| How to Care for Guppies Posted: 19 Oct 2016 05:00 PM PDT Guppies are one of the most colorful tropical freshwater fish in the world. They are small and relatively easy and inexpensive to take care of. They are a great fish to start with when beginning to build an aquarium, or learning to care for fish. With a properly outfitted aquarium, proper feeding, and careful handling, these fish can thrive. EditSetting Up a Habitat - Choose an aquarium tank. Ideally, your tank will be between 5 and 10 gallons in volume. You don't want to overcrowd your tank. For best results, stick to 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. If you have a 10-gallon tank, for example, aim for about five guppies. This will simply help you maintain the tank better and keep your fish healthier.[1]
- Some guppy breeders and enthusiasts might argue that you don't need to follow that ratio, but the more fish you have in your tank, the more often you will have to clean it and change the water. Consider this when deciding what size tank to get, and how many guppies to keep in it.
- Dechlorinate the water in the tank. There are a few ways you can dechlorinate your water. You can let it sit with the lid open for about a week to let the chlorine evaporate, or you can buy a dechlorinating kit. It's important to dechlorinate your aquarium, and any water you add to it in the future.[2]
- You can buy these supplies at a local pet supply store for a relatively low cost. You will also want to buy a chlorine testing kit, just to make sure the water is completely free of chlorine before adding your fish.
- Nearly all tap water has a certain level of chlorine in it. You can use purified, filtered, or distilled water that is free of chlorine, to begin with, but to be safe, still test the water for chlorine before putting your fish in it.[3]
- Try to keep the pH level in your tank between 6.8 and 7.8, with 7.0 being the ideal level. You can use a pH testing kit to monitor this level.[4]
- Keep the water between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is equal to about 24 and 30 degrees Celsius. Keep a thermometer in the tank to monitor the temperature. If you find it needs to be heated, you can purchase a small heater to place in the tank.[5]
- If you need a heater, make sure you buy one that is appropriate for the size of aquarium you have. For example, if you have a 5-gallon tank, you'll need a less powerful heater than if you have a 20-gallon tank. Ask the associate at the pet supply store if you aren't sure which heater you need.
- To avoid overheating your tank, it's best to keep it out of direct sunlight. Use a heater if you need to raise the temperature, and use an artificial light in the tank rather than sunlight. If for some reason the water becomes overheated, take some of the warm water out and replace it with cooler water to lower the temperature slowly.
- Use a filtration system in your tank. For the most part, aquarium tanks will come equipped with a filtration system. If yours did not, you would need to purchase one separately. You will need to change the filter media when it begins to turn brown, so make sure you monitor this whenever you clean the tank.[6]
- Even if your tank did come with a filter, you can always change it out for a different or better one should you feel you need to. Make sure your filtration system can keep up with the amount of fish you have and the size of your tank.
- A regular filtration system should be enough to keep your tank oxygenated, but you can also add an airstone to help add oxygen to the water if you have a larger tank.
- Add plants and decorations to your tank. Start from the bottom—add some substrate to the bottom of the tank. Stones or gravel are a great option for guppies. Then, add in plants. You can use live plants, which help balance the pH of the tank, but they can also die or have leaves drop off of them. Plastic plants are a good option in place of live plants. The important thing is that the fish have somewhere to hide, as guppies like to do this.[7]
- Make sure you rinse all substrate, plastic plants, and decorations before placing them in the water. You want to make sure you get all the dust or dirt off of them that they may have picked up in the supply store.
- Avoid adding things like live coral, or old driftwood to your tank. These could potentially contain parasites that could be damaging to your fish and the tank.
- Light your tank. Ideally, your guppies should get about 8 hours of darkness per day. Too much more or less than this could cause deformities as they grow. You can put a light over the tank and set it on a timer to ensure your guppies get the right amount of light per day, or you can turn the light on and off manually each morning and night.[8]
- If you are using natural light, like placing your tank near a window or light source, make sure it doesn't affect the temperature of the water too much. Make sure your water maintains the proper temperature for your guppies.
