An aquarium, unlike nature, is a closed system. So when fish poop and leave behind uneaten food, that waste stays inside the tank. You have two different ways to cycle your aquarium. In the first method, you use two or three hearty fish and allow bacteria to multiply to handle their waste.

In the second method, also known as fishless cycling, you add a small dose of concentrated ammonia once the tank is set up but before the fish are in, and let the tank take care of the rest. You can buy a bacteria starter to speed up the process, but your local tap water already contains some of that needed bacteria, which will multiply around an ammonia source.

We like this guide on cycling with fish and this guide on fishless cycling. We called in samples of our top tank kits, stand-alone tanks, lights, heaters, and gravel vacuums to test in person. We based our recommendations for algae scraper, water conditioner, gravel and soil substrates, and fish food on research, but we called in samples of our top choices to make sure they worked.

They did. Although this may seem counterintuitive, small fish tanks are much harder to keep than large fish tanks. A small ammonia spike can be tolerably diluted in a gallon tank but lethal in a gallon one.

The smaller the tank, the smaller the margin for error. Tanks generally come in two materials: glass and acrylic. After researching both, we think glass is the better tank material for any aquarium under 75 gallons.

Acrylic tanks are shatterproof, which makes them a better pick for huge, public aquariums. While many different types of filters exist, we looked only at power filters, which hang on the back wall of the aquarium and use an electrical pump to move water through the filter media.

This type is the most common filter for freshwater tanks, and also the kind our experts recommended. In addition, we calculated the maintenance costs of all the leading aquarium filters how much the replacement cartridges and sponges cost, and how often you need to replace them , as the best filters should be affordable to maintain.

We considered only those heaters that had adjustable dials for setting the temperature, ideally offering precision of one Fahrenheit degree or better.

But even if you have fish that can survive in a wider range of temperatures—the popular dwarf gourami can thrive anywhere from 72 to 82 °F—all fish are sensitive to temperature changes.

Fluctuating water temperature can affect their immune system and lead to outbreaks of ich, a parasitic aquarium disease that causes small white spots to appear on your fish and can be lethal if untreated.

While a cheap dog bed may be less comfortable for your dog, a cheap filter could fail and kill your fish. Aquarium lights come in a variety of bulb types, including fluorescent, incandescent, and, more recently, LED.

We found LED lights to be the brightest and most energy-efficient kind. Incandescent bulbs need replacing often and run hot, possibly changing the temperature of your tank. To test the brightness of the LEDs, we took high-resolution photos of the lights turned on above a tank in a pitch-black laundry room.

All starter aquariums include some type of lid, which will keep evaporation low and your fish from leaping to an untimely doom. Some fancier, rimless tanks forgo tops for a more elegant look.

Just be careful to avoid buying fish that are known jumpers, and think twice if you have cats in your home. We found too many miniature castles, treasure chests, and fake plants for us to recommend any one in particular, but we can offer some general guidelines for decorating your aquarium.

Most non-specialized figurines include paint or chemicals that can be toxic to your fish. Case in point: One Halloween, my dad surprised me by decorating my tank with spooky skulls and spiders he bought at Walgreens.

It gave me a real scare when I woke up the next morning to a tank of dead fish. If you do choose to plant your tank, consider which type of fish you'll be keeping in it.

For example, fish that live in ponds love soft and lush plant cover, whereas fish that live in faster waters prefer logs and rocks. This is a good introductory guide for anyone looking to start planting. You may have also read that your aquarium should rest on a stand.

If you have another size tank, check out this helpful gallons-to-weight chart. After researching 10 glass gallon aquarium kits and testing five, we concluded that the Marina 20G LED Aquarium Kit is the best kit for most people looking to start an aquarium.

The Marina kit has the most powerful filter and the brightest built-in light of all the kits we tested, and its sleek lid makes it look much more elegant than many tanks that cost more. The Marina kit includes a hanging power filter, an LED hood with a light switch, a few sample packets of fish food, starter bacteria, and water conditioner, as well as a net.

