Saturday, May 21, 2011

Quiz Answers!!!

Quiz answers are here!!!



WHICH OF THESE FOUR SUBSTANCES IS THE LEAST DANGEROUS IN A FISH TANK?


The answer is nitrates. Nitrates are the last part of the nitrogen cycle when bacteria breaks down ammonia, into nitrites, and then breaks down nitrites into nitrates. Nitrates is normally not harmful. However, it can cause some stress if the levels become very high. As long as you do routine water changes, the nitrate levels should remain normal. 

The other three choices (chlorine, ammonia, and nitrites) are all very toxic to fish even in small amounts. Which is why cycling new tanks, routine water changes, and chlorine remover (water conditioner), are all very important for your fish tank.

WHICH OF THESE PETS SHOULD YOU NEVER PUT IN AN EXERCISE BALL?


The answer is guinea pigs. Guinea pigs should never be put into an exercise ball or even an exercise wheel. Here's why: 

Exercise ball are round/spherical in shape. Guinea pigs do not have flexible backs, their backs cannot bend the way they would need to in an exercise ball or wheel. So placing them in a ball or wheel causes stress on their spinal chord and could result in injury or paralysis. Many guinea pigs lose the use of one or both of their back legs do to exercise balls. 

So why are they advertised for guinea pigs? I have no idea. In my opinion large exercise balls shouldn't even be made or used. These larger ones are generally made for guinea pigs, rats, ferrets, or chinchillas. However they are dangerous for guinea pigs, in my experience most rats hate them, and ferrets and chinchillas don't need exercise balls they can be allowed to have supervised free time outside of the cage without needing a ball, and they like being out of the ball much more than being in it.

However, for mice, gerbils, and hamsters exercise balls are great! It is obviously hard to let these tiny critters have time exploring out of their cage because of their size. Exercise balls offer a great solution for that. Hamsters, gerbils, and mice love exercise balls and they are safe to use. These critters have very flexible backs because of their need to crawl through tunnels and tight spaces, so they are fine in exercise balls. Just make sure to supervise them because they can be smart enough to escape the ball!

Don't forget to check out this weeks quizzes!

2 comments:

  1. Pipsqueak sure loves getting around in her exercise ball.

    Your post is a good reminder to really learn about your pet and not just take an advertiser's word about what your pet needs.

    Love and hugs,
    Mom

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! So interesting! Yes, I agree with your mother. Those high paid advertising people should be ashamed of themselves! Martha

    ReplyDelete