EditFeeding Guppies - Feed your guppies the right food. You can feed your guppies all kinds of food, both dry and wet, and both live and frozen. You can buy pre-made flake food for guppies that will provide them with a balanced diet, but make sure you avoid feeding them solely a high-protein food. You want to balance protein with vegetable-based food.[9]
- Brine shrimp, earthworm flakes, dried bloodworm, white worms, and mosquito larvae are all great options for feeding your guppies.
- Flake food with fish meal as a primary ingredient is a great choice. Read the labels before buying your guppy food.
- Feed your guppies a small amount 2-4 times per day. Rather than feeding your guppies a large amount all at once, spread their feedings out throughout the day. Try to vary what you give them each feeding. For example, you might give them live brine shrimp during one feeding, and then flake food at the next feeding.[10]
- Be careful not to overfeed your guppies. They should be able to consume the food you give them within two minutes.
- Monitor your guppies' digestive health. The tank water is a good indicator of how well the fish are thriving on their diet. If the water goes cloudy, or if there seems to be a problem with algae in your tank, you might be having some issues with your feeding.[11]
- If your tank goes cloudy, lighten up your feeding by about 20% for a few days and see if that helps the fish readjust and the water to balance itself out again.
EditMaintaining Healthy Guppies - Keep two female guppies for every one male guppy. You will want to keep multiple guppies in your tank, because they are social fish who enjoy being in groups. Make sure you keep a 2:1 ratio of females to males as males have a tendency to stress out the females and chase them around in the tank. Keeping more females than males should help lessen this issue.[12]
- If you want to avoid breeding, you will want to keep all one gender in your tank. Guppies give birth to live fry rather than laying eggs, so if your guppies breed, you will see their babies right as they are born.
- Learn more about breeding guppies before doing so.
- Clean the tank once a week. This will mean changing out about 25% of the water and replacing it with fresh, dechlorinated water. You will also want to use a siphon hose to reach down to the bottom of the tank and vacuum up any leftover food, or algae that might be growing on the bottom of the tank.[13]
- When cleaning, you won't want to take out all of the water and replace it. By taking out only 25-40% of the water, the fish will be better able to adjust.[14]
- Your filter should be doing most of the heavy lifting on a daily basis, but using a siphon hose (easily purchased at a pet supply store) to clean any algae or food from the bottom of the tank will help keep the tank cleaner, and your fish healthier.
- Clean the glass on the inside of the tank if you notice it's getting dirty. Use a razor blade to scrape off any grime that might be on the inside of the tank, then use the siphon hose to suck it up. Also, you may want to periodically remove any decorations from the tank and rinse them thoroughly to remove any algae or grime build-up.
- Purchase a siphon hose from your pet supply store. You can use these while the fish are still in the tank, but make sure you do so with care. If you're worried about the fish being harmed during the tank cleaning, you can remove them and put them in a separate container of dechlorinated water while you clean.
- Monitor your guppies for illness or disease. While this particular species is pretty healthy, guppies may sometimes develop problems with fungus. This most commonly appears as white spots on their skin called Ich. This is easily treatable with some medications you can purchase at your pet supply store.[15]
- Keep your tank clean and well-maintained, and you will likely not have any issues with sickness or disease. If any guppies die, make sure you remove them quickly from the tank. If any guppies do show signs of disease or sickness, quarantine them in a separate tank while they heal so they don't infect the others.
- Guppies get along well with most other fish species, but avoid cohabiting them with fish that are known for nipping fins.
