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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu or are fish a crap pet

50 replies

whogrewoutoftheterribletwos · 14/11/2013 17:04

For a 7yo? Been thinking about a pet for a while. considered lizards but worried we might kill them. Dh hates cats and a dog is a lot of work if you're lazy like me

Ds suggested fish but imo they're a bit crap then they die. what do other mumsnetters think?

OP posts:
WooWooOwl · 14/11/2013 17:11

YABU, I love goldfish! They are so pretty to watch and I love how they recognise they are about to be fed when you stand near their tank and lift the lid.

It's true they don't make a very exciting pet, but then you can't do much with a lizard either.

It depends how much effort you want to put into a pet, and the space you have available. Y

Bettercallsaul1 · 14/11/2013 17:20

Not a good pet if you value longevity!

LadyBeagleEyes · 14/11/2013 17:24

You can't cuddle them.

SillyTilly123 · 14/11/2013 17:25

Goldfish can live for up to 20 years, its usually negligence that kills them. Even tropical fish live ages. Guppies only live 1-2 years but corycats, angelfish etc all live for 5+ years. If you do decide to get fish please read up on the fishless cycle, its not just fill the tank add fish and away you go, theres loads of sciency stuff to look into. (Ph, nitrates, nitrites etc)
A siamese fighter fish may be a good choice for a child. They are beautiful fish but need to be kept solo.

I have just downgraded from a 350 litre tank to a 160 litre as I couldn't maintain the bigger one due to my back and also have a 20 litre with a siamese fighter fish in.

Chivetalking · 14/11/2013 17:27

Not as crap as sea monkeys.

At least fish don't sppend their entire lives shagging Grin

MuffCakes · 14/11/2013 17:29

We have a goldfish, it's the third time we tried them, first lot died, second lot I killed off and this time one died but one has remained alive for about a year now.

I love him everytime I wash the dishes and he sees me he comes over and glob glob globs at me, it's like hes really talking. and I talk back

Itsjustafleshwound · 14/11/2013 17:29

Shittest of the shittiest pets.

gordyslovesheep · 14/11/2013 17:31

we had a goldfish who was lovely - now we have 2 small tropical tanks - they are ace - fish are funny and the kids love them

pigletmania · 14/11/2013 17:32

My dd who has ASD loves them so calming

SilverApples · 14/11/2013 17:36

DS wants a fish, so he obviously doesn't think they are crap. Perhaps if it's to be his pet, he should get a say in it?
I love them, but we haven't currently got room to set up the tank.

ZombieMojaveWonderer · 14/11/2013 17:42

Gold fish are great but most people don't realise that they continually grow and so they die because the tank isn't big enough for them. You may think your gold fish has stopped growing but in actual fact his body may have stopped but his vital organs haven't and so he dies a painful death through his organs being crushed.
I have tropical fish. They are not for my kids. They are a specialist pet and need expertise. They are expensive to set up and take a lot of work. I have had mine forever and love them.
Guineas pigs are great! I have 3 and they are so cute and friendly.

WorraLiberty · 14/11/2013 17:44

I had fish

Then I bought a bigger fish

It ate all the smaller fish

Then it died

Yes, they are fucking shit pets >

hooochycoo · 14/11/2013 17:45

My goldfish is eighteen. He lives in a little tank. He seems ok.

MuffCakes · 14/11/2013 17:48

I thought goldfish don't grow past their tank size?

Stropzilla · 14/11/2013 17:52

Fish are great pets. Sadly people think they can just add water. They have no clue about cycling without which the fish generally die. And growing to the tank size is a myth.

WorraLiberty · 14/11/2013 17:55

Fish are great pets. Sadly people think they can just add water. They have no clue about cycling without which the fish generally die.

Fuck! Is that why he died? Because I didn't buy him a bike? Shock

Grin
nitrox · 14/11/2013 17:58

I have a big tank with fancy goldfish, they are lovely, but my God have I had to work hard with them...

I had tropical fish years ago and they were so easy in comparison.

Lovely idea with the right tank and the right fish but probably not ideal for a young child.

If the water levels aren't right the fish will die, it's taken me a long time to get my tank right and I've lost a couple of fish along the way unfortunately.

How about a rat? I had rat's as a kid, my mum didn't like the thought of them, but once I had them she came round and grew to love them too, brilliant pets for small children.

nitrox · 14/11/2013 17:58

Worra Grin

KatoPotato · 14/11/2013 18:01

Goldfish are dirty beggars. They shit and shit and shit so you constantly have to clean them out. They can grow huge and shouldn't really be kept in tanks.

Tropical breeds are far easier but I just love my two clown fish and our cleaner shrimp. So easy to care for, partial water changes and they've been going string for 3.5yrs now! Don't be put off by experiences of goldfish...

Stropzilla · 14/11/2013 18:01

Lol worra! Yeah he needs a top of the range racer.

If anyone wants to know what I mean Google the nitrogen cycle. Water doesn't have to be perfect at all times but pretty near.

Stropzilla · 14/11/2013 18:03

Kato is right tho. Goldfish crap a LOT. Not good aquarium fish unless it's huge. Guppies much easier.

KatoPotato · 14/11/2013 18:03

Also never venture onto reef or fish keeping forums. Jeez they take it so seriously and try and outdo each other with martyrdom...

It's piss easy

itscockyfoxagain · 14/11/2013 18:07

Fish are more effort than a dog, we had a beautiful tank before the kids but it was massive (over 6ft long) we kept cichlids they were lovely but keeping the water perfect is a lot of work.

WestieMamma · 14/11/2013 18:35

I've heard Oscars are a fun fish to have as pets. They are very intelligent and interact with their keepers. They also wreck their tanks if they're bored so you have to give them 'toys' to keep them entertained. My friend used to keep one and he would rearrange all the plants in the tank to his liking but the minute he turned his back the Oscar would move it all back the positions it preferred.

TotallyBursar · 14/11/2013 18:41

I have 5 dogs, 3 cats, 2 hedgehogs, 4 snakes, a parakeet, 2 tarantulas and 6 rats. Currently.

They take less effort and stress than I used to have to put in to DHs massive aquarium because every single fucking bit needed twiddling, checking and replacing - it was never-ending. Then he would be home toodling about with it as well because there was some new thing he wanted to do.
And the fucking fingerprints and smears. You can't leave them because the lights make them look like CSI has been round.
It may be because I was so anal about following orders but I didn't find it soothing.

The goldfish in the pond, love them - feed 'em, check my pumps working, tickle some bellies and then they're happy to fish about.
I think I am not good at tropical fish and had no idea what I was doing so didn't know if it was all overkill or just maintenance Blush I have great respect for fishy people, I don't have the aquatic touch!