The Hyacinth Macaw

Also known as Hyacinthine Macaw, is a parrot well-known around the world for its exuberant beauty and its high capacity of domestication. The Hyacinth comes from the parrot family and is native of South America, specifically jungles areas of Brazil, Bolivia, and Northern Paraguay.

The primary characteristic of the Hyacinth Macaw is that its feathers are entirely blue all over its body. Its beak is black, and the strongest of all the parrots. It has a yellow stripe at the junction with its head, and its eyes are also lined with a bright color. They can grow reaching a length of 70 to 100 centimeters long from the top of its head to the tip of the tail, and it can weigh up to 1.5 to 1.7 kilos. Another impressive quality of this bird is that its flight may reach up to 800 meters high from the sea level.

The main diet is based in hard-shell nuts, fruits like coconut, mango, papaya, guava, berries, flowers and leaves. The Hyacinthine Macaw also tends to nest in tree bark, and occasionally, it eats clay to regulate the amount of oxidants it gets from the fruits.

It’s very important to keep the Hyacinth accompanied by an opposite sex macaw, and is strongly recommend to keep the cage, accessories, and toys very clean in order to avoid the growth of bacteria and parasites that can be harmful for its health.

The Hyacinthine Macaw is a great companion because it’s an intelligent animal. It has the ability to speak if well taught, and also has an incredible memory, showing sometimes the capacity of reasoning. As long as the owner gives the bird the best living conditions, the Hyacinth can live until 60 years old. Today this bird is considered to be an endangered species.

Tips for Choosing an Aquarium

When choosing an aquarium for home or office, there are two types of aquariums you must compare: fresh water and salt water.  With so many choices out there, this decision may be difficult for new owners. That is why we have decided to highlight the key characteristics to each aquarium to make this decision-making painless.

Perhaps the biggest factors influencing your decision are: the price tag and the size of the aquarium.  In general, fresh water aquariums are more economical than salt-water aquariums. The filters, maintenance, type of fish and décor are factors that contribute to a much lower cost effective aquarium.  In comparison, a salt-water aquarium requires live rocks, better filters, adequate lighting and special water maintenance to maintain its delicate ecosystem.  Usually, fresh water aquariums don’t need to be as big as salt water, as the minimum requirement estimates 200 to 250 liters.  This shows us that fresh water aquariums are more adaptable to different home and professional environments.

It is recommended that new owners begin with fresh water aquariums to facilitate the understanding of ecosystems in a simple and economical manner. Once a general understanding of owning an aquarium is grasped, you may wish to acquire a salt-water aquarium. When it comes to pinning a winner in the beauty department, the salt-water aquarium’s beauty is unsurpassable.  Salt-water aquariums have a higher level of attraction due to the plethora of colorful fish that may be kept in them. In addition, realistic elements such as live rocks, sea stars, corals, and live sand recreate an aquarium quite reminiscent of snorkeling at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Chinchilla

The Chinchilla is native to the mountains of South America (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia). They live in colonies called "herds" in ranges from 2.500 to 14.000 ft. above the sea level. The Chinchilla (Little Chincha in Spanish) got its name for the Chincha Indians.

Chinchillas looks like the standard squirrel; however, the body is shorter, and the tail is less fluffy. It ears are large and hairless.

There are two living species of Chinchilla; The Brevicaudata Chinchilla and Chinchilla Lanigera, with a little bit of difference between each other; the Chinchilla Brevicaudata has a shorter tail, ears, and a thicker neck. Adult female Chinchillas weight about 1 and a half pound and they are bigger than males.

Chinchilla’s lifespan is from 12 to 20 years. They also have a very long pregnancy (111 days); so babies are born with its eyes open, all 20 teeth present, and the body covered in fur. You will find a variety of colors. The most common colors are white, black velvet, beige, ebony, violet, and sapphire. However, the only color found in nature is standard gray.

They are very low-maintenance pets. Chinchillas instinctively clean themselves by taking dust baths. They do not bathe in water because this may cause them to lose their fur, and also, water will retain moisture close to the skin, which may cause fungus growth. They use the dust baths to remove the oil and moisture from their fur. The thick coat of the Chinchillas resists fleas and reduces loose dander, making Chinchillas hypoallergenic, which made them an excellent pet for someone who may be allergic.

Their teeth need to be worn down, as they grow continuously and can prevent them from eating if they become overweight. Wooden sticks and chew toys and are good options to keep their teeth in a proper size.

Chinchillas have very sensitive gastrointestinal tracts, so a healthy diet is essential. Commercial foods, made especially for Chinchillas and produced in pellet form, are available in pet stores. Also, Seeds, nuts, and dried fruits like cranberries, bananas and apples are Chinchillas favorite treats. You should always ask the veterinarian for what is the best for your pet.

Since the Chinchillas are very fragile, they are not recommended as a child's pet. However, they are excellent pets for adults! Like most rodents, they spend the majority of the time inside the cage, with proper care and diet, they will become an ideal pet to have in a small apartment or a house.

Cats and Kids

Parents often have many questions when choosing a good pet for their children. And it becomes even harder to make that decision when you are a cat lover; not being so sure if it is the right pet for your child. Before you buy or adopt a cat, you need to consider some tips and suggestions to build an excellent relationship between the cat and your kids.

Some people will recommend getting a kitten instead of an adult cat. An older cat is not as playful as a kitten. Also, a little kitten will be more manageable to adjust to their new family life, surrounded by children, and it will grow up alongside them.

It is important to remember that a kitten, will need a lot of attention, and they are more fragile than an older cat. So, you need to prepare a safe environment for kids and cats. If your child is learning how to behave around a cat, you should be very aware when they are playing together; being sure that they are not hurting each other. This situation could be awful for the relationship since they can be afraid of the play time.

Cats could be the perfect pet for your kids, you just need to have precaution and choose the right cat for them. Both the child and the cat require a lot of your time and energy. The key is to prepare and continue educating their relationship.