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Aquascaping: The New Ideal Hobby

Previously, I wrote a couple of articles that talk about my experience with pet fish, along with some tips and tricks on how to care for them. However, I recently noticed that more and more people are shifting towards “aquascaping”, which is a new hobby that surged in popularity during Circuit Breaker.

For those of you who don’t know what it is, “aquascaping” is when you arrange aquatic plants, rocks, stones and other types of accessories within an aquarium. Basically it’s the equivalent of gardening, but this time it’s done underwater. The best part of this is that it’s completely up to you regarding whether you want to actually have aquatic pets in the tank or not!

While it seems “mundane” or troublesome, there’s actually a lot to learn when it comes to aquascaping, which I’ll be discussing below:

What are the types of aquascaping?

While there are quite a few types of aquascaping techniques and methods, I won’t be going through them all as there’s too much volume of content to provide. However, I’ve attached a hyperlink to each example for you to read more about them.

Each type of technique brings about a whole different style, layout, and even sense of appreciation by those that engage in aquascaping. What’s more, there’s actually quite a few health benefits that come with it.

Stress Reducer

One slightly more “obvious” benefit is that aquascaping helps reduce stress levels. Just watching the fish swim about, and observing the underwater plants swaying has had a positive effect on those who suffer from high stress levels.

If your job is giving you excessive stress or pressure, then this hobby is definitely for you.

Lowers High Blood Pressure

A slightly less known benefit of aquascaping is that it reduces high blood pressure. In a study conducted, those who participated in aquascaping actually had a reduction in their blood pressure levels. This was noted especially for people who had aquatic animals in their tank, compared to those that didn’t.

However, if aquascaping is out of your budget (which I’ll be discussing later on), you can actually experience similar results by simply watching videos of fish swimming, or aquatic plants swaying. Regardless of whether you own a tank or not, it does seem to have some really good health benefits.

Reduction of Pain

This last benefit is actually quite an unknown one. An academic report actually found that dentists with an aquarium in their waiting room resulted in decreased pain felt during the appointment, and also the amount of medicine required afterwards.

Not only that, it also leads to a lower level of stress (as previously mentioned).

Overall, there seems to be quite a few benefits to aquascaping, especially for those with high stress levels or blood pressure.

How Much does Aquascaping Cost?

To be very honest, I’m no expert at aquascaping. However, the cost of aquascaping really does depend on what you’d like to put inside the tank. Some basic essentials are lighting, water filters, carbon dioxide, liquid fertilisers, substrate, and hardscape materials. These items vary in prices depending on how extensive you’d like your aquarium to be.

However, if you’re looking to go the distance and also purchase aquatic animals, expect the prices to be beyond $100. Not only do you have to purchase these animals, but you’d probably also need to purchase a tank with a motor, fish food, anti-chlorine and other accessories to ensure your pets are well taken care of.

However again, I’m not an aquascaping expert. This article is merely here to provide you with some benefits of delving into this hobby, and some of the things you may want to consider before taking the plunge (pun intended).

If you’re interested in actually going into the hobby, do click here, and here to learn a little bit more about what you may need, and how to go about purchasing it.

Conclusion

While aquascaping doesn’t seem to be the cheapest hobby out there, there seems to be quite a few health benefits to it. If you’re looking for a somewhat low maintenance hobby (in comparison to others), this might be the one for you.

However, if you’re looking to find ways to reduce your stress levels on a budget, it may be easier to watch some videos of aquariums/aquascaping as they have similar positive impacts on your health.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the article! Do let me know if you have any other aquatic topics you’d like me to delve into 🙂

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Photo Credit: https://aquariumbreeder.com/aquascaping-for-beginners-introduction/

Reference: https://www.emotionalpetsupport.com/2019/11/the-world-of-aquascaping-and-its-benefits/

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Everything You Need to Know About Guinea Pigs in Singapore — Part 2/6: Bedding (3 Wood Shavings)

Wood shavings are the subject of many a passionate debate among guinea pig lovers in Singapore. Before we get into the contentious bits, let’s start with the cold, hard, facts. Wood shavings come in the following common varieties: aspen, cedar, pine, rubber, and a mixture of wood types. Some are safe, some are not.

