learned they're called plecos in general, but where I'm from we call them ancistrus. This guy's variety is "big red" which I guess means he's a fat ginger. I still love him dearly.

No. 1908442

File: 1709350697055.png (110.33 KB, 500x334, cherry_shrimp01.png)

>>1908375
nona you're living the life!! I love your cats and your pleco. Do they like to watch the fish often? I only have a terrarium with some bugs in it but my cat is very entertained by them, I bet he'd love some fish. I can't keep fish right now but I love planning what I'd stock a tank with in the future. I want shrimps for sure, love watching them eat and skitter around. plecos are also very cool and I love fish with beautiful fins and patterns like pearl gouramis or bettas.
For right now I'm adding a giant millipede or snails to my isopod tank but I see mixed opinions online if that's a good idea. Interestingly roly polys can be quite savage kek so if you don't keep them well fed they can attack their tankmates. even if we don't think of them as predators they're very opportunistic.

No. 1908456

File: 1709352351733.jpg (71.15 KB, 1536x2048, bigred.jpg)

>>1908442
Your terrarium sounds so cool nonna! Ive been fascinated by insects since forever, how is your setup? with fish i feel super anxious about how the water is even if i check it constantly, how do you control the environment for a giant millipede?

No. 1908523

File: 1709359339430.jpg (Spoiler Image,574.22 KB, 3072x4080, my bbies.jpg)

>>1908456
yes fish tanks seem very intimidating to keep because of all the water parameters. Especially saltwater/reef tanks, it's crazy to me how much equipment and testing you need. Plus keeping aquatic plants happy seems way harder for some reason. Does your pleco have any tank mates? I've heard they're pretty chill with other fish.
Millipedes and isopods are simple. They need soil for burrowing, fallen leaves for food, keeping the tank moist so they can molt and breathe (isopods have gills!) They get all the nutrients they need from leaves and eggshells but I like feeding them vegetable scraps too. Most people keep them in a shoebox in a closet and check on them once a week, doesn't get more low maintenance than that!
I have a 10 gallon tank with a cheap grow light. Most of the organic material I take from the forest or friends' gardens, like this cool log I found. I put some pothos clippings in and they're threatening to take over the tank but the isopods seem to like them!
deleted to repost with image spoiler because some nonas don't like bugposting kek

No. 1909071

File: 1709387241881.png (216.06 KB, 421x333, fishhh.png)

>>1908523
Holy hell, that's adorable! The little eyes!

You've unlocked a childhood memory for me, at about age 8 me and a bunch of friends made a cardboard mansion for a bunch of woodlice we collected outdoors, spent weeks watching them wander around and explore the foliage. This must have been before I owned a copy of the sims, kek.

I've got a few tankmates for my nosebearded fella, six lemon tetras, six zebra danios, a pair of swordtails and three young endlers (practically babies). It's a fairly fresh setup, but they all seem to be mixing well. Particulary the danios like scooching up to the pleco when he travels to the top of the glass :3

I've got another empty 60L tank on standby, been considering recently about building a paludarium in it and using it for smaller shrimp, maybe snails. I'd love to have frogs, but they're almost all illegal in my country, along with most amphibians and reptiles.

No. 1909604

File: 1709420828746.jpg (2.15 MB, 4032x3024, u1vng7pim4d81.jpg)

>>1909071
I love those lemon tetras, they're so cute!
>paludarium
if they're available in your country maybe look into vampire crabs? You could keep several of them comfortably in a 60L. I think they're super cute but opinions online seem to be mixed on how nice they are to shrimps.
Having restrictions in what you can keep does seem like a pain but I also find it interesting how it adds variety to the hobby. Like Australians basically can't import anything but then they also have so many cool native reptiles like ackie monitors that aren't really kept anywhere else.
The next tank I get I'm going to go all out on the background wall and plants like in picrel, this isopod setup was my first time trying anything like this but now with some experience I want to make something really cool

No. 1917033

File: 1709948541903.jpg (202.74 KB, 1000x517, iwagumi.jpg)

>>1909604
I've been looking at a few styles of auascaping recently, from Walstad, to Iwagumi methods of arranging softscape and hardscape. I quite like the Iwagumi style, but it's so purist, and a lot of the designs seem a bit empty to me. The idea of a minuature landscape is so cool though.

