petstorewoes

[petstorewoes]

I hate when customers say “well I used to work retail” well good for fuckin you you’re not working retail right now so didn’t tell me how to do my job that you’re not currently doing.

[petstorewoes]

This morning I couldn't find a clean work shirt so I spritzed the cleanest one I had with Nature's Miracle

Got home and after wearing boots for 15 hours I spritzed my feet too.

So that's where I'm at emotionally in case anyone was wondering.

[petstorewoes]

Yellow and blue toys vs red toys in the Dog VisionHD app. Us fruit picking, red-cone-having monkeys can see ripe fruit, but dogs can’t

#dog color vision

[petstorewoes]

Just to help y’all understand the concept of good habitat and why you should care about your pets

So imagine if someone read a list of your minimum habitat requirements and gave you a shipping container with a fan, a bowl of water, a stool, a bucket as a toilet, and a mini-fridge…and that’s your house, you’re never allowed to leave. Every week, they restock the fridge with the exact same food item, empty your bucket, and refill your water bowl.

That’s not a very happy life, right? Does it even feel like a life? Your shipping container is clear and sitting on a giants table—are you just a decoration? Does this giant recognize that you are a living being?

Your pets are not just inanimate objects for you to look at. Research the requirements they have not just for survival, but for happiness too. Give your cats scratching posts and toys (don’t just let them go outside because you’re too lazy to give them stimulation—it’s harmful to your cat and the environment around you), give your Betta and goldfish some fucking room, give your birds more space and plenty of stimulation, give your bearded dragon a variety of food, etc. Don’t just read this paragraph and say “oh okay I’ll change the water more frequently” and do nothing else. You need to thoroughly research an animal before obtaining it. Look into its natural history and how its habitat requirements are typically replicated in a home. Set up everything that needs to be set up, plan out how you’re going to care for this new pet, then go buy it.

[petstorewoes]

What You Need to Realize About Pet Stores:

I work in a major pet store company that I won’t name just to be safe. I’ve been there for about a year, so here’s some dumb things people don’t get and I just need to rant

1 - People who work in pet stores ARE NOT VETS.

We can not diagnose any problem your dog has or give medication. Do NOT come into the store asking us why your dog is missing fur or why your cat is coughing. We don’t fucking know.

Honest to God, earlier this year, a guy came into my store and said “my dog just got bit by a rat and my dog doesn’t have his rabies vaccine. What can I do?”

That’s not shit we’re qualified for!!!

(Though, I do know there’s nothing you can do. If your pet is exposed to the rabies virus, you can’t do anything. Your pet will die. My manage told this man to go to an emergency vet clinic (not that it would do anything but euthanize his pet) and he didn’t.)

I had someone call the store and say “my tank fell on top of my leopard gecko, will he be alright?”

Bitch, I don’t know!?!?!? That’s an issue for a VET.

We can give you tips and advice! We can explain why a conditioner is important for your pets during a bath or recommend a food with salmon for dry skin. I can help you understand the ingredients in your cats food or show you toys for your rabbit, but that’s about it.

2 - We’re not even experts on any animal. ESPECIALLY exotic pets.

I have a dog and a cat and a few rats. One of my co-workers has a chinchilla. A few of us own guinea pigs. Our individual knowledge is limited to the pets we personally have experience with.

I do not have endless knowledge at my fingertips that you didn’t think to look up before hand.

You don’t know what watt bulb your bearded dragon needs? Cool, me neither.

You don’t know what your newly acquired sugar glider needs to eat? Same.

You don’t know how to feed baby ducks? Why do you expect me to know?

I can Google search it for you, just like you’re able to do on the smart phone you walked in with, but that’s about it.

(And, yes, all three of those are true life examples of problem people come into us with. Like people have these animals and do NO research of what maintenance is needed for them.)

I have one manage with a degree in engineering. Another is a graphic design major. Another has a degree in marketing. None of them have any special education in animals.

Some of the people who have been there for a while might have some random info, but stop coming in with questions for us instead of doing your own research ESPECIALLY if these questions can be found with a ten second Google search.

(I let elderly people slide with this or anyone who struggles with technology. I can understand them needing help using the internet and I happily provide assistance.)

3 - People try to steal from us constantly. Don’t bitch when we’re suspicious of what you’re buying.