Buying the Marina kit plus our heater pick will cost a bit more than buying our runner-up, the Aqueon kit , which includes a preset heater, but our heater pick will support a wider range of tank temperatures. What sets the Marina kit apart from the others is its large, customizable power filter , which can nurture beneficial colonies of bacteria better than the other, flimsier filters included in tank kits.

With other, single-cartridge filter systems, such as those of Aqueon, Tetra, or Marineland, you lose all your bacterial colonies during routine replacements of the filtration media, which ends up cycling your tank again and causes undue stress to your fish. We also like that Marina offers two types of filter cartridges, one meant for tropical fish and one meant for goldfish, which pee a lot more than other fish and therefore require more ammonia-fighting filter media.

And if you want even stronger filtration—which is never a bad idea, especially for well-stocked tanks—you can fill the bucket with the filter media of your choosing.

If that interests you, we like this impressively thorough guide. Instead of offering a long, continuous strip like the Marina kit, the Aqueon and Tetra kits included four or five separate LED lights, which lit the tank in uneven spotlights.

Components aside, the Marina tank is a cleaner-looking, more attractive model than the others we tested. Its black plastic lid slopes up toward the back in one piece, with one wide gap and one narrow gap in the back to accommodate a filter and a heater and one small gap in a front corner that lets you feed your fish without lifting the lid.

The tops on the Aqueon and Tetra tanks looked much bulkier, featuring recessed lines with no apparent purpose etched along the plastic lid. Note that the Marina kit lacks a heater.

Also, the preset heaters found in most kits can sometimes be calibrated wrong , and without the ability to adjust the temperature manually, that could be fatal to your pets. So we think buying a tank with the highest possible quality of those irreplaceable parts is the best choice, and that choice is the Marina kit.

The Aqueon lid also looks clunkier and less sleek than the Marina lid, and its lights are dimmer and less even. Both the Tetra and Aqueon filters use a cartridge containing activated carbon and dual-sided mesh, but the Aqueon model also includes a slot for an extra filter pad meant to remove ammonia.

But the Aqueon filter is not too powerful, so you should be careful not to overstock the tank with too many fish the general rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water—so you can have no more than 10 2-inch-long fish in a gallon tank.

After researching more than a dozen heaters and putting seven through a battery of tests, we found that the watt Eheim Jäger Thermostatic Aquarium Heater is the best heater for gallon tropical tanks.

It can calibrate heat to half a degree, and with a dial that you can adjust anywhere from 65 to 93 °F in two-degree increments, it boasts the largest temperature range of any heater we tested. To test the heaters, we timed seven different watt models on how long each took to heat a tank full of 20 gallons of 70 °F water around tap-water temperature to 79 °F a good temperature for tropical fish.

All of the models heated the tank in around four and a half hours and were able to maintain a temperature of 79 °F, give or take a degree, over the course of five hours.

When each tank was fully heated according to our separate thermometer, we checked if the heating indicator light had turned off, and then removed each heater to see if it would automatically shut off when not in water.

Most of the heaters passed our tests, and from there we made our choice based on precision, range, and appearance. While Cho said he had no brand preference in heaters, Seyffarth told us he used the Eheim Jäger on one of his tanks. We prefer being able to adjust the heater manually while seeing the temperature selector change from the same perspective.

With other heaters, we could see the internal thermometer only head-on and turn the dial only from above, which felt uncomfortable and required checking back and forth.

At Its cord is thicker and harder to coil than most others but still long enough to reach an outlet up to 6 feet away. While less precise, this heater is shatterproof and guaranteed for life. The watt Aqueon Pro Heater is a great alternative if you want a solid warranty and can live with significantly less precision.

Its sleek, matte-black design is easily obscured by a plant or two. And while the Eheim Jäger heater has a three-year warranty and the Marina heater has a two-year warranty, the Aqueon model is guaranteed to work for life. Owners report great experiences with customer service when ordering a new heater under the lifetime warranty.

