So what should i get dd1 for christmas, she wants...

[Marne]

Dd1 wrote her list a few weeks ago, most things on there are plastic tat, mainly boys toys as she's a tom boy but for her main present she wants a fish tank with guppies , dh is saying 'no' as she wont look after them and they are a lot of hastle. D1 dosn't really play with anything other than bakugan (she already has loads of these) and the pc. Me and dh would rather get her a note book or tablet but if she gets this she wont get much else, she's 7 so to her its more about having lots of tat rather than one thing that she will use every day.

So do i go behind dh's back and get her the fish tank (fish will have to come later when water has settled) or get her a tablet which she will probably use every day??

Her sister is getting the leappad thing and i have bought them a sylvanian house for them to share. I feel a bit guilty as i keep finding little things for dd2 (5) but nothing for dd1 as i don't want a house full of plastic that is only played with for one day and then stuffed in the toy cupboard (which is what happened last year).

If you are thinkiing of the fish, maybe try cold water fish. They arent as pretty as guppies but require a lot less equipment than tropical ones.

DS got a fish tank for his birthday by family and friends and honestly, it is the best present ever. They all threw in some money and we had the full kit, including heater, decoration etc. for tropical fish.

Yes, we do the water changes, but otherwise it is his responsibility. Once all is settled it is so easy to look after them.

Look at your last sentence: "i don't want a house full of plastic that is only played with for one day and then stuffed in the toy cupboard" - this is exactly why we asked for a fish tank rather than more toys which he will never play with.

Have a look on Fishtank in Pets and see what you're letting yourself in for.

My DS has got a coldwater goldfish ( fish is 7) .DS does the feeding but I do the water change and clean the tank.It would be a bit much for DS to lug buckets of water and handle a glass tank.

Even for cold water fish you need a filter and water treatment.

IMHO, tropical fish are prettier, but the work will be down to the parent.

(Says the parent who's in the process of getting 2 rescue guinea-pigs, in full knowledge that I'll be on cleaning duty.And cutting their little piggy claws)

I will have to talk to Dh, we had guinea pigs a while ago and after a few days the dd's were not interested which is why dh says 'no more pets' . I'm not sure if i have the time to be cleaning out fish and i would feel guilty if they died .

But fish are also nice for adults, I love watching ours swim around. We also got two tropical frogs with them, very funny.

stick insects?

or a kit for hatching insects/ ladybirds/ butterflies (you get a voucher and do it in spring)

giant snails [hmmm]

terrapins

I like the idea of giant snails (i had one as a child), not sure if i can convince dd1 though, i think she wants a pet that she doesn't have to handle and that will be interesting to watch (i guess we could get 2 snails so she can race them) .

Why not try something like triops first? That would get her used to having to care for something but their life cycle is a lot shorter than that of a fish, so even if she gets bored quickly, you won't have something on your hand that you've then got the responsibility or caring for for years afterwards.

Triops are much more interesting than seamonkeys IMHO. (Hawkins Bazaar have them)
DD had some, the last 3 got to about 1cm long.

They shed their skins like snakes, and you have a little pipette to remove the skins.

One ate the other then dies

If you get 2 snails, you will end up with 2000 snails. Watch out!

Sea monkeys? Although those triops look more interesting.