News & What's New
As mentioned in "About us - Our story", this new incarnation of our 35 year old business namely an e-commerce offering was made live on Good Friday 19th April 2019. We have a lot of products! and listing them is a continuous and on-going task.
We are adding more products on a weekly weekly basis so please check back if what you are looking for is currently missing or email admin@petsafari.co.uk to find out if we will be listing a specific product.
On a regular basis in this section we will be highlighting news and views about and from the world of pet keeping and that includes all pets in the broad sense, Reptiles, aquarium and pond fish as well as dogs, cats and small animals and also wild birds and animals.
Coronovirus (Corvid - 19)
We are currently delivering as normal*, with our own transport to Leeds, Harrogate & Bradford postal code areas and via a courier to addresses further afield. When placing orders please include your email address and contact telephone number so we can be sure to get the items to you in the safest possible manner. Our couriers will email non contact delivery instructions to you once the item(s) have been despatched.
*We still have good stocks of Dog, Cat, Aquarium & Pond fish foods and most of our suppliers are continuing to re-stock us without too much disruption and only the occasional delay. The only exception is with pond plants as our nursery supplier has suspended deliveries to us until further notice. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy and if anyone is in need of assistance in any way please contact Mike on 07908 750143 or email admin@petsafari.co.uk
Products added in recent weeks
To 28/03/20. Added New Fluval Eco-Flex aquarium air pump air line packs, added a selection from the range of Fluval Bug Bites. Fluval Bug Bites are a ground breaking aquarium fish food with the main protein source being derived from insects, namely Soldier Fly Larvae. The larvae are grown on by feeding with surplus fruit and vegetables which would otherwise go to waste making this process and the food produced sustainable and environmentally sound with a massive reduction in carbon output associated with traditional grazing animal protein sources. The food is further enhanced with added vitamins and minerals and other components specific to the dietary requirements of individual fish such as Catfish, Cichlids, Cold Water and Tropical fish.
On a similar vein we have also added Tropical Flake food by Fish Science. This great quality food also uses insect meal as the main protein source so has all the benefits of the above with the added benefit of being made in the UK! We shall be adding more products from the range over the next few months.
Notification: Barley Straw Extract Ban.
This years pond season is very nearly upon us and it won't be long before those of us who have ponds will be thinking about stocking up with those essential treatments & foods and looking to maintain and replace equipment after the Winter period.
Extract of Barley Straw has been an incredibly popular method of controlling undesirable algae in every type of pond from the smallest garden pond to lakes but following a very long EU review this has now been added to the list of banned garden chemicals, much to the dismay of the predominantly UK manufacturers. From 01/08/2020 Extract of Barley Straw cannot be sold by wholesalers or retailers although any stock you may have at home can be used up without consequence or penalty. This directive is a statutory requirement and is not negated by Brexit. Barley Straw is still available in its natural state usually sold in mesh bags or pouches.
How does Barley Straw work?
Barley straw has been used since the middle ages in its natural form as a bale or sheaf's added directly to the water. As the straw rots down through bacteriological action various chemicals including the primary active ingredient, hydrogen peroxide are slowly released and as a result the cell structure of algae is damaged with resultant reduction or even complete elimination of all types of algae growth. The problem with this method is the slow speed of production of the anti-algae ingredients. Extract of Barley Straw was developed to deliver these active ingredients immediately without the need to wait for the slow decomposition process.
For anybody wishing to stock up with Barley Straw Extract before the ban we have the product on our website and can continue to order & despatch this in including bulk 5Litre size until just prior to the cut off date.
(to 22/10/2019) include a range of Marine Aquarium additives by Continuum. We have sold the salt and used the additive products ourselves for many years and now offer an ever increasing range of these for our customers.Continuum products are very high quality of pharmaceutical grade purity developed by "The Father" of Marine fish keeping, Jack Kent. Jack developed the Kent Marine range and then sold his company some years ago, part of the deal prohibited Jack from working in the marine aquatics section for a few years and once that contractual obligation was over Jack threw himself into the development of a new range of products that reflected the changes in, growth of and aquarium and equipment innovations in the marine reef and fish keeping hobby - Continuum was born.
A certain Mr. Brightwell was a protege of Jack Kent and as a respected scientist in his own right developed his own range, Brightwell Aquatics and now these two outstanding minds and aquatics industry innovators are working together again, we will also be adding selected Brightwell products to our portfolio.
Also Added are Pond Winter Essentials such as low temperature pond fish food, pond cover nets to stop water pollution from leaf fall, change of season pathogen control products and the simple but very useful pond thermometer.
Healthy Paws dry dog food, an exceptional quality food made in the UK not transported from half way around the world! is currently on promotional offer, price reductions and free goodies for a limited period, this dog food, given its premium ingredients, was great value before but these special offers make it not to be missed and you will also be rewarded with a happier, fitter, healthier canine companion.
Pet Safari Focus July - "Better Than Bread".
One of our most popular leisure time pursuits is relaxing by the water both natural and man made and almost certainly Swans and Ducks will not be far away. Traditionally we lob chunks of bread at them and they seem to relish this offering greedily gobbling everything down in short order. Surely this is a good thing? the ducks and swans seem to enjoy it, feeding them bread can't do them any harm can it?
Think again, bread is not only nutritionally inappropriate for swans and ducks - it can actually cause them real harm!
Bead and bread products, especially white bread are low in vitamin E and magnesium and have excessive carbohydrate content and fill the birds with a food that is wholly unsuitable for their nutritional needs. Excessive bread consumption with associated lack of vitamins can lead to "Angel Wing" in swans, a condition that causes the wings to twist and drop and is irreversible unless caught in the very early stages.
Pieces of bread and sandwiches, pizza and cake sink and quickly decay providing a fertile breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Botulism in particular is fatal to swans. This same decomposing material also encourages the growth of Aspergillus, a mould that gets in to the lungs of ducks and causes illness and death. Large amounts of uneaten bread products also have a negative effect on the water chemistry and promote undesirable algae growth.
But now there is an alternative which is most definitely "Better Than Bread"*
Swan & Duck Food by Wildthings is a nutritionally balanced food for these beautiful birds and is now available from www.petsafari.co.uk in 175g handy dispenser packs and a 1.5kg bulk bag (larger bulk sizes available to order, contact admin@petsafari.co.uk or 'phone 01943 467170 or 07908 750143 for more information).
Widthings Swan & Duck Food is "Better Than Bread" which has many negative impacts on these wild birds and the aquatic environment they inhabit.
Wildthings Swan & Duck Food provides essential vitamins and minerals, floats on the water so is accessible for longer to the feeding birds and significantly reduces waste and decay. Swans and Ducks also find the food extremely tasty so ditch the bread and help our much loved swan and duck population keep healthy and with us for future generations of those in pursuit of a great day out by the water.
*"Better Than Bread" is the slogan of an informational campaign by Wildthings.