Are you surprised by that statement, that people steal from pet stores? Because that disbelief is why stores like mine are considered easy targets.

(Not that I’m blaming anyone for being surprised, I’m just pointing out that no one ever thinks of it.)

In fact, it’s so common that we have a printed protocol in the office and the employee break room of what to do if we think someone is stealing. We also have pictures of three confirmed thieves posted and we have to call a manager over if we see these people.

People walk into the bathrooms with products and leave with it stuffed into their bags and the tags in the trashcan. We find missing dog sweaters, medication, leather collars, etc. People steal everything.

Specifically, people try to steal dog food. Big bags, pricey brands.

If you have a cart full of $300 of Orijen or Blue Buffalo or Merrick, I am required to call a manager over and have them escort you up to the register.

And when we have a big rush of people in line, don’t complain that an employee stands guard at the door instead of opening another register. Big groups of people that keep all employees preoccupied are the perfect time for people to just walk out with 3-4 bags of dog food.

4 - Ask for help when you’re buying something heavy.

Dog food. Cat litter. Fish tanks. Etc.

We have employees who would much prefer to get up on the ladder and carry it for you, rather than you trying yourself and dropping it and sending kibble/litter/glass everywhere.

The number of times someone has dropped a 50 pound bag of dog food and it rips (either from the sheer weight of itself or because it gets caught on something), meaning I have to stop what I’m doing to clean it up, is astounding.

(Though I have busted my own bag of dog food because I was on a ladder and lost my grip of it. Oops.)

We literally hire boys from 16-25 with the intention of them being stockers/’carriers’ who help people out to their car. If it’s super heavy or large, we can load it into special equipment and roll it out to your car.

On a similar note, don’t use the ladders!! They are for employees only!! This has only ever applied to grown men who ignore the sign and say “it’s okay, I got it.”

No, it’s not okay!!! If my boss sees that, or Heaven forbid, someone from corporate, employees get in trouble for ‘letting’ it happen or because we didn’t notice someone who needed help right away.

5 - Do not buy a pet and their habitat on the same day.

A habitat needs to be UP and READY before you purchase an animal for it.

Hamsters will absolutely chew their way out of the box we sell them in. They will not wait for you to set up their cage and be done.

Reptiles, especially, need their cage to be ready at least a day before you get them! Heating and lighting is so important to them, you can’t set them in a room temperature cage and wait for it to heat up to the temperature they need! (Unless it’s a reptile who can survive in room temperature, like corn snakes, but we have heat lights for all of our snakes. Regardless, have their cage set up!)

Fish, for the love of everything, NEED their tank to be up and running at least 48 hours (preferably 72 hours) before you add them. Guppies, tetras, mollies, all of them, their water needs to be properly filtered and heated before you add them!!

It really sucks because I’m not allowed to deny anyone to buy any pet; I can only advise against getting a pet and the equipment needed on the same day.

6 - Pet stores don’t have any temperament/behavior guarantee.

If your hamster bites, sucks to suck.

If your ferret is more rambunctious than you expected, sucks to suck.

If your guinea pig doesn’t like being held, sucks to suck.

The only reason you can return a pet is for a medical issue (death, diarrhea, sneezing, etc.) and that’s only within a certain time frame.

Pet stores do not have a temperament guarantee. If you want a promise that your pet is friendly and used to being handled, go through a breeder. Pet stores don’t get to handle all of their animals very often because, well, we have fucking work to do. I don’t get to play with hamsters and ferrets all day. I have to clean and work the register and help customers.

Plus, pet stores typically sell a shit ton of animals. We don’t have the time to interact with all of them regularly. They get fed and watered and cleaned regularly, but that’s about it.

I swear, the most stressful thing about my work are the customers who don’t know anything. Most of the people who come in do research and are understanding of everything and we love that.

[petstorewoes]

Handy Articles Master post

This is the master post of all the articles and care sheets I’ve written. Enjoy!