Any preset heater, such as this best-selling Tetra model on Amazon , or many of the heaters included in tank kits, will work in a pinch, but we do not recommend buying one on its own. A good heater should be adjustable because not all fish require the same temperature, and preset heaters can be calibrated wrong , sometimes to the tune of several degrees.

Offering bright, customizable light with a small footprint, this light will reach every corner of your tank without distracting from it.

After researching nearly a dozen aquarium lights and testing five, we think the Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED is the best light for most aquariums. The Current USA model also features seven customizable blue and white light settings and dimmable control to suit your preference. If you have a gallon tank, we recommend the toinch model, which features 66 white LEDs 6, K and 36 blue LEDs nm.

To test the lights, we placed each model over a filled gallon aquarium in a pitch-black laundry room and took photos of the light they cast using identical settings on a digital camera.

The Current USA model provided even, uninterrupted light to all corners of the tank. The chunkier Marineland and shorter Aqueon light fixtures both produced a harsh spotlight in the center while leaving the corners dark. The short docking legs of the Current USA light make it lower profile than other models, allowing the upper rim of the tank to obscure the direct light of the LED strip.

The result: a tank with the pleasant appearance of a softly glowing box. The tall legs of the cheaper Nicrew and pricier Finnex lights we tested both stood an inch or two above the rim, which left the bright circles of the strip visible from a head-on view.

The Current USA light includes a remote control with seven preset lighting modes that mimic dusk, a sunny day, and the blue light of the moon, each of which you can further customize by dimming. The Nicrew model gives off more light than our main pick at half the price, but it lacks dimming options.

The Nicrew light offers two lighting modes, a white and blue daylight setting and a blue-only nighttime setting. Nicrew is also a fairly new company on the scene and its items are currently available only through Amazon, so you probably won't find them at your LFS.

This model gave off more light than any other we tested, and its wide range of settings let our plants thrive. With RGB and 7, K daylight LEDs, it gave off the brightest light in our tests by a wide margin. Like the Current USA model, the Finnex light fixture contains special lighting modes that mimic thunderstorms, cloudy days, and moonlight.

The remote also contains built-in memory that can save custom color schemes and retain a set lighting cycle where your tank lights gently dim on and off on a schedule of your choosing. It sets itself above and beyond all others.

The AquaClear model filters water in three stages: mechanical, biological, and chemical. Above the foam, an activated-carbon filter keeps the water in your tank clear by adsorption, or chemically binding toxins to its surface.

Finally, on top, a bag of ceramic rings creates a porous system that provides the perfect home for colonies of beneficial bacteria that process the toxic waste in your tank into less harmful substances.

The porous ceramic rings make the AquaClear filter the gold standard for freshwater filters; no other filtration medium has as much surface area to allow large colonies of bacteria to thrive.

The AquaClear model is like a turbocharged version of the filter included in the Marina kit, as it has the same customization options but offers more room and higher-quality ready-made filter material.

Aside from getting more effective filtration with the AquaClear system, you can replace the filtration media separately, so you can maintain much more beneficial bacteria during routine cleanings. For example, you can change the sponge one week and the carbon the next, and you can replace just half the bag of ceramic stones at a time.

Replacing the one, all-encompassing cartridge in filters such as the Aqueon or Tetra model essentially removes all your beneficial bacteria, forcing your tank to re-cycle and potentially raising the ammonia levels in your tank.

The versatile AquaClear design also leaves a ton of room for customization for more experienced aquarists who would prefer more ceramic rings and less activated carbon or who want to use a whole new medium altogether. Most hanging power filters require once-a-month replacement of their cartridges, which are cheap individually but can get expensive over time.