- Regularly monitor the pH of the water to keep your guppies healthy.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make Halloween Eyeball Cupcakes Posted: 19 Oct 2016 09:00 AM PDT Looking for a fun Halloween treat? Try making eyeball cupcakes. They are spooky and delicious! EditIngredients - Plain cupcake or bun recipe (make up to include the food colouring, see steps below)
- Red food colouring
- Orange/yellow food colouring
- Black fondant
- White fondant
- Red writing icing
- Black food colouring (optional)
- Begin by finding a recipe for plain cupcakes or buns. Add in red, yellow, black and/or orange food colouring to the mixture before you bake them, so that they're a Halloween colour.
- Make the cupcakes and leave to cool.
- Put the cooled cupcakes on a tray you don't mind getting dirty (you can always wash off the icing).
- Cut the white fondant into the shape of a circle. This circle should be large enough to cover the top of the cupcake.
- Cut the black fondant into a smaller circle. This completes the eyeball pieces.
- Place the fondant pieces on top of each other and press them together.
- Stick the fondant circles onto your cupcake. Use icing to attach the fondant to the cupcake.
- Repeat for each cupcake.
- Draw red lines from the red writing icing. Draw the lines extending from the black fondant "pupil" circle to the edge of the white fondant. These are "bloody" lines on the eyeball to represent some Halloween gore. Repeat for each cupcake.
- Add your own personal decorations. This might be edible or plastic cupcake toppers themed in a Halloween way. Or, the cupcakes are fine as they are, just plain eyeballs. Spooky Halloween treat completed.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Food colouring can stain if it goes on clothing or furnishings.
EditThings You'll Need - Mixing bowl and baking equipment for cupcakes
- Kitchen knife for fondant
- Cutting board
- Piping bag
- Halloween decorations suitable for a cupcake
- Tray or plate for serving the cupcakes from
EditRelated wikiHows |
| How to Clean a Down Comforter at Home Posted: 19 Oct 2016 01:00 AM PDT Down comforters are a warm and cozy addition to any bed linen ensemble – but they can get dirty, and they will eventually need to be cleaned. Many comforters come with a label directing you to have the blanket professionally laundered. However, you can also clean a down comforter at home. With just a few simple steps, your comforter can look as good as new without a hefty dry-cleaning fee. EditPrepping and Caring for the Comforter - Keep an eye on your comforter. The fabric may become worn with heavy or prolonged use. Stains, rips, mold, and other undesirable conditions may arise without you noticing. Look for loose feathers: down comforters are traditionally stuffed with the fluffy undercoating of geese, ducks, and other soft birds,[1] and a flurry of flying feathers is a telltale sign that the fabric has torn. Repair tears with a needle and a thread that matches the comforter. Spot-clean any stains as soon as they appear.
- Professionally clean your comforter only every few years. It is usually unnecessary to clean a down comforter more often than this – and under normal circumstances, you should not take it to a dry-cleaner much more than once a year. The exception: if the fabric becomes extremely soiled, it might be worth your while to have it professionally cleaned for the sake of your peace of mind.[2]
- Be aware: some retailers claim that if you wash too often or too heavily, you can harm the interior down fluff that keeps your comforter warm. Improper washing can strip the down of its natural oils and make it less effective. Furthermore, the comforter may shrink in the wash.[3]
- Remove your down comforter from the bed. Whether you are washing the comforter or just rolling for lint, it is best not to clean the comforter while it's still on top of your sheets and mattress. Bring it to a clean, dry place with water-resistant floors: a laundry room, a bathroom, or a patio.
- Think about using a duvet cover. This over-blanket or "comforter shell" covers up your comforter and keeps it clean. You can buy duvets to fit various comforter sizes. Duvets usually zip shut around the comforter for the sake of protection. When you notice dirt or stains, you can easily remove the duvet cover and clean it without having to worrying about the comforter.
- Use a large, front-loading washing machine. Down comforters tend to be bulky, and a small machine will not likely do the job. If you have a top-loading machine at home, it probably has an "agitator" in the center of the washing chamber, which can rip or otherwise stress the fabric of the comforter. If you don't have a large, front-loading machine at home, consider taking the comforter to a local laundromat. Laundromats tend to have heavy-duty front-loading machines available.[4]
- Your comforter should not be jam-packed into the chamber. Try to find a washing machine that is large enough to fit your comforter with a bit of extra air space. This will help the water and detergent reach every part of the fabric, not just the sections that wind up on the outside of a bundle.