Fish stuff:

Why it’s so hard to convince people goldfish bowls are bad and bettas don’t live in puddles

Aquarium Cycling

Aquarium Stocking

Stocking Nano Aquariums

Fish Food And Nutrition

Betta Care Sheet

How To Set Up A Simple Betta Tank

Betta Myths Debunked

The History Of Betta splendens

How To Give A Betta A Salt Bath

How To Spot An Overweight Or Underweight Betta

How To Tell Fin Rot From Tail Biting In Bettas

Sexing Bettas

Betta Tank Reviews

How To Humanely Euthanize Bettas With Clove Oil

Fancy Goldfish Care Sheet

Single Tailed Goldfish Care Sheet

Goldfish Myths Debunked

Pictures of Large Goldfish X X X X

Zebra Danio Care Sheet

White Cloud Mountain Minnow Care

Fancy Guppy Care Sheet

Platy Care Sheet

Tiger Barb Care Sheet

Chinese Algae Eater Care Sheet

Neon Tetra Care Sheet

Threadfin Rainbowfish Care Sheet

Types Of Aquarium Filters

Tank Busters

List Of Low Light Aquarium Plants

Reptile stuff:

UVB Light And Reptiles

Corn Snake Care Sheet (unfinished)

Crested Gecko Care Guide

Fence Lizard Care Guide

5 Best Beginner Snakes

5 Worst Beginner Snakes

5 Best Beginner Lizards

5 Worst Beginner Lizards

Pac Man Frog Care

Best Beginner Frogs

Tiger Salamander Care

Box Turtle Care Overview

Common Mistakes In Reptile Keeping (good vs. bad enclosures)

Invertebrate stuff:

Hissing Cockroach Care sheet

Sexing Hissing Cockroaches

General Tarantula Care

Giant African Land Snail Shopping List (plus links)

Misc:

Why Outdoor Cats Should Be Banned

Why Most Cages Are Too Small

Why Most Cages Are Too Small (small mammal edition)

Master Post Of Beginner Animals

Mouse Care Sheet

Mouse Food Nutrition List

How To Make A Rodent Bin Cage

Articles not written by me but still really good:

Aquariadise’s Guest Post!

“Cleaner Fish” Why They Don’t Exist & Your Aquarium Doesn’t Need One

Stunted Growth Means Stunted Lives

How to Choose a Pet Reptile

Aquarium Stocking Calculator

#animal care #fish care

[petstorewoes]

I’m confused about that post you just reblogged?? Are you against people having dogs?? But you’re a dog blog?? I’m v confused please help lol

I’m not against people having dogs. I am against the idea that a dog is just something people should have/be allowed to have, regardless of whether or not the are actually equipped to care for it. I think in the US having a dog is often treated as simply something to be done for an ideal American Dream life along with buying a house, owning multiple cars, and having kids. Especially in rural areas where I grew up I noticed that lots of people have dogs who don’t actually seem to know anything about dogs or even want a dog. They just have one because people have dogs. My own family members are like this. Many of them have dogs, but most seem to expect to not actually have to take care of or interact with their dog other than to feed it or occasionally let it outside to use the bathroom. Many of them do not take their dog to get medical care nearly as often as they should or will only take them if they are noticeably ill or injured and not for necessary routine visits and vaccinations.

The majority of pet dog owners I know got a dog one day just because. They did little to no research first, they don’t want to have to properly train and care for a dog, and they don’t understand how dogs think/behave at all. But they got a dog anyway because dogs are cute and people feel entitled to own other living things even when they won’t properly care for them.

I think this attitude that dogs are sort of like living accessories for your life/home and our American entitlement to owning animals even when you know little about their behavior or care is a massive reason why we have so many animals in shelters from owners who surrender after getting in over their heads. That attitude is why people buy puppies and surrender those dogs as soon as they get to be big unruly adults or “stubborn” teens. That attitude is why people never bother to train or socialize their dog and then end up surrendering it because it develops behavioral issues they don’t want to deal with. That attitude is why every single day I see posts online of people rehoming dogs because they’re too much work, or they’re higher energy than they expected, or they can’t deal with having a kid and a dog, or they’re moving and don’t want to have to deal with bringing their pet along or finding pet friendly housing, etc.

Dogs are living things with feelings and needs. They aren’t something you should just go out and get because “it’s what people do.” They aren’t practice children for couples who don’t have kids yet. They aren’t status symbols or living furniture. They are living beings who need to be provided with plenty of mental and physical stimulation, socialization, training, regular medical care, and who need owners that understand how to read and manage their behavior or are willing to learn those things. I don’t think most average US dog owners are willing to put in that much work, money, or research into owning a dog because of our dog culture. And I think if you aren’t willing to put the work, money, and research in you shouldn’t get a dog.