Cedar and pine naturally contain phenols that smell great to humans but are harmful to the delicate respiratory systems of the beloved guinea pig. The consensus seems to be that cedar, whether heat treated or not, are toxic to guinea pigs. Thus, only heat treated or kiln dried pine shavings are safe options for guinea pig bedding. Aspen shavings, on the other hand, do not contain harmful phenols and is commonly marketed adjacent to small animal paper bedding in pet stores. No information currently exists on the safety levels of rubber tree shavings for guinea pigs, so steer clear to stay safe. In summary, only aspen or heat treated pine shavings are appropriate bedding types for guinea pigs. 

Pro tip: Wooden hideys and chew toys should also only be made from guinea pig friendly, pesticide-free wood.

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Where can I get wood shavings in Singapore?

The easiest option would be to purchase it at your local pet store, but those shavings come in small bags and are often similar in pricing to small animal paper bedding. The more cost effective option would be to buy wood shavings from companies that sell bedding to horses. That being said, be prepared to buy a comparatively large amounts at one go. The Equine Sanctuary caters to small animal owners and are able to sell a minimum of approximately 18kg of compressed wood shavings at a time (a lot less than a horse owner would need). This is still a significant amount for guinea pigs and can last for a few weeks depending on the size of your enclosure. My favourite brand is Bluefrog as it is comprised of heat treated pine shavings that are absorbent and almost dust-free.

Factors to take into consideration when selecting wood shavings…

  1. Do the shavings contain a mix of potentially dangerous wood types? 
  2. Are the shavings dusty?
  3. Do I have an appropriate place to store the bedding?

Make sure the wood-shavings you select is indeed safe for guinea pigs as many brands contain a mixture of different types of wood. Many pet stores also sell wood pellets or compressed wood bedding products marketed for small animals. These tend to come from unknown wood-origins and break down into dust when they come into contact with liquids. This concept also applies to wood-based cat litter — steer clear. It goes without saying that sawdust is also an absolute no go. 

Pro tip: Create an easy to clean “kitchen area” for hay to keep the rest of the guinea pig enclosure relatively hay-free.

I love using heat treated pine shavings as, in my opinion, they are immensely more absorbent, odour friendly, and cost effective than the bedding types we have explored thus far. That being said, guinea pigs “popcorn” and do “zoomies” when they are happy. This can kick up bedding, so ensure that the sides of your enclosure are high enough to contain their adorable antics. Build or purchase a C&C (cube and chloroplast) cage with a height of at least 20cm. You can try your hand at DIY-ing or contact The Modern Guinea with your preferred cage specifications. 

Don’t skimp on the amount of wood shavings you provide, I would recommend a minimum depth of 10cm of bedding. Many youtube videos filmed overseas proclaim that with enough depth, wood shavings only need to be changed out once a week. However, in Singapore, no bedding is likely to stay clean without daily maintenance — remove soiled areas regularly and do a full change every 7-10 days.

Pro tip: Guinea pigs tend to pee and poop under their hideys, corners of their cage, and where they eat. Spot clean those areas daily!

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Another important consideration to make before choosing to go with wood shavings is whether you have adequate and appropriate indoor space to safely store wood shavings without it growing mold or harbouring insects. In most countries, buying in bulk is the way to go, but in Singapore, this increases the chances of mite infestations and fungal growth. I, unfortunately, learned this the hard way and now never buy more than a month’s worth of bedding or hay in one go. If you ever do face infestations, diatomaceous earth is a natural and effective way of deterring insects from multiplying. You can purchase diatomaceous earth locally at https://denutrients.com/ Please avoid letting your guinea pigs inhale diatomaceous earth.

Health tip: Use Revolution (Selamactin) on guinea pigs to treat mites and mange at 10mg/kg. Use this handy website for dosage calculations. https://www.guinealynx.info/dose_calculator.html

Why do so many youtube videos feature guinea pigs overseas using sawdust and other “unsafe” bedding products? 

Guinea pigs were first domesticated by the Incas 3000 years ago, but animal husbandry practices have continually evolved and improved as information becomes more readily available. We learn and adapt! Secondly, guinea pigs in Singapore tend to have weaker respiratory systems than their overseas counterparts, thus ensuring that their environment is relatively dust-free is paramount to keeping them healthy. I can only hypothesize that much like other common domestic animals in our compact city-state, our pets tend to have a narrow lineage and are consequently more genetically prone to certain illnesses. 

