For the public

Correcting Water Quality Problems

Problems with the Nitrogen Cycle

Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates measure the biological filter in a system.  Elevations in any of these parameters with normal pH and alkalinity indicates a problems with biological filtration (see related article: The Importance of Water Quality Testing on this website).  Mild elevations in all parameters are generally easy to fix, but there are some special cases described below that are far more concerning.

Basic Care: Koi

Koi are extremely popular pets due to the growing number of people who enjoy backyard ponds.  While generally quite hardy with appropriate care, koi still come down with a variety of conditions that may be helped by working with a veterinarian.

Basic Care: African Dwarf Frog

African dwarf frogs (Hymenochirus sp.) are often sold as additions to tropical freshwater fish aquariums or as "living art" to be kept in small glass vases or other displays.  In fact, these frogs often do not compete well with aggressive tropical fish and fail to thrive in community aquariums.  They also need a larger more complex environments than a 1 gallon vase filled with water lined with gravel in order to do well. 

Basic Care: Water Dragon

Asian water dragons, also known as the green water dragon or Chinese water dragon, can make beautiful pets but they have specific care needs that must be met in order for them to thrive. Once they are used to your presence, they are generally tame and easily handled. While they occasionally fight among themselves or compete for superiority with cage mates, they are rarely aggressive toward human keepers.

Basic Care: Uromastyx

Spiny-tailed lizards (Uromastyx spp.), also commonly referred to as Uromastyx, are among the more popular pet lizards.  There are at least 14 different species of these desert-adapted lizards although only a few are being regularly imported or bred in captivity.

Microchip Identification in Chelonians

Unlike our furry friends the dog and cat, turtles and tortoises (known collectively as "chelonians") aren’t quite suited to wearing collars bearing ID tags.  In the past chelonian enthusiasts have tried to establish forms of identification for their turtles and tortoises through various methods.  Microchips (also know as transponders, PIT tags, or microchip transponders) provide a more long-lasting and reliable form of identification.

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