But people get them anyway, and therein lies the problem with our feeling of entitlement to owning animals.

[petstorewoes]

[petstorewoes]

If I don’t anger quite a few people with this, I’m probably not doing my job right.

I felt like making this while watching Crufts over the weekend. Specifically, the small breeds being shown in the various groups. But it’s been on my mind for a long time.

I’ve thought for a while that it’s nearly impossible to find a small companion dog breed with a sound structure, which also isn’t a terrier. Almost all of the toy breeds have either ridiculous coats that do neither the dog or owner any good, are brachycephalic, or both.

Well, impossible is an exaggeration, but hard. For the breeds here, I kept to the small-ish dogs, though I included the English bulldog as well. Small in height, at least.

I so badly want to promote - and I did a bit, in the Crufts live chat - dogs like the English toy terrier, Manchester terrier, Cirneco dell’Etna, as a replacement for the French bulldog for example. They are just as much fun to own - in fact probably more, since they’ll live longer, be able to run and have fun like a normal dog, and not need constant babying.

(Though some have theorized that that’s the exact attraction of the most crippled dogs - having to wipe noses and butts, walking slowly so they can keep up with you, waking up in the night to check their breathing, it’s like having a baby.)

Things happen to a dog’s shape when you shrink them, sure. Some change in skull proportions will naturally happen. But people seem to have forgotten that even small dogs are supposed to have long, fox-like faces. Still, the only small dogs that I can find with those faces today are maybe the Shetland sheepdog and Manchester terrier.

The Chihuahua, Pomeranian and some similar breeds are brachycephalic. Sometimes extremely. You see, a dog doesn’t need a huge, wrinkly, smushed-up muzzle like a Frenchie or Pug to be brachycephalic. Look at the Chihuahua and Pomeranian above - incredibly short muzzles, domed skulls and protruding eyes. This is considered “cute” today, and it’s awarded in the show ring.

Cuter than the dogs above?

I raise you the idea that deformity isn’t cute.

And I thought quite a lot about the text I would put on the pictures.

I don’t say “deformity” lightly. People will surely get angry at this. But the definition is:

distorted or unshapely in form : misshapen

the situation in which a part of the body has not developed in the normal way or with the normal shape 

a major abnormality in the shape of a body part or organ compared to the normal shape of that part

The loss of a muzzle, major skin folds around the eyes, protruding eyes, irregular teeth (common since the teeth have to try to fit into a much smaller jaw), surely apply, at least as I see it.

“Natural beauty” is probably just as controversial, as surely, no dog is natural. If we kept to that, we’d all have to own wolves or dingoes.

No, but you know what I mean. There are deviations from the natural canine form that don’t harm or impede the animal in any way, such as a feathered or short coat, slightly floppy ears, or slightly shorter legs. Even a slightly shorter face, does nothing to harm the animal.

It’s moderation we’re talking about, and keeping the dogs to a general canine-looking form.

Important note, before angry brachy-lovers verbally tear me a new one:

I have loved many of these breeds. I adored the King Charles Spaniel and Japanese Chin for years, and almost got one, had I not preferred a bigger dog at the time. I really wanted a Pug as a child. I think Petit Brabancons are so cute, I almost wanted one a few years ago.

But knowing what I know now, I can no longer support brachycephalic breeding. There are options. There are people breeding longer-faced Pugs and Frenchies, for example.

But I made this post to encourage people to look at small, beautiful companion dogs with a truly sound structure, and perhaps consider another breed.

A dog having a face and a waist doesn’t make it any less fun or loving. I keep seeing claims about brachy breeds - and only brachy breeds - that these dogs have “a sense of humor”, or that they’re “funny”. While it usually comes down to the dogs looking like cartoon characters and sounding even worse, and people think that’s funny, when the dogs are just doing what all dogs do (or trying to).

And it makes me a bit sad, that people think dogs shaped like canines aren’t “funny”. Not sad for those dogs, but sad for the brachy breeds.

Because it’s not funny.

It’s not cute.