I went to my local beach a few days ago and collected some driftwood, and I'm in the process of soaking it. Think it will look real nice.

I had a scare yesterday though. I have six lemon tetras from a non-corporate shop. I think the dudes are hobbyists who started a good shop, selling their extra broods and spanws.

One of my lemon tetras has a curved back. he seems fine, swims and eats like the others. He seemed really gray yesterday, and floated diagonally a few times as I watched him, but today he seems cool. Hope he's all right, if its problems from his spine deformity I'll have to make a judgement.

I did bring u the idea of owning clove oil (asking her if she saw some at the pharmacy if she could pick up a bottle) to my mum today Clove oil is the only way of humanely killing fish, i.e. guaranteeing that they feel no pain. She seemed annoyed by this, it's her opinion that spending time thinking of the pain of fish is stuid considering the situation in Gaza. I agreed- not seeing how my fish tank and her next trip to the pharmacy relates to that. I guess she has a limit to what she thinks animals are worth, which I understand. Yet I spent three hours at my local station of refugee aid to Ukraibe last night, sorting, packing and carrying, and she would never bother. There's a Palestine comittee I've been an active participant in since I joined youth politics a decade ago. I show up. So I reckon I can buy clove oil in good conscience.

The morals around pets and animals are frequently confusing.

No. 1936014

What food do you feed your dog? I give mine kibble but I'm thinking of switching to BARF (raw diet). I only know a woman who takes care of her dog this way so I'd like to hear other opinions on raw food.

No. 1936264

File: 1711210252936.jpg (11.26 KB, 300x250, 1614239972908.jpg)

My 3 year old cat is a picky furbaby, he hates wet food/vomits it up. We've tried every wet food from super expensive to the cheap brands, even soupy ones too. He can only stand to eat dry food cereal. The vets cleared him already(we also had to bring him in because he loves eating string). I also bought him a water fountain because he wouldn't drink from a bowl, (he'd stick his paw in it to move it around). We adopted him from my sisters in laws who own a farm so he was an outside kitty before we got him about 10 weeks.


Could kitty survive without wet meat if I bought him good(expensive) cereal if there is such a thing? Any recs? I'd sprinkle some water on top of the dry food too. I just don't know what to do.

No. 1936272

>>1936264
All my cats eat exclusively a dry kibble diet and they are in very good health. Let him have a non-fountain bowl too cause some cats prefer to drink water by way of dipping their paws and then licking the water off their paws, that’s the way one of my cats drinks.

No. 1936290

>>1936264
Check on the labeling of the food has taurine or he will go blind.
Cats can only get taurine through diet(which would be in nature by eating birds).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine#Cats

No. 1939895

File: 1711493954405.jpg (125.23 KB, 1200x800, puffer.jpg)

>>1936264
Don't worry too much, we've fed cats kibble for as long as I remember, and never have had a problem related to digestion or teeth. We only started feeding them wet food like 3 years ago, and keep it as a treat every once in a while. The wet food we feed them is whiskas, but I make sure to buy kibble that's labeled as high in protein or rich in animal products, as I think carbohydrates is what contributes to tartar (?). Currently I'm feeding our Maine Coon specific adult food for his breed, and our 6mo shelter kittens get this brand that is mostly made up of chicken, salmon and krill. As I've understood it the problem with kibble can be filler (i.e carbs, probably corn) and that's what you want to avoid

>1936290

Had to do a double check cause I thought for a second you were saying taurine will MAKE them blind. Thank god it was just my shit reading comprehension.

No. 1940483

File: 1711539535370.jpg (667.29 KB, 1920x1080, e09895d3-b94f-4f58-80e0-88d091…)

Are there any big spider owners? I'm considering a spider but only if i could make it tame and friendly, is that possible? Perhaps if i get it as a baby?