And you can buy replacement carbon and ceramic stones in bulk online. We also appreciate the inclusion of a thorough and illuminating instruction manual , which does a good job of explaining how each stage of the filtration works and includes instructions for replacement though many aquarists say you should never replace the BioMax or sponge, just rinse them in tank water once a month.

In our interviews with experts Seyffarth and Cho, both recommended overfiltering the tank but not by too much. According to Seyffarth, a good rule of thumb is to buy a filter for which the size of your tank is at the bottom end of the suitable range.

For a gallon tank, a filter meant for 15 to 40 gallons or 20 to 50 gallons would be a good choice. But a filter meant for 10 to 20 gallons may not be strong enough, and a filter for 30 to 60 gallons would produce a powerful current that may overwhelm your fish and keep your plants from growing.

And while a few buried flakes of fish food can cause a minor ammonia spike in a gallon tank, those toxins can prove catastrophic in a tiny 2-gallon model.

And only a betta fish could survive, but not thrive, in a tank that small. This extra-concentrated solution will make tap water safe for your fishies. Just one Why dechlorinate your water?

All tap water is treated with low levels of chlorine and chloramine. But these chemicals that kill the bad bacteria in your drinking water also kill off the good bacteria colonies built up in your filter, which keep ammonia from accumulating to dangerous levels.

So you should add dechlorinator to your bucket full of water before pouring the bucket into your tank. Dechlorinators work through a process called reduction. This process adds electrons to dissolved chlorine gas Cl 2 , which is toxic to fish, and breaks it into nontoxic chloride ions Cl -.

It also chops up chloramine NH 2 Cl into chloride and ammonia NH 3. One ounce costs around 74¢, a little more than water conditioners from Aqueon, Tetra, and API, which run around 40¢ to 50¢ an ounce. But one teaspoon of each of those conditioners treats just 10 gallons of tank water, while a teaspoon of Seachem Prime is good for 50 gallons.

This kit contains every formula necessary to test tank water for toxic compounds times. We recommend the API Freshwater Master Test Kit , which contains all the key water tests you could ever need for a freshwater tank. The kit includes four glass tubes with snap caps that fit inside a convenient holding tray.

To test a water sample, simply fill a tube, add the right amount of testing solution, and hold up the resultant water to a calibrated color chart. Currently the kit has a rating of 4. Just one bag of this gravel is enough for a gallon tank. Plus, it comes in beautiful hues. It comes in four color and sand-size varieties: Crystal River, Moonlight Sand, Peace River, and Sunset Gold.

Elegance aside, CaribSea is one of the cheaper substrates you can buy. Some cheaper, roughly cut aquarium gravels have jagged edges that can cut into the barbels of bottom-dwelling fish like corydoras, which enjoy digging around sand for food.

But CaribSea stones are smooth around the edges, and owners say corydoras love it. Each bag also contains live, beneficial bacteria that CaribSea claims can help cycle your tank faster. We still recommend that you take the full four weeks to cycle your tank the regular way, but any starter bacteria may speed the process along.

This textured, black substrate consists of volcanic soil, which CaribSea says contains calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sulfur, and dozens more minerals that will help your plants thrive. And like the CaribSea gravel, the Eco-Complete soil comes loaded with live bacteria to accelerate the process of cycling your tank.

Reviewers on Amazon say Eco-Complete also holds its shape, unlike other planted substrates that degrade over time, and clouds the water less than other lightweight substrates do. Its texture looks almost like shattered lava, and the varied sizes of particles make the overall appearance glitter.

Some owners also praise the dark black color, which helps brightly colored fish stand out. If you do use Eco-Complete, add water gradually through a strainer to avoid agitating the substrate we like this tutorial. The water will cloud at first due to the smaller particles in the sediment but should clear up in a day or two.

This affordable, lightweight gravel vacuum has a handy pump that creates suction without getting you wet. Over time, fish poop and uneaten food will pile up on the bottom of your tank, where they will decay and release ammonia and nitrates.