Some guinea pig owners in Singapore argue that all wood shavings are harmful and can cause respiratory issues. Given that our local furry friends are prone to such issues, you may choose to be extra cautious. However, I am of the opinion that if you do your research and ensure that the wood shavings you select do follow the above criteria, you’re in the green.

Ammonia buildup on fleece can cause issues, pee pads run the risk of being ingested, all materials have their pros and cons. Needless to say, wood shavings have their flaws too — some guinea pigs may develop allergies or be extra sensitive to certain types of wood. Observe, adapt, and don’t be afraid to mix it up!

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I hope these articles help you and your guinea pigs find the perfect bedding combination. Stay tuned for the next article where I will cover a few more alternative bedding options before moving on to our next topic — Everything You Need to Know about Guinea Pigs in Singapore Part 3/6: Environment. 

To review the basics go to: https://contributors.pawjourr.com/guineapigbasics/
To read more about guinea pig bedding in Singapore go to:
https://contributors.pawjourr.com/guineapigbedding1/
https://contributors.pawjourr.com/guineapigbedding2/

As usual, none of this content is sponsored.
Come say hello on our instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/mapetitemenagerie

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Everything You Need to Know about Guinea Pigs in Singapore — Part 2/6: Bedding (2 Pee Pads)

Still with me? Alright! let’s continue our discourse on how popular guinea pig bedding options perform in Singapore. To recap:

I recommend…

  1. Fleece or fleece lined products
  2. Pee pads
  3. Some types of wood shavings

In the previous article, we discussed why small animal paper bedding, newspaper, and shredded recycled paper are terrible options and explored several great fleece options. Please head over to: https://contributors.pawjourr.com/guineapigbedding1/ if you don’t know why. 

Also, if you’d like a cheatsheet on guinea pig care in Singapore, please refer to the first article of the series: https://contributors.pawjourr.com/guineapigbasics/

Bonding session @mapetitemenagerie

A popular bedding option for guinea pig owners in Singapore are non-scented pee pads generally marketed for potty training dogs. Easy, convenient, and relatively economically sound, pee pads will keep guinea pigs dryer and are easy to change out once or twice a day. You will find many brands available on: online giants like Lazada, Shopee, Qoo10, online pet stores like The Modern Guinea and Perromart, and almost any physical pet shop like Pet Lovers Centre. They come in various shapes and sizes, but most guinea pig owners prefer the 45x60cm dimension for adequate coverage of their guinea pig enclosures and easy removal of heavily soiled areas. 

Pro tip: Pee pads are a great temporary solution for sick guinea pigs.

Prices range from around 8-15SGD per pack of 50 disposable 45x60cm large pee pads depending on absorbency, material, brand, and store. On the cheaper end, the pee pads are not as absorbent and may not completely be leak-proof. If you are extremely vigilant about changing the pads or are only planning to use them for short periods of time, this could be a viable option. However, for a few extra dollars, you could opt for higher quality pee pads that do not leak; a reasonable price would be around 12-13SGD/pack. The higher-end options sometimes come infused with charcoal and are black in colour — some owners prefer this as it helps mitigate unpleasant odours. However, I recommend sticking with regular, white pee pads, as urine colour is often the first indicator of a potential bladder problem. I will elaborate on this topic in Everything You Need to Know About Guinea Pigs in Singapore — Part 6/6 Health. 

Truffle after getting spayed @mapetitemenagerie

That being said, disposable pee pads are terrible for the environment and may not actually be cheaper in the long run. A 70x140cm or 2x4grid guinea pig enclosure (suitable for 2 guinea pigs), would require 6 overlapping 45x60cm pee pads; one pack of 50 will last give or take a week. This would mean that pee pads for a pair of guinea pigs will cost approximately 650SGD a year (52 weeks, 12.5SGD/pack). The price of a Guineadad isn’t looking too bad now, wouldn’t you agree?

Did You Know: Guinea pigs live an average of 5-8 years. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest guinea pig lived for almost 15 years!

