Questions tagged [biology]
For questions about the biology of a pet. It's physical attributes.
19
questions
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is my guppy pregnant? How could I tell whether a guppy is pregnant?
I recently purchased a guppy and I feel that it's quite fatter and stomach is bulged compared to other fish.
Is it pregnant? How could I tell whether a guppy female is pregnant or not?
- 153
4
votes
3
answers
20k
views
Betta with black dots on fins
My Betta seems to have recently developed little black dots on his fins on both sides about a week after moving him from a small bowl to a little Top Fin 2 gallon (7.6 L) aquarium with a heater.
He ...
- 41
11
votes
2
answers
146k
views
Diurnal, crepuscular, nocturnal, matutinal, vespertine; what do these mean and how do they impact my pet's life?
A recent answer listed all of these and said the group a pet falls in could impact how they behave: diurnal, crepuscular, nocturnal, matutinal, vespertine.
What do all of these mean and how do they ...
- 29.4k
4
votes
1
answer
18k
views
What causes rabbits to spontaneously change gender?
Working with rescued rabbits we often have people who purchased two girl (or boy) bunnies from a pet store or breeder, and a few months later they have a bunch of baby bunnies that need new homes.
I ...
- 29.4k
15
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Why do groomers tell you not to shear a long-haired dog in warm weather?
Specifically, I have a Great Pyrenees. I've had groomers tell me that a dog's fur keeps them cool in hot weather as well as keeping them warm in cold. This argument holds as long as the environment is ...
10
votes
2
answers
18k
views
Do cats recognize their family? Perhaps by scent?
Is there any scientific or anecdotal evidence that cats recognize other cats who closely share their DNA? As in, new kittens from the same mother and the such?
I'm suspecting that there might be such ...
- 768
20
votes
1
answer
35k
views
Why does my cat hold its mouth slightly open sometimes after smelling something?
On occasion, my cat will sit there with its mouth open, usually after smelling something new.
It looks similar to panting, but without the heavy breathing or a protruding tongue.
What is the reason ...
- 9,101
4
votes
2
answers
849
views
Can cats see equally well in both light and dark?
I know that the cats can see in the dark, but I have been wondering: can cats see as well in the dark as they do in the light?
Or do they see better in the light?
- 1,583
9
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Light spectrum visible to hamsters
I'd like to build an infrared tachometer for my hamster's wheel, but I don't want to distract him with a light source. Therefore I want to choose the wavelength of the LED for my hamster not to see it....
- 193
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why do cats often screech when mating?
My friend has two pet cats. I saw them mating. After mating, when the male jumped off her back, the female cat screeched. This is not to be mistaken with cats fighting, he didn't bite her or anything....
user6796
7
votes
1
answer
120
views
Do cats benefit from human probiotics?
My cat is going through a 4-week antibiotics prescription, and due to it he’s having a bad diarrhea.
I have a probiotic supplement containing:
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longum
...
- 103
6
votes
1
answer
331
views
What is cats' color vision?
A couple of existing questions, answers and comments How can I train my cats to only eat from their own bowls? and Can cats see optical illusions the same way we can? involve cats' color perception. ...
- 29.4k
5
votes
1
answer
442
views
What is a rabbit's field of vision, range and visual acuity?
I have a pet house rabbit, rabbit eyes are pretty much on the side of their head. They also have great big ears.
What can a rabbit really see? How well can they see? Can they see 360 degrees?
- 29.4k
4
votes
1
answer
98
views
What are the "points" in my rabbit's mouth that my vet is referring to?
My vet was looking in my rabbit's mouth and said she had a couple of "points" that might need to be addressed on the next visit. I forgot to ask for clarification and am wondering what he was talking ...
- 29.4k
4
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What are "growth plates" in dogs?
I've heard a lot of people say you should wait until a dogs "growth plates" are closed before fixing them. What does that mean? From what I understand it isn't really a bone structure called a growth ...
- 4,076
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Do rabbits feel pain?
An answer at How smart are rabbits? includes the following quote and reference.
Rabbits also have no or very underdeveloped pain sensing regions in their brains (source):
Even as a predator rends a ...
- 29.4k
4
votes
2
answers
97
views
How do windows impact health considerations of sunlight for pets?
I heard, the goodness in sunlight that helps people make vitamin D does not pass through windows.
Is this true, and if so, does it impact pets as well? If my pet only gets sunlight through windows, ...
- 29.4k
2
votes
1
answer
799
views
What does mg/kg in AAFCO's nutritional guidelines mean?
In AAFCO's nutritional guidelines the minimum quantities for iron(adult minimum), for instance is expressed as 40 mg/kg. Does that mean that a dog should eat at least 40 mg of iron for every 1 ...
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Why did my Oscar change color?
Both pictures are the same Oscar. I was hoping someone can tell me if it normal for him to change colors like that.
- 11