Gravel vacuums work by swirling the gravel substrate around and sucking out lighter particles like poop and old fish flakes through a long siphon tube into a disposal bucket, allowing the newly clean substrate to sink down to the bottom of the tank.

They create this suction either by gravity or via a manual squeezing pump that sucks air out of the siphon. If you have a planted tank, you move the vacuum over the substrate to suck out anything that has settled on top without disturbing the soil.

After researching six types of aquarium gravel vacuums, we think the Terapump Aquarium Gravel Cleaner is the best. This affordable vacuum is easy to use and creates almost no mess. The Terapump model includes a manual squeezing pump, which creates suction.

Each nozzle is outfitted with a perforated screen to prevent you from accidentally sucking fish out of the tank. The articulated straw bends easily and can contort to stay out of your way while you clean. Older models of gravel vacuums, such as this Aqueon siphon that I used to use, lack a squeezing pump.

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For tips and tricks on buying used fish tanks, check out our other blog on it! Beginner-friendly plants and fish don't cost as much to maintain. Easy plants that don't need as many nutrients or as much light can save you money on fertilizers, CO2 systems, and growing lights.

You can also get fish that are a easy to care for and b are easy on your plants. I think folks hear the word "propagate" and conjure up images of some complicated scientific process, but it's surprisingly easy for many popular species. If you buy a tank and want to fill it with plants, costs can add up quickly.

But if you buy of each plant and propagate the rest, you can save a lot of money. The downsides to this are it doesn't always work if you're new at it or even experienced at it, sometimes , and it does take more time than simply buying an adult plant.

I've gotten some of my best equipment and fish from other fish tank people. A lot of great equipment for your tanks doesn't have to be made specifically for an aquarium. A sturdy table, shelf, or even entertainment system can hold your tank just as well as an aquarium stand, provided it can handle the weight of a filled tank.

If you go this route, enjoy, but proceed with caution and make sure you quarantine and know who you're buying from. Light timers are a great way to cut down on unnecessary electricity usage and to prevent problematic excess light. If you're a total beginner or only want a small, low-tech setup, there are also starter kits that come with the tank, filters, lights, etc.

Because they're bundled together, you usually wind up saving money. The only problem with these is the equipment is fairly basic, and the kit may not have exactly what you need depending on what your goals are. fully grown, but they are full of personality.

They are described as being feisty, inquisitive, stubborn, and humorous. Other dog breeds on this happiest list included:Staffordshire Bull Terrier Vizsla West Highland White Terrier Portuguese Water Dog Bullmastiff Chesapeake Bay Retriever Samoyed American Staffordshire Terrier English Cocker Spaniel If you are a dog owner in the United States, you have likely already seen the news reports about the mystery illness responsible for the deaths of several dogs, prompting veterinary professionals to caution pet parents about taking their pets out to public spaces.

But we may finally be able to spot the light at the end of the tunnel… Dr. David Needle, pathology section chief at the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire, reported that scientists have finally identified the cause of the illness.

The research article has yet to be published, but the team is sharing their initial findings to provide hope for pet parents and the veterinary community. Initially, there were no known bacterial, viral, or fungal pathogens, meaning they were searching blind.

However, after testing 30 samples from New Hampshire, genetic material from an atypical bacterial species was discovered. The next step in understanding the cause of the illness and working towards a cure and possible preventative is to compare these findings to samples from dogs in other states to verify that it is, in fact, the same pathogen in all reported instances.

States with possible cases of the disease include: CaliforniaColoradoFlorida Georgia IdahoIllinois IndianaMarylandMassachusettsNew HampshireOregonPennsylvania Rhode IslandVermontWashingtonOne challenge faced by veterinarians is the fact there is no test to confirm that all reported cases are, in fact, the same illness.

What Are the Warning Signs? Common symptoms resemble respiratory infections like canine influenza and kennel cough, conditions usually seen in higher numbers at this time of year. Luckily for the human members of our family, there are currently no reports of the illness being transferred to humans.