Pricing aside, disposable pee pads take an average of 500 years to degrade in a landfill. They are very convenient, but much like any other non-recyclable material, will negatively impact the well-being of our planet. Reusable pee pads made for puppies is certainly an alternative albeit not one that is popular among guinea pig owners. Perhaps, this is because fleece options mentioned in the last article require similar levels of maintenance. If you decide to try using reusable pee pads to line your guinea pig enclosure, please share your experiences with me! 

Another strike against pee pads is that, as I mentioned before, guinea pigs chew on everything. They will undoubtedly take a bite, and plastic can cause all kinds of ruckus when ingested. I have yet to hear of pee pads causing fatalities, but keep your eyes peeled to ensure that chomping on the sides of pee pads does not become your guinea pig’s past time. Some guinea pigs also enjoy burrowing under pee pads which defeats the purpose of using them at all. 

Popcorn on a Guineadad @mapetitemenagerie

One way to combat this is by using a combination of fabrics and pee pads; experiment with layers of fleece, microfibre noodle bath rugs, and towels atop pee pads. Alternatively, forgo the pee pads altogether and go with a combination of fabrics and a reusable leak-proof bottom layer like the pre-made options I mentioned here. The options are endless, so it is now up to you to decide what works best for your lifestyle and your guinea pigs. 

Next up is my personal favourite form of bedding but also the most polarizing among guinea pig owners in Singapore — wood shavings. Stay tuned as we delve into the pros and cons of wood shavings in the next article! 

Meanwhile, come say hi on our instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/mapetitemenagerie.com

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Everything You Need to Know About Guinea Pigs in Singapore — Part 2/6: Bedding (1 Fleece)

If you made it this far, I’m assuming you are mildly sadistic and/or the kind of person who likes doing housework. If you haven’t read Everything You Need to Know About Guinea Pigs in Singapore Part 1/6: The Basics, I recommend you take a gander at https://contributors.pawjourr.com/guineapigbasics/ and decide if you are seriously up to the monumental responsibility of owning guinea pigs.

To recap, this series of articles address the unique challenges of caring for a guinea pig in Singapore. For a more general understanding of guinea pigs, refer to the links in the first article. Today, we will start exploring the second of the topics below:

  1. The Basics — a quick summary
  2. Bedding — how popular options perform in Singapore’s humidity
  3. Environment — keeping guinea pigs healthy & comfortable
  4. Sourcing Food & Products — buy stuff without breaking the bank
  5. Vegetables — local produce that guinea pigs love
  6. Health — common illnesses in Singapore and how to deal with them
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Sunny Singapore is super hot and humid in comparison to most places where guinea pigs are popular as pets. So, when reading or watching videos about appropriate bedding, keep in mind that things will not dry as quickly here and will easily turn icky (imagine peed on poop). Also, mold and fungal growth is a huge problem; this is rarely an issue in colder, dryer climates. 

The following are the most commonly used types of bedding for guinea pigs around the world: fleece or fleece-lined products, pee pads, bath mats, wood shavings, paper-based cat litter, small animal paper bedding, newspaper, and shredded recycled paper. I’ll be discussing the pros and cons of the above list with regards to Singapore’s weather and the products’ availabilities in our locale.

I do not recommend…

  1. small animal paper bedding
  2. newspaper
  3. shredded recycled paper

Though easy to find in pet shops, small animal paper bedding, most commonly used for hamsters, are chock full of dust and can often lead to fatal upper respiratory illnesses for guinea pigs. It does not dry very quickly, so your guinea pig may end up sleeping on soggy, urine drenched, mush. Plus, it’s super expensive when you consider the quantity needed for a guinea pig enclosure and not at all effective at controlling odour. 

Though readily available and virtually free, newspaper and recycled paper, are full of chemicals that you do not want your guinea pig ingesting or inhaling. If you put something in a guinea pig pen, expect it to be chewed on. Lead, a common ingredient found on printed paper is toxic to guinea pigs and will lead to all kinds of nasty complications that can be fatal and will result in expensive veterinary bills. It’s not worth it! Plus, it’s also ineffective in absorbing urine or controlling odour and will give you dirty, stinky guinea pigs who have been sleeping in a cocktail of their own urine and faeces. If you really want the smell of guinea pig poop permeating through your home, there are other ways my strange friend. 

