Scales & Tails Pet Care

03/12/2025

Hello pet lovers!
I wanted to express my frustrations with a current predicament.
I received an inquiry about a 5 day house/pet sitting gig from a new client. They stated that they are 6 or 8 months pregnant(I can't recall which) and have a hearing disability so they cannot make phone calls and will be very unable to retrieve certain supplies for their two dogs. That's fine by me, I will accommodate that as needed. After a bit of conversation, the client stated that they have two dogs (provided with photos) and are in the process of moving soon, and has some kind of business to attent out of state for five days coming up this week (starting tomorrow actually)
They insisted on mailing a check of the $400 for the sitting job +$1500 for "supplies" for her dogs. That didn't make much sense to me, but I continued on with the venture.

Today we were supposed to meet and greet the day before the gig started tomorrow, and the time came around to head out and she had not given me an address. I texted her for the address, with I got no reply. So, I came to think, is this some sort of scam? They don't have any important information besides my phone number, address, and business email, which is already readily available on my website. So, I go to do some researching on pet sitting scams and sure enough, this is starting to sound JUST like one!

So I made the phone call. After a single ring, it came to an ai automated voicemail. I know my answer now.
So here I am, $400 less than I would have made this week for my job that I reserved time out of my week for.

Scams are getting more and more prevalent and realistic. I have been targeted for many scams in my day and had no clue my small business would be targeted like this!
Take this as a warning to other pet sitters in this area, do not accept checks by mail, do not accept money from Zelle or Venmo unless you are standing in front of your client! Please be safe out there and be very careful about where your client's money is coming from.

Hope you all have a great week!

03/09/2025

Good afternoon! My availability opens up on the 18th for any pet care needs. I service all of El Dorado county and surrounding areas from chickens to cows, cats and dogs, small animals, fish, and ponds! Give me a call
(530)748-6311

03/01/2025

KitKat loving the attention today.

02/22/2025

It's important as animal keepers that we listen to new knowledge (despite the fact that we've been saying this to pet stores for ages) and update our crueler ways of habitating fish for sale.
Give this a read!

https://phys.org/news/2025-02-siamese-fish-space-pet-behavior.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawIm5sxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcBy-Qs0JZLihGcuvy3vFVk4Qm9WpjEN4L1IYcfG6RSrc7mPMS9ioSMM_g_aem_OXGw7NfRgjOYhW3q2c0iyg

Scientists have found prized Siamese fighting fish are typically being kept in conditions a quarter of the size they need to thrive, challenging decades of retail practice in the multi-million dollar ornamental fish industry worldwide.

02/21/2025

Need to take your pup on a walk, but can't get the time? Give me a call! I offer dog walking and pet sitting for an affordable cost so you can do what you need to do without worry!
My openings start March 10
(530)748-6311

02/21/2025

𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑎, a new species of rib-degenerated loach is described from a subterranean tributary of the Hongshui River, Lingyun County, Baise City, and a cave in Fengshan County, Hechi City, Guangxi, China. Another new species to add to the growing list of recent discoveries from this hotspot for cavefishes.

Open-access - https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/131341/

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
A new species of the rib-degenerated loach, genus 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠 (Cypriniformes, Cobitidae), from Guangxi, China

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Qin Z-X, Liu Y-W, Zhang S-Y, Shi J-S, Du L-N, Zhou J-J (2025) A new species of the rib-degenerated loach, genus 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠 (Cypriniformes, Cobitidae), from Guangxi, China. ZooKeys 1228: 185-195. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1228.131341

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
A new species of the genus Protocobitis is described based on morphological comparisons and molecular analyses from specimens of a subterranean tributary of the Hongshui River, Lingyun County, Baise City, and a cave in Jinya Township, Fengshan County, Hechi City, Guangxi, China.

Both morphological and molecular data support the validity of 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑎 sp. nov. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characteristics: whole body except for head and area between pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin origin sparsely covered with minute scales; barbels elongate; five or six branched pectoral-fin rays and four branched pelvic-fin rays; vertebrae 4+42. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian-inference phylogenetic trees exhibited congruent topological structures, exhibiting high node support for the monophyly of 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑎 (BPP = 1; BS = 100), which was clustered with the other congeners.

𝗘𝘁𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin words 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔- (long) and -𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑎 (barbel), indicating its long maxillary barbel, which extends almost to the vertical line at the junction of the head and dorsal body, feminine. We suggest the common Chinese name “Cháng Xū Yuán Huā Qiū (长须原花鳅)” and English name “long-barbal protocobitis”.

