- Partially close fish-food dispensers
Some fish food containers have large open tops; others have far too many large holes — and both can lead to overfeeding your aquarium or goldfish-bowl fish. Cover half of the container mouth with masking tape to better control the dispersal of fish flakes.
- Pantihose as tank cleaners
Save an old pair of pantihose for yet another household use: once you’ve removed the fish, the water and any ornaments from an aquarium tank, you can turn old pantihose into a cleaning tool in two ways: fit a leg over your arm so that you have the foot over your fingers like a mitten, or ball the pantihose up and use them as you would a sponge. No matter which method you choose, make a simple vinegar and water solution (1 part white vinegar to 1 part water) and use pantihose to wipe down the sides and bottom of the tank.
- Put aquarium water to good use
When you change the water in your tank, don’t pour it down the drain. It’s excellent for hatching brine shrimp (the favourite food of sea horses, if you keep a sea horse or two in your aquarium) and it makes an excellent fertilizer for houseplants and outdoor ornamentals alike. The nutrients in the water make flowering plants and vegetables thrive like few other fertilizers. And don’t be put off by the smell — it will dissipate about an hour after you water your plants.
- Pep up a goldfish with salt
Treat your goldfish to a swim in the ocean: a simulated ocean. Stir 1 teaspoon marine salt into 1 litre room-temperature water and pour it into a wide-mouthed container. Let your fish swim for about 15 minutes in this slightly salty mix and then return the fish to the tank. The saltwater will put a little pep in her step. Caution: it is essential to use marine salt. Never use table salt as the pH is too high. If the fish shows the slightest sign of distress, immediately return it to the tank.
- Tasty treats for hermit crabs
Enhance a hermit crab’s diet by adding bits of any of the following to its food dish: mango, papaya, coconut, apples, pureed apple, bananas, grapes, pineapple, strawberries, melons, carrots, spinach, leafy green lettuces (not iceberg), broccoli, grass, leaves, strips of bark from deciduous trees (not conifers), unsalted nuts, sultanas, unsalted crackers, unsweetened cereals and plain rice cakes. A wide-ranging crustacean menu indeed.