No. 1940492

>>1936264
Have you tried giving him raw meat?

No. 1940511

>>1940483
Some species of tarantulas make good pets. The one in your picrel is one of them. Friendliness varies greatly between individuals. Some are OK with being handled for longer periods of time and they're docile enough not to bite or get stressed from being handled and kept in a tank. Some of them will go apeshit at the tiniest provocation. Go to the breeder in person and discuss what you're looking for, they'll be able to give you a much better idea of what each individual can handle and you can decide if it's for you. You'll also be able to meet the tarantulas and see if the breeder is actually good or if they're one of the retards who thinks that keeping tarantulas in tiny containers is a good idea.
You need a tank, an environment for that tank, the correct lighting, heating and humidity for that species (and you'll need to keep an eye on the humidity during molting), and worst of all, live food. If you have issues with that, don't get a tarantula.
Keep in mind that you'll need a vet who specializes in exotic pets. Internet forums can only do so much. Having said that, definitely join any groups that the breeder recommends, they can be your first port of call for any issues you run into and they'll be able to recommend vets who can help you.

No. 1940627

File: 1711551773401.jpeg (1.8 MB, 2712x3586, IMG_3656.jpeg)

this is my betta fish, ive had him for 3 months now. i'm hoping to be able to get him a bigger tank soon, the one he's in now was bought for me and it's a 3.5gal which is a bit small. i'm hoping to upgrade to a 5 or 10gal soon and then i can continue to add plants and driftwood. i absolutely love decorating the tank, i went to the beach and picked out the driftwood and bigger rocks myself for his tank.

No. 1960059

>>1940627
He's very pretty! I myself got driftwood from my local beach for my tank, its really great when you can select things from your local surroundings as tank assets. Just make sure you soak/boil the wood for at least a while, depending on how much brackish water you want.

No. 1961313

File: 1712968045949.jpg (44.58 KB, 500x667, GDUY7y0WUAA8TIO.jpg)

>>1936272
>>1936290
>>1939895
Thanks for all the advice! I have him on the purina pro plan dry kibble for now, he seems to like it. And I feed him wet food like every other week just for variety.

>>1940492
My cat does not like human food at all, I tried feeding him a few little pieces of cooked chicken breast but he wouldn't eat it.

No. 2021390

File: 1716739539791.jpg (36.46 KB, 800x640, Japanese-chin-1.jpg)

My dog passed away over a year ago. I was extremely heartbroken and struggled with the grief. Things are a lot better now, and I still think of her often, but I'm not always sad when I think about her, I just miss her a lot.

The idea of another dog brings out a lot of complicated feelings, but I also just miss having a dog so much. I grew up with my dog, so it feels very weird and lonely not to have one around. I live at home and don't have plans to move out anytime soon (HCOL city, saving up to buy my own place, don't pay rent with my parents kek), but my dad and I have discussed getting another dog. I think we're on the same page about getting another one, but he seems a lot more eager than me. The problem is that aside from a small dog, we can't seem to agree on anything else. He wants a puppy because they'll live longer so we get to be with them longer. I want an adult/senior dog because I don't think I'm ready for another 15+ year commitment, and I want a lower energy dog, whose probably already set in their ways. We might not have 15+ years together, but I think even just 5 years together would be so great. I think older dogs deserve a home in their golden years, and I'd love to give it to them. I think often of my dog when she got older, I imagine what if she had to be surrendered to a shelter? I also don't want to raise a puppy kek.

He REALLY wants a frenchie, I don't want a frenchie. If I could pick a breed, I'd want a chihuahua because I think they're so goofy and silly. Or a Japanese Chin, because they look like funny little cryptids sometimes. But I'm happy to go to a shelter and come home with their most scrunkly old dog.

It bothers me when he says he'll take care of the puppy rearing, but when I think back on it, I don't really like how he raised our first dog because he uses a lot of fear tactics. He also says he feels so lazy now because he has nothing to commit to, but in the final months of our late dog's life, I was her main caretaker. He couldn't even be bothered to change her diaper when I texted him to because I was going to be late coming home. My parents would just come into my room every once in a while to pet her, but I was the one fretting over all of her care. My dad holds it against me that he raised our dog when she was a puppy… but I was also 8 years old at the time so…

No. 2021408

>>2021390
Are you the anon who had the pekingese called Angel?
Either way I think getting a senior dog is a wonderful idea, but there's also the chance that you'll have to take care of them 24/7 if they have issues due to old age so you must be prepared for that. I wouldn't really consider your dad's opinion because it looks like he's not going to take care of them anyway (a few pets once in a while don't count), he's probably the guy that takes home a puppy because it's cute and then stops caring for it when it grows up. So really you should decide. Also please if you go for a puppy don't choose a frenchie, I'd avoid breeds known for having health issues (if you're buying them, if they're from the shelter it's fine obviously as long as you're ready for it), especially if you already went through taking care for a severely ill dog.

No. 2021784

>>2021408
Yes that's me lol…….

Thank you nona. There's so much to consider with a senior vs puppy… I have a lot of other considerations too (work schedule, etc). A friend also warned me about frenchie health issues! Hers has a lot of allergies too.

No. 2040064

File: 1717797238477.jpg (3.5 MB, 3872x2592, twobuds.jpg)

>>2021390
Nonna, I really feel for you. I had to put down my best friend for 14 years in the fall of 2022, and I still have mornings where I wake up thinking he'll be asleep at the foot of my bed. I've kind of decided I'm never having a dog again because it will never be the same as him. My mom is hinting towards getting a new "family dog" when she retires (my living situation is p much the same as yours, basement flat with no rent, lol), but I feel a sort of resentment against having a dog in our immediate family again. My dog was absurdly socially intelligent when it came to humans (very awkward around other dogs, sometimes hilariously so), and felt more like a little brother, since I got him at the age of ten, and we were inseperable throughout my formative years.

I think if you do get a new one, get one that's entirely legally yours, and take on all the responsibility, pet ownership is a pretty nice route into getting a hold of adulthood. You'll feel closer to the dog if everyone has the clear idea that he's yours, in my experience.

I've never been able to jive with small dogs myself, mostly get along with the big ones, but tastes vary - always had a thing for small poodle breeds though (but not with poodle cuts). Previously, I would probably have sided with your dad about getting a puppy so you can start from scratch, but I took over the care of an 8 yo cat four years ago, and that cat became the most affectionate and social cat I've ever come across, even though his previous family was also great. I think maybe adopting an older animal forms a bond that's a bit different, but it might be confirmation bias.

No. 2042222

Anons with birds (but other small non-mammal pets too), have you had bad experiences with animals bought from stores? Not even talking about small businesses, but big specialized stores and such. I recently got a red canary bird from a bird store (not sure what's the exact name in english, but basically it's a store with a bunch of birds in cages they take from breeders and bird foods/accessories), and as soon as I brought her home I noticed she couldn't fly because her feathers were ripped off. Then after about 3 weeks she passed away yesterday while laying eggs. She had a good diet (I use seeds but I also gave her fresh herbs daily as well as eggs and fruits), good shelter, overall she seemd to be doing very well but then she just passed away. It had happened before with another canary that looked nice but suddenly passed away one day, it was also from a store. I'm always anxious when getting them from stores now because they always seem weaker than the ones I get from a few small local breeders who keep them as hobby, but this time I was interested in having one with a different coloration (red) so I had to go to a store because no one has those locally. Idk I'm kinda sad because I treated her like I treat them all the other birds who are doing good and she still died.

No. 2042249

>>2042222
the birds in stores are pretty much all meant as breeder birds and are treated like goldfish, they usually haven’t been handled much at all and don’t go through very thorough health checks before being put up for sale. animals should be quarantined for a few weeks before being introduced around others but chain pet stores only care about the bottom line. if you look at the dumpsters behind pet stores you can usually find dead animals in bags/boxes who didn’t make it when they arrived, employees are told to just toss them. sometimes animals will be still alive, it’s very sad. they will also clip birds wings in order to make it easier to catch them if they escape, but this can also lead to injuries because they will try to fly and end up slamming into the ground. yours could have passed for any number of reasons, small birds can die pretty easy in general nona and it sounds like your bird was egg bound. its like a woman not being able to push the baby out, the egg gets stuck and they die. canaries are also notorious for having weak constitutions, even fumes from a non stick pan can kill them. id recommend a stop to the avian vet if you get another and try buying from a non chain store. if you have another female bird, be sure to get fake eggs when she starts laying, she will continue to lay the eggs if they keep disappearing and it’s really taxing on the body. your bird much like a pregnant woman is having all her energy put towards making the eggs so supplements like calcium are necessary for their frail bones.

No. 2042255

>>2042222
That's sad. I never had birds but I had degus and they don't sell them in my area anymore because of inbreeding and such. I had my boys for 8 years and the last few months there genetics played a huge part in their demise and it's horrible to not be able to help really. Is there vets in your area that specialise in birds, I think it can be telling about animal welfare for pet shops based on vets and services around them. Is there a way to get health checks before purchasing animals

No. 2042385

>>2042249
>Egg bound
I'm aware of egg binding and I did think that might have been the case, but I also was not sure because she laid one egg, then looked tired for a couple of hours (stayed at the bottom of the cage), then went up her nest again so I thought she just had to wait a bit before laying more. Then she died overnight. She was pretty well-fed (eggs with shell for calcium, greens and fruits as well as the usual seeds) and her mate kept feeding her even while she was trying to lay eggs. I also thought that maybe she was old and the person at the shop just clipped her nails to make her appear younger. I have other females (not from the store) and none of them were ever egg bound. And the other female from the shop that died a while ago wasn't even laying.
I didn't know about the fake eggs though, I'll look into it because I see that they constantly try to make the nest and lay eggs until the colder climate comes, and I'll try to not shop from stores anymore.

No. 2049277

Nonnas help me convince my friend not to make her two cats vegan. I am at a loss. I think she might have blocked me for gently saying it's not good for them, but she might have just stopped talking to me for a week lmao. I'm really worried, I know she loves her cats but she believes that cats being obligate carnivores is a '1970s myth' lmao.

No. 2049409

>>2049277
Try and explain how vital taurine is for cats. All plant sources are deficient in taurine. Taurine deficiency is already a problem in human vegans, so it's going to be far worse for cats.

No. 2049428

>>2049409
She just said she can give her cats taurine supplements.

No. 2049439

>>2049277
If she's so disconnected from reality that she can't acknowledge when animals are carnivores, I don't know what to tell you nonna. It seems like she's determined to mold reality to what she wants instead of being a thoughtful and caring animal owner. I'm not sure if anything will get to her. Kidnap her cats and sever the relationship I'm only halfway joking, she's gonna kill them if she continues her vegan cat antics

No. 2049442

>>2049439
She's had the cats for close to 10 years and has never even mentioned feeding them vegan before even though she's been vegan the whole time, she even made sure to feed them a 'higher quality' meat diet than normal. I don't know why she is suddenly on about this except that I know she's been watching a bunch of vegan youtube videos and streams that she said made her realize it's unethical for her to be vegan but let her cats eat meat.

I told her that I am worried her cats will get sick or die and that's why I can't just support her in this and her response was that I'm being 'dismissive of things that are important to her' and that I am being condescending… apparently 'there are studies' that show it's perfectly safe for cats to be vegan although she refuses to link to any.

No. 2049934

>>2049277
I really want to know what goes on these type of vegan's minds that makes them want to deny the reality and nature of their pets.

No. 2049968

>>2049934
Idk man I think it's watching too many guilt tripping youtube videos about veganism (a lot of vegans think it's unethical to keep cats/dogs as pets period but I guess she's coping). She gave me some spiel about how yes cats have nutritional needs but no one says those needs have to be met by animal tissues, as long as the needs are met it's fine but I don't think she has even looked at human studies where people try to keep human beings healthy with vitamin supplements alone, why would cats do any better?