Veterinarians recommend watching out for the following symptoms: Coughing or sneezing WheezingDifficulty breathingNasal or eye dischargeDehydration Loss of appetite Weight loss FeverLethargyHow Can You Keep Your Dog Safe? Until a cure has been identified, dog parents are encouraged to focus on preventative measures.

Avoid public spaces like dog parks, doggy daycare, and grooming establishments where dogs may be exposed to the illness. If you must go to a public space, steer clear of shared food and water dishes. Your dog will be just as happy to spend this time playing with you as they would with another dog!

Contact your veterinarian to share your concerns and make an appointment. Big yips come out of little packages! Need proof? Take a look at the barkers on our top 10 yappy dog breeds list.

There are times they should keep their thoughts to themselves. But not so with these yappy dog breeds! Cat owners can worry a lot about their little furry friends, and sometimes, there's a good reason for that. And if your cat is sick, you may be told that you should give her an injectable antibiotic.

Does it really work? Read on as we try to learn more about injectable antibiotics for cats. Sometimes they might be a simple solution for an ache to go away, or powerful aid in the fight with a nasty bug.

But while you might immediately think of antibiotics that come in the form of pills or liquids, there is another option to be aware of. Injectable ones. A quick jab and the remedy is administered. But before you agree to this treatment option, consider the pros and cons, some of which are outlined below.

It turns out that, while antibiotic injections might certainly be beneficial, there are several reasons why some experts advocate against using them. Generally, an antibiotic injection is fast acting, which means it might help your pet feel better soon after she receives the shot.

So, you can see how this might be a convenient solution if your kitty is diagnosed with a condition that this type of medication is designed to treat. With an injection, it is different.

After all, we know that cats are rather willful and stubborn, and trying to give them a pill could prove to be a major challenge. All that jumping, scratching, hissing, and general chaos.

No stress and no chaos. Another reason why some pet parents might prefer an antibiotic injection is because the veterinarian administers it. Instead, you can let the single shot do its job.

The vet is a professional and knows exactly how to deal with a cat, no matter if it's calm and obedient, or naughty and full of action.

First off, as is the case with any medication, a cat may have an adverse reaction to the antibiotic. Or, if your pet is taking any other medications or supplements, the injection might adversely interact with them.

In the case of an oral medication, if side effects occur, you could contact your vet, who would probably tell you to stop administering that medicine and, if necessary, bring the pet in for treatment to counteract the adverse effects.

Also, the treatment required to help your cat recover from side effects might be costly. According to experts, Convenia could remain in the body at sub-therapeutic levels for roughly 65 days after it has been administered.

This may increase the risk of problems developing. When it comes to an injectable antibiotic, you definitely want to rest assured that it is necessary, and that it can work against whatever ailment your furry companion has been diagnosed with.

Prior to agreeing to give your cat an antibiotic shot, ask about what the injection is labeled to treat. For example, Convenia is formulated to treat bacterial skin infections, but a veterinarian might prescribe it for other problems. Having an understanding of the condition that your pet has been diagnosed with can help you make a more informed decision regarding the path you want to take to treat your companion.

For example, you might ask if there is an antibiotic that you can administer orally or topically. Sometimes it is enough to stick with the classic pills, even though they act slower. That is a good way to avoid injections if you are opposed to them. It is your decision after all, and your loving pet.

Bottom LineNo matter what pet related product you go for, there is bound to be some pros and cons involved. Nothing, after all, is completely ideal, and while it can be great for some owners, it might be bad for others. The same goes with injectable antibiotics for cats.

It might give you greater peace of mind, and reduce some risk, if you opt to give your kitty oral medications while using strategies to make the process less stressful for you and your pet.

In the end, your chosen veterinary can be a great help in deciding. After all, they are professionals that know exactly what they are offering. If they support your idea of injectable antibiotics, then you can surely go for it.