Photo sources: Japanese Spitz   Shiba   Shetland Sheepdog Alaskan Klee Kai   Pražský Krysařik   Norwegian Lundehund Miniature Pinscher   Basenji   Manchester Terrier Papillon   Swedish Vallhund/Västgötaspets   Podengo Português Japanese Chin   Pug   King Charles Spaniel/English Toy Spaniel Petit Brabançon   English Bulldog   Chihuahua Boston Terrier   French Bulldog   Shih Tzu Griffon Bruxellois   Pekingese   Pomeranian

I purposefully only used pedigree dogs that look like the dogs that are mainstream, or win shows. I am not against pedigree dog breeding, quite the contrary. But awarding unhealthy exaggerations, and maintaining tightly closed gene pools are major issues.

Also, footnote: A dog having a sound construction does not ensure it will be healthy. ‘Internal’ diseases, as a consequence of long-term inbreeding, are just as important to consider and have crippled many otherwise sound breeds. You can have a Lundehund that is very sick from genetic illnesses, or a French bulldog with no inherited disorders, but even so, the extreme body shape is a huge welfare concern in itself, and the bulldog will not have the same quality of life as it would with a normal body.

[petstorewoes]

ITS 4/20 YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS

be responsible and don’t smoke with your pets in the room and don’t ever leave your weed within their reach. weed is very fragrant and seems tasty to them. trust me when i tell you you don’t want the vet bills or insane emotional stress of letting them eat it. do you know what it’s like to see your young and healthy dog unable to walk and completely none responsive to your touch or voice?? no?? lets keep it that way. please.

[petstorewoes]

Top 5 things you would fix about pet stores…

Oh christ, I’m only supposed to pick five things? XD Okay, I’ll try….. These are in order of my preference for fixing from most important to least important.

1) No more animals available. Stop the breeding mills. Stop selling animals that have horrible genetics, that are overcrowded & sick, that are already pregnant, etc. to people who have very little clue what they’re getting into. Ideally pet stores would work with local shelters to show off adoptable pets they have available. Animals would be displayed either in appropriate set ups in-store or come for designated meet-n-greet days for different shelters. Perhaps pictures from local reputable breeders or breeders that are able to ship (like so many reptile breeders will). The pet store shows off the potential animals & gives access to a greater audience, but interested homes will still have to go through the shelter or breeder in order to adopt/purchase an animal. Pet stores should also have a vetting process for both shelters & breeders to weed out those engaging in shady practices. Wild caught animals should have an even more extensive vetting process to check for background of capture, appropriate capture methods, sustainable capturing, and appropriate handling. No sale of threatened or endangered species (I could see cases being made for experienced breeders hoping to establish captive breeding, or zoos wanting to establish breeding programs, but this should be a limited practice & not widely available).

2) No. Dangerous/Unhealthy. Supplies. Like okay, I know everything has the potential to be dangerous, etc. etc., but christ, can we not have seed/nut treats sold for hedgehogs? Can we not have wire wheels sold? And no more of… literally anything sold for hermit crabs, tbh. Time to ban rawhide. And no more non-meat treats sold for ferrets, or shampoos/bathing supplies with essential oils sold for cats & ferrets. A heavy reworking of foods available for non-dog/cat animals, since so many are just garbage. Some conceding could be made for seed foods for parrots that are still stuck on them & need time to change over, but replace most of that shit with pellets. And can we trash colored heat lights already? Want to buy things like prong collars & electric collars? Better have letters from trainers & vets in order to get one.

3) Appropriately sized enclosures only. No tanks or bowls under 5g. Preferably nothing under 10g, to be quite honest. But I could concede 5g for some insects, maybe, possibly small isopod colonies, or a couple fancy beetles. Those crappy little wire bird cages? Smash ‘em. Maybe keep one line of more medium-ish sturdy cages that have some kind of use for travel or sleep cages. If necessary, provide ordering options for large bird cages (if there’s not room for storage/display in-store). Smash all of those crappy Habitrail nonsense for small animals as well. Sell C&C cubes and other appropriate materials for making enclosures/playpens for guinea pigs & rabbits - maybe sell the materials in a package deal for one enclosure, with instructions on putting together. Extra fee for putting enclosure together if desired. Contracts with viv companies to sell vivs in-store or a discount for shipping or something like that. 

4) Emphasis on enrichment. Larger sections for enrichment for different animal species. Enrichment labeled for the different animals it’s applicable for. Handouts or signs detailing enrichment dangers or hazards to avoid for different animal species (like things that aren’t safe for chewing for hamsters/rodents, unsafe foods, appropriate fabrics, etc.). Larger variety of wood for decor, perches, etc. 

5) Reduced produce section. I have no clue how viable this is, but I think it’d be neat if pet stores had contracts with grocery stores in their area to take produce that’s at or just past their use-by date & the pet stores paid a reduced price for it, then place out each day for people to purchase for pets. Not everything could necessarily be used this way, given some foods that aren’t safe for nearly any pet (onions & such). But it seems like most stuff could be used as such and would possibly reduce how much is thrown out from stores? Honestly I’d just like to see more healthy food options available at pet stores in general, like fresh food options for lots of exotics, & raw meaty bones for dogs/cats/ferrets, and birdy bread & grain mixes & such for parrots/rats/etc.

A lot of this is stuff I’d like to implement into a pet store of my own, if it ever happens. I wish it was something that could be done with all pet stores. It’d really improve pet care in general in this country. And having animals much less available and with less of a dollar value put on them would make it harder for people to abuse/neglect commonly available small animals that don’t have a very high money value like goldfish, betta fish, hermit crabs, hamsters, mice & rats, budgies, anoles, leopard geckos, bearded dragons, ball pythons…. All of these critters just get a really rough deal in most pet care situations and it just really, really sucks.

(Edit: Thank you for asking!!! ♥)

[petstorewoes]

“A cue is not a command. Commands are not commands either. Words do not produce behavior. A cue is a signal to the dog that he will get paid for performing a certain behavior. The cue does not produce the behavior. The behavior is produced by the previous week of sessions with many payments for many repetitions of the behavior.”

-Robert Milner

[petstorewoes]

There aren’t Bad Dogs but there are breed-specific needs and temperament issues that owners need to be familiar with to successfully care for their dogs. The idea that “breed is irrelevant!!!” to a dog’s behavior is very foolish and leads to a lot of unhappy pet/owner combinations. We have spent thousands of years breeding dogs for specific traits and instincts and it’s our job to manage and accommodate those behaviors as responsibly as we can.

[petstorewoes]

A dog raises a lip when a stranger reaches to pet them—I am uncomfortable—and we punish her for saying so. She snaps at another dog for jumping on her back—I don’t like what you are doing—and we tell her, “Be nice!” The comb catches a knot in her fur at the groomer’s and pulls her skin, and she growls—That hurts me—and she receives a pop on the nose. We tell our dogs over and over: No talking. We pave the way for the moments when they just can’t take it anymore, and reach the end of their rope because nobody has been listening to them. The entire point of ritualised communication, signaling and threatening behaviour in nature is to avoid actual conflicts and altercations. To assume that warnings are just an indication of intent to harm is backward. Think about it this way: In the wild, there are no veterinary hospitals waiting to provide stitches and antibiotics after a fight. So there are “words” that animals are born with knowledge of and, much likes us, learn to speak fluently over the course of their lives through experience. These words are basic language skills for dogs to use and comprehend. When they cannot use them, they are at a social deficit with one another, because they are robbed of their voice about their experiences and feelings. Our dogs are misunderstood and backed into a corner without recourse, simply because we do not speak dog.

— Kim Brophey, Meet Your Dog: the Game-changing Guide to Understand Your Dog’s Behaviour (2018)

[petstorewoes]

I personally think that, if you have to take extra measures (extra water changes, extra filters, extra chemicals, etc.) to keep a tank clean/keep your parameters at a healthy level, the tank is likely too small. Furthermore, water quality is only one, small factor in responsible fish keeping. I don’t know why “keeping water clean is all that matters” is suddenly such a popular concept in fish groups, but it is absolutely not all that matters. If you applied that concept to other pets, you’d probably get charged with cruelty. One of the five freedoms is the freedom to express normal behavior, and I absolutely do not believe you can provide that freedom if you’re putting them in the absolute bare minimum for survival and only focusing on water quality. Quite frankly, I think you’re at BEST only providing two of the five freedoms, in that case.

[petstorewoes]

Those were 2.20 minutes well spent!

#look at this excellent hamster enrichment! #hamster #maze #enrichment

[petstorewoes]

PLUS!!:

Toxic for rabbits: Anise, Clove, Oregano, Tea Tree, Wintergreen Safe for rabbits: Lavender, lemon, orange, fennel,  eucalyptus and peppermint, all should be diluted with water!