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑎, live male.

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published in Zookeys journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

02/20/2025

Looking for a reliable pet sitter? Look no further! I am open for pet sitting starting March 10th! Message me for a quote today.
(530)748-6311

02/20/2025

There's been a flurry of excellent aquarium and ichthyofauna books released this year already, the latest being 'Bristlenose Catfishes: The Plecos of the Genus 𝐴𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠' by Andreas Tanke and Ingo Seidel. Available for pre-order now (at a discounted price until 10th March 2025), with shipping beginning in early May 2025.

Order direct from ATS Aquashop - https://www.ats-aquashop.de/en/products/books/bristlenose-catfishes-the-plecos-of-the-genus-ancistrus/
C.E. Fish Essentials (UK & Worldwide) - https://cefishessentials.com/product/bristlenose-catfishes-the-plecos-of-the-genus-ancistrus-by-ingo-seidel-andreas-tanke-book-pre-order/
Swiss Tropicals (USA) - https://www.swisstropicals.com/books/
Dähne Aquaristik (EU) - https://www.daehne-aquaristik.de/products/antennenwelse-die-harnischwelse-der-gattung-ancistrus

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Ingo Seidel and Andreas Tanke present a first-of-its-kind book featuring every species of the pleco genus 𝐴𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠 in immaculate detail. These curious and iconic catfishes are presented in over 600 high-quality photos except for only a few scientifically undescribed species. Exclusive to this book are some unpublished material and newly identified 𝐴𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠 species previously unknown to the aquarium hobby. Leaving no stone unturned, this brilliant book provides a complete overview of the genus 𝐴𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠, including the systematics, origin, and habitats, as well as the care and tips for breeding in aquaria described in detail.

• More than 570 pages (we're still in the final parts and can't determine the final number of pages yet, but it's at least 570! )
• All valid 𝐴𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠 species (date: February 2025) we present in detail (except a few also with photos)
• All known L and LDA numbers of 𝐴𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠 are detailed
• We also present in detail some still undescribed species and found locations
• The common bristlenose catfish is presented with its breeding forms in a separate chapter, and there are also first clues of its origin...
• More than 600 high-quality photos

02/20/2025

A new, fresh look to my website! Have a peek

Life is busy. Let us lend a hand and help you care for your companions. I offer quality pet sitting and care to your furry and scaly friends.

02/13/2025

Interesting read for sure!

Bad scienceand shady politics Documents acquired by Dutch animal specialists reveal the Dutch Government ignored experts and manipulated science to push its positive list for pets. Animal welfare group Stichting Animalia exposes the political agenda disguised behind this woeful policy. Positive-list...

02/11/2025

Happy to help with your pet care needs from pet sitting to walking the dogs. Feel free to reach out any time! (530)748-6311

02/06/2025

Going away for spring break and need someone to stop in to check in your pets? Give me a call (530)748-6311 and I'll give you an estimate today

12/21/2024

Another satisfied client :)

11/28/2024

After water change, and letting the filter take care of the rest a few hours later. It can make a big difference.

10/17/2024

https://www.facebook.com/reel/510647828462142?mibextid=9drbnH&s=yWDuG2&fs=e

08/22/2024

Looks like Marimo balls are off the table again for the foreseeable future.
If you see zebra mussels in your aquarium notify your local pet/fish store immediately.

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/zebra-mussels-renton-pet-store?fbclid=IwY2xjawE0PhxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHc6EHpif3QKFayHBRnCiX8SWWMAhVOYCj1Zi5wkNmJzlrnhfkzxj5uyYTw_aem_94b4VGsxwBUXe4aIr1CprQ

Wildlife officials are asking pet stores in Washington and Idaho to be cautious after a highly invasive species was discovered hitching a ride on a popular aquarium item in Renton earlier this month.

06/02/2024

Need some pond maintinence? I provide a full cleaning service that includes an algae scrub, filter cleaning, water test, and general water maintinence. Any pond up to 1,000 gallons $250 flat, $15 fee for any distance further than 30 minutes. Based in shingle springs. Call me or text at (530)748-6311 to schedule your appointment!

02/28/2024

Wild animals living in a mall, far from their natural habitats. An ABC10 Originals investigation uncovers disturbing evidence about how they're cared for.