And if you ever find yourself in doubt about any cat related products or antibiotics, do not hesitate to consult your vet and find the right decision.

It can make a world of difference! Schnoodle BasicsAfter sliding its furry form into the hearts of dog lovers everywhere, the Schnoodle is gaining popularity as a must-have designer dog.

The Schnoodle seems to exploding in popularity exponentially, with dog lovers everywhere desperate to get their hands on this delightful animal.

As a mixed breed, this adorable pooch has two purebred parents- the Schnauzer and the Poodle. This hybrid breed fills the role of many types of dog — lap dog, family dog, therapy dog and even a show stopper. You could say this is a well-rounded breed that will fill any position available!

Not only is the Schnoodle cute and adorable, it is playful and lovable, making him the ideal family pet. With a wide range of sizes available, Schnoodles come is small, medium and larger sizes. Depending on the size of Poodle and Schnauzer bred, your Schnoodle can weigh anywhere from 10 to 60 pounds Schnauzer come in Miniature, Standard, and Giant, while Poodles come in Toy, Miniature, and Standard sizes.

And, because of the Poodle mixed in, this dog has a hypoallergenic coat, which makes him an attractive pet for allergy sufferers. Please read on to learn about this wonderful hybrid dog breed. In addition to Schnoodle, this designer dog is also known as Mini Schnoodle, Miniature Schnoodle, Schnauzerdoodle, or Schnauzerpoo.

So is this dog with multiple names, a variety of sizes, and endless reasons to love him worth bringing home to your family? Keep your eyes glued to this page and scroll away.

Everything that you could possibly want to know about the Schnoodle is about to be revealed! Making its way into the hearts of dog lovers everywhere, the Schnoodle is gaining popularity as a must-have designer dog. Origin Developed in the s, the Schnoodle made its appearance due to an increased interest in Poodle mixes.

Breeders came to realize that the exceptional intelligence and hypoallergenic coat of the Poodle bring a lot of value to the mix. Crossbreeds with this breed in the family tree still remain one of the most popular hybrids!

Most people do. After all, if you want to take control of your diet, you would hit the kitchen and make some healthy meals. Your dog deserves the same respect and fortunately there are plenty of recipes out there for homemade food and treats that are just as delicious as they are nutritious.

Making treats for your pup can be fun and easy. All it takes is the right recipe. Like this one! Dogs flip out for peanut butter. Give your dog a treat with peanut butter and watch the joy splash across their face.

Best of all? Peanut butter is healthy. It is full to the brim of all the wholesome, important nutrients and vitamins dogs need. It has Vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, iron, and Vitamin B6. And research shows that people who eat peanut butter regularly are less prone to develop heart disease and diabetes.

The same must go for doggos, right? There is no reason not to include a bit of that peanuty good stuff in their diet too. The only trouble is that so many of them are pretty difficult to make. When we came across the Easy-Peasy Peanut Butter Dog Treats Recipe, we knew it was right up our alley in regards to skill level.

Clearly dogs love these treats, but their humans should like them too because they are easy to make and are packed full of healthy ingredients. Absolutely nothing. You and your dog need this in your lives immediately. So, what are you waiting for? Keep on reading and make this treats asap!

An easy-to-make treat your dog will love! Preheat the oven to °F °C 2. Thoroughly mix together the flour and baking powder in a big bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix together the peanut butter and the hot water or skim milk until smooth. Slowly add in the dry mixture and mix it all together well.

Cut the mix with a cookie cutter choose the shapes of your choice! and place it all on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown.

Let it all cool, and then let the begging begin! A Few Extra Tips for Making Your Own Homemade Dog TreatsIf you are new to making dog treats at home, this is a great recipe to start with. Trust me, not all homemade dog treats are like that.

Some recipes will even make experience chefs sweat a little bit. However, once you get the hang of things, you can experiment with making a wider range of dog treat recipes to give your dog even more flavors to enjoy.