No. 2107613

File: 1722107829042.jpg (1.68 MB, 2663x2015, 20240719_153243.jpg)

I work at a petting farm and I'm considering adopting rabbits from my workplace. I've done a ton of research, we even have a dog run outside with a concrete base we don't use that could be easily transformed into a rabbit run. These buns have lived outside their whole lives, I live in Ireland where the climate is really mild. This would be my first time owning rabbits, but I had a pet lizard for about 7 years and I think I could give them a really good life but my boyfriend is not so sure. He's worried I'll get bored of them and he also says since I put off laundry and leave my clothes on the floor then I will do the same to rabbits? Please tell me if I'm wrong here but the laundry thing is more of an executive functioning issue, plus laundry doesn't die if you don't take care of it. I am also autistic and working a full time draining job, as for clothes being on the floor. It's not 4chan tier bedroom either and I clean up when I have my days off. As for "getting bored" I can't really see that happening? When I was 11 I begged for pet newts and my parents got them for me without doing any research themselves, the setup was wrong and I didn't properly take care of them and they ended up dying. I also liked picking them up but they are fragile which definitely didn't help. I felt really bad and my parents were mad at me. I still feel guilty about that, but I'm 21 now and getting "bored" of something that depends on you for survival seems like a little kid thing. Their care doesn't even seem too intensive, their diet is 80% hay so all I would have to do is drop their hay and their greens off in the morning, pellets in the evening. Thoughts nonas? Pic is the rabbits, 2 of the 7 siblings

No. 2107693

>>2107613
What gorgeous bunnies! I suffer from similar and I have a really happy and healthy bunny, and I've had about ten rabbits at the same time growing up. Like you said, you just give them their hay and greens once a day and then pellets and treats sometimes, and you don't have to give as much attention as a solitary rabbit. I would recommend setting a day to play them every week or so when you have time, and I don't know if you get snakes or foxes in Ireland but if you do definitely make sure the run can't be got into.
Otherwise you sound ready to look after them, good luck nonna!

No. 2107739

>>2107613
No worries nonna, i’m also lazy as fuck but my cat’s toilet is always clean. Animals make you do stuff. If plates were alive they would be washed right away.

No. 2117455

>>2107693
>>2107739
Thanks for the advice nonnies, unfortunately the people I'm renting with changed their minds, at least I think they have and they're too nice to tell me "no" straight up. I'm pretty devastated, I wish they would've just told me I can't use the dog run instead of saying I can and then backtracking a week later. Maybe it wasn't the right time though. I really hope these buns will get a good home

No. 2117954

I think after my hamster croaks I will sell the detolf and become a planted tank fag. The detolf is just so retarded big I am sick of it taking up so much real estate. I love owning hamsters and they are all different but not to sound butthurt this latest one is a clunker. He's dimwitted, unfriendly, picky eater, lazy, and kinda ugly for a hamster (looks like patrick when he asks if you are calling him pinhead). My girl hamster before him was so smart she felt like a small dog, explored, responded to enrichment, was affectionate. The male hamster before her was even better, we'd actually cuddle and he'd press flat into my chest and I'd brush him with a toothbrush. Hamsters are such a crapshoot wish they were more reliable in attitude like dog breeds. I learned recently they are all originated from one inbred sample so it makes sense

No. 2118141

File: 1722656066366.jpg (113.84 KB, 1080x1081, 1606869998913.jpg)

>>2117954
>refers to a hamster as a "clunker"

No. 2151867

File: 1724497514551.jpg (65.7 KB, 746x678, how my cat feels probably.jpg)

I went to take out the bin 2 days ago and my indoor/rarely-garden cat figured it'd be a good time to venture out and explore the area while I wasn't looking. Hasn't been back since, but I am forcing myself to be positive that he will find a way back. I recently moved across the entire country so maybe this is him exploring the new town.



Delete Post [ ]
[Return] [Catalog]
[ Rules ] [ ot / g / m ] [ pt / snow / w ] [ meta ] [ Server Status ]