- If you aren't sure, check the owner's manual for your washing machine. It should list the maximum comforter size that you can safely wash.[5] If you don't have the owner's manual, run a web search for "[your washing machine make and model] owner's manual".
- Wash gently. When you load your comforter into the machine, add a mild laundry detergent. Use warm water and a delicate cycle; hot or cold water can damage the down.[6] Try to submerge the comforter as completely as possible into the water.
- If your comforter is white, feel free to add bleach. It's usually safe to add bleach even if the label discourages it.[7]
- Consider letting the washing machine run for a minute or two before you load the comforter. This allows the detergent to blend with the water, ensuring a more even wash. This is especially important with such a bulky item – otherwise, the soap might not reach every corner![8]
- Use the rinse cycle twice. Make sure that all of the detergent has washed out before you pull the comforter from the wash. It's better to be safe than sorry. Before the comforter hits the spin cycle, pull it out and squeeze some of the water out of it by hand. This might make the waterlogged fabric lighter and more likely to spin well.
- Unload the comforter. Once the wash cycle is complete, remove your down comforter from the washing machine. Your comforter should look flatter, smoother, and less bulky than usual.
- If your comforter is white, it may look discolored when you pull it from the wash. Don't worry: it is temporary. The discoloration stems from the wet down fluff, and the clean white hue should return as the comforter dries.
- Consider air-drying the comforter. This will take longer than an electrical drying machine, but it is less likely to shrink or damage the fabric. Be patient. Down is notoriously slow to dry. Lay the comforter out in a clean, sunny area, and give it time to dry.
- Avoid line-drying a down comforter. The fabric can develop mildew if it's left hanging in the breeze.
- Consider using air-drying as a prep or precursor to machine-drying. Mitigate the risk of mildew by fluffing and drying the comforter in the dryer afterward.
- Use a dryer on a low heat setting. If you do use a drying machine, avoid setting the cycle to a high heat. White comforters can safely dry at a higher heat than can colorful comforters – but they still run the risk of shrinking. Stick to a low setting unless you are extremely pressed for time.
- Toss dryer balls, a canvas sneaker shoe with no laces, or sock-covered tennis balls into the dryer along with the comforter. Any of these items can help break up the feather clumps as it dries. This should fluff the comforter, and it might speed the process.[9]
- Check and fluff periodically. Whether you choose to air-dry or to machine dry, make sure to keep an eye on your down comforter to make sure that the process is going smoothly. Check that the fabric is drying evenly through, and not just in patches. Fluff and distribute the down by kneading and shaking the comforter.[10]
- Hold up the comforter periodically and feel for clumps of down. Clumps mean that the still damp and will need longer in the dryer.
- Wait until dry. Once the comforter is completely dry, fluff it out and place it back on your bed. The whole drying process could take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours, depending on the method and heat setting that you use. Be patient. Make sure that you have plenty of time to let the comforter settle. Once the comforter is dry, it's ready to use.
- Before storing your down comforter away, make sure that it is completely dry. If it is damp, it may mildew. Store it in a cool, well-ventilated closet or cupboard.
- Take care not to clean a down comforter too often. Overworking can break down the feathers. Alternatives to washing your down comforter so often include purchasing a dry-clean kit for your dryer and using a duvet cover to protect the bedding.
- If you are cleaning a down comforter at home, be sure your washer and dryer can handle the capacity. If your comforter is too big for either, you could ruin your washer and dryer or the comforter.
EditThings You'll Need - Mild laundry detergent
- Bleach (if applicable)
- Dryer balls, canvas sneaker, or tennis balls
EditSources and Citations
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