This could be a whole new world to explore with your pup! Some examples of healthy dog treat ingredients include rolled oats, oat flour, rye flour, chickpea flour, kelp, unsweetened apple sauce, blueberries, baby food, low-sodium broth, canned pumpkin, sweet potato, banana, mashed potato or mashed sweet potato, kale, apple cider vinegar, cheddar cheese, flaxseeds, fish oil, carrots, and yogurt.

So feel free to experiment and find out what your dog loves the most. Or, you could even come up with your own original recipes using these ingredients! The possibilities are almost endless!

Experiments can often go awry, so stick to the proven stuff! As an example, using chickpea flour is a great way to take out any wheat that your dog might be allergic to. It all depends on your pooch.

Remember, there are ingredients that are toxic to dogs, so you should never use them in any of your dog treat recipes. Those include raisins and grapes, as well as chocolate, artificial colors and sweeteners, macadamia nuts, nutmeg, xylitol, and baby food that contains garlic or onions.

Avoid these ingredients at all costs, no matter how much you love them yourself. When you have extra treats that you want to store away, allow them to cool completely first.

Stored properly, they might last a couple of weeks if kept at room temperature. Even then, they might only last a week. So be careful! Why Bother Making Your Own Dog Treats? Yes, there are plenty of dog treats available in stores. In fact, there are hundreds of them: small, large, good, bad, tasty, awful, cheap, expensive.

There are so many reasons why more and more pet parents are taking charge and setting aside some time to make food for their beloved canine companions.

It is fun, it is healthy, and it is rewarding for everyone. No reason not to try it! Treat manufacturers fill treats with crap that you would never feed your dog if even the choice. And give your pooch to many of these, and they can soon start getting a bit chubby all over.

That is never good, is it? Especially if your dog has a sensitive tummy or he suffers from allergies. Of course, there is also the economic factor involved.

Sometimes, those tastiest doggo treats with the cleanest, natural ingredients can put quite a dent in your monthly budget. Skipping one such purchase and making these tasty DIY treats instead can leave you with a nice monthly bonus in the budget.

Still, this is not an invitation to skimp out and never buy anything nice for your pet. If you know that your pupper has an affinity for these delicious peanut butter dog treats, then you should certainly utilize them as a positive reinforcement during training. Sign up for a new account in our community.

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All Activity Home General General Discussion Budget Fish room build Watch our video on the rules of this forum. Budget Fish room build. Share More sharing options Followers 2. Recommended Posts. Taco Playz Posted January 1, Posted January 1, edited. So I have been doing research and I have pretty limited money to use on this project.

Give me the cheapest and best option on -Lids -Lights -Also the Aquariums themselves I have been looking at Petco and they of course have the best deals on tanks even without the dollar per gallon sale. Thanks Edited January 1, by Taco Playz.

Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options Fish Folk Posted January 1, This is awesome. Try to build near a bathroom. It makes everything much easier. Measure 3x. Build 1x. Posted January 1, lefty o Posted January 1, Payne Posted January 1, For cheap lids, Cory has videos on cutting this stuff to size… I use this Hyper-Tough cabinet LED lighting.

Wonder Boy Posted January 1, Ryan S. Posted January 2, Couple of things I'll mention that gave me great bang for the buck in my fish room. Wingman12r Posted January 2, Taco Playz Posted January 2, Gideyon Posted January 2, What are you planning to breed?

Just curious. The DIY lids mentioned above can work well but make sure: 1 you have the tools to cut it properly 2 you have the space to transport it if you buy it from the store 3 plan the cuts to maximize the use of the entire sheet. Smart plugs are good too for programming lights.

GardenStateGoldfish Posted January 2, WhitecloudDynasty Posted January 2, What are you planning on breeding? The PH where I live tends to differ. It can be high or it can be low. WhitecloudDynasty Posted January 3, Posted January 3, StevesFishTanks Posted January 3, Minanora Posted January 3, The only other thing to consider imo is the cost in time.