I recommend…

  1. Fleece or fleece lined products
  2. Pee pads (jump ahead to pee pads here)
  3. Some types of wood shavings
Photo credit: https://guineadad.com/

Fleece has recently become the go-to choice of bedding for guinea pig lovers around the world. Eco-friendly, soft, and wicking, guinea pigs and their owners love fleece. However, in Singapore’s humidity, fabrics dry infinitely slower than in most other climates. Fleece does not perform quite as well here as it is described to by most guinea pig aficionados on the web; expect to change out fleece bedding twice as often as otherwise recommended. Keep in mind that fleece is warm, and Singapore is hot. Our goal is to keep guinea pigs cool, dry, and clean.

Pro tip: Guinea pigs tend to poop under hideys and next to their food so add extra “protection” around those areas for easier spot-cleaning.

That being said, fleece is still a great option to consider. Guineadad liners are the most popular pre-made fleece solution with a wicking top layer, an absorbent middle, and a waterproof bottom layer. Alternatively, similar pre-made fleece liners can be bought on Taobao and Amazon. Local small businesses in Singapore who make adorable fleece hideys and tunnels for guinea pigs can also make customizable full-sized cage liners. Contact them at Snugglebutts and The Maris Crafts.

Pro tip: Fold over Guineadad pockets on the 2×4 liners as they can get quite damp and nasty in Singapore’s humidity!

Photo Credit: instagram.com/thefoodiepiggies

The second fleece-based bedding option is a D.I.Y. combination of a layer of fleece on pee pads, towels, or on a waterproof liner. The best place to get large swaths in Singapore is Spotlight. I would recommend going down to the store at Plaza Singapura to check out all the adorable designs and select the amount you would like. To make things more complicated, there are several types of fleece. In short, make sure to choose anti-pill fleece. For more information, read this. Alternatively, Snugglebutts and The Maris Crafts make various sizes of fleece mats and pads that you can easily mix, match, and switch out when dirty.

Pro tip: Wash fleece at least 3x before first use to “unlock” its inherent wicking properties. Also, NEVER use dryer sheets or softeners!

There is no secret formula to finding the best bedding type for guinea pigs. Your ideal setup will come down to your personal cleaning habits and preferences, and you will most likely have multiple types of bedding at hand.

Learn more on the next article in the series as we continue to explore types of bedding and how they perform in Singapore! https://contributors.pawjourr.com/guineapigbedding2/

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How To Spend More Quality Time With Your Pet

As we are consumed by work, it is inevitable that we spend merely a few hours with our most precious furry companions every day. However, rather than thinking that this should be the least of our concerns, we should realize that even our most popular dog influencers and cat influencers can get stressed out and sad due to loneliness as well. Here are some tips you should follow to ensure that your favourite fur-friend gets to spend quality time with you:

Go on pet-friendly outings!

One easy way to do so is to take out some time during the weekends just to spend it exclusively with your pet, and what better way to do so than to bring your pet to pet-friendly areas and events? Be it just a neighbourhood walk at the park or a large-scale pet-friendly event, your pet will definitely enjoy its time socializing with new (human and animal) buddies, and exploring rather than being cooped up at home alone. You don’t necessarily have to organize social outings with other owners and pets, but do take note that pet-friendly areas are often crowded during weekends!

 Do things for your pet

Doing things for your pet is an indirect way of spending some good bonding time with your fur-friends. Be it cooking up a new treat recipe, or making something for your pet like DIY-ing a pet collar, your pet and you can enjoy the quality time spent. Not only will your furry companion appreciate its new gift, but you might also be able to pick up a new hobby and make some new friends along the way. Many pet owners and pet-related companies post up free recipes and tips online, and some of them may also organize affordable workshops for such activities.

 Spend more time with your fur-friend (literally)

If you can’t afford to take the time and energy out when you are on a tight schedule, just remember that even a few minutes alone with your fur-friend everyday will make it happier than usual. Be it just allowing your pet to cuddle up next to you or a short 15-minute walk, such little moments together can also contribute to improving your overall relationship with your furry friend.

Most importantly, do remember that you should never make any excuses when it comes to spending quality time with your pet. No amount of Instagram likes, followers and comments can replace actual bonding moments and make your pet happier.

Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels