Birds & fish
Little guides for a lovelier life together: what a puzzle toy does for a busy mind, how to choose a bed, a feeder or a harness, and the finds we think are worth a closer look. Written to be useful whether or not you buy anything.
What Size Aquarium Heater Do You Need? Watts per Gallon Guide
Start with 3 to 5 watts per gallon: about 25 watts for a 5 gallon tank, 50 for 10, 100 for 20 and 200 to 300 for 55. Go higher in a cool room.
Easy Aquarium Plants for Beginners: Live, Silk or Both?
Java fern, anubias, java moss, marimo balls and crypts are the easiest live aquarium plants. Tie the first two to wood, plant crypts in soil, or pick soft silk plants for zero upkeep.
Should You Cover a Bird Cage at Night? 6 Myths vs Facts
Cover your bird's cage at night if the room stays bright or busy after bedtime. If the room is already dark and quiet, a cover is optional. Here is what a cover does and what it does not.
Bird Perches Compared: Wood, Rope, Sand, Platforms and Swings
Give your bird a mix: natural wood branches of different widths, a soft rope perch, one flat platform and a swing, sized to its feet and kept away from food and water bowls.
Aquarium Terms for Beginners: A Plain-Words Fishkeeping Glossary
Cycling, bioload, GPH, substrate, gravel vacuum: the words new fishkeepers meet first, explained in plain language, grouped by job, with the gear each one points to.
Aquarium Filter Types Compared: Sponge, HOB, Canister and More
Sponge filters suit bettas, shrimp and fry; hang-on-back filters suit most small and mid tanks; canisters suit big tanks. Here is how each type works, sounds and gets cleaned.
Where to Put a Bird Cage: A Cozy Room Guide for Fall and Winter
Put the cage in a room where the family spends time, with one side against an inside wall, near eye level, and away from drafts, vents, sunny glass and the kitchen.
How to Choose a Budgie Cage: Width, Bar Spacing and Setup
Pick a budgie cage that is wider than it is tall, with bars no more than half an inch apart, horizontal bars for climbing, wide doors and a pull-out tray.
Aquarium Starter Checklist: Tank, Filter, Heater and Cycling
A community fish tank needs a roomy tank on a strong stand, a filter and heater sized to it, a light on a timer, conditioned water and a full cycle before the first fish.
Setting Up a Betta Fish Tank: Heater, Filter, Plants, Hides
A betta needs a covered tank with room to swim, a small heater and thermometer, a gentle filter, water conditioner, soft plants and a smooth hide. Set it up and let it run before your fish comes home.
Bird Toy Glossary: Shreddables, Foragers, Perches and Swings
Parrots need toys to shred, foragers that hide a treat, small foot toys, perches of mixed widths and textures, and a swing or ladder. Here is what every bird toy term means.