Few questions ...

[horridhenry64]

My kids pet guinea pigs have recently passed away and I'm hesitant to commit to more pets that need so much handling and attention . So fish seemed like the answer !
Obviously I could be wrong , which is why I'm asking here so please do correct me if I am because I'd rather not have any pets than have them and not be caring for them properly .

What sort of fish are the easiest to look after ? And what sort of set up would I need (cheap as possible this close to Christmas!) to make sure they're adequately housed ? How often do they need fed / cleaned ? Thank you !

Well depending on the fish they need to be cleaned out around once a fortnight. I would go with goldfish or something easy. Feed them once a day and then clean them out every 2 weeks. Also buy a book for your DC's so they can learn about how to care for them.

It's a hobby you don't want to get into on impulse ;) do you have any friends with good fish tanks? I ask this as to set up a new aquarium you need to go through a process called the nitrogen cycle - having a friend with a tank where you can pinch a bit of filter media from makes that process a whole lot easier!

Plan where you could put a tank and how large you could go, needs to be near plug sockets but away from windows or doorways and they are heavy and don't like being knocked - so a good solid floor too. The bigger the better - small tanks are best for experts as the smaller the tank, the less stable the water quality is.

Ultimately keeping a fish tank isn't about keeping the fish, it's about keeping the water healthy.

If you are wanting a cheaper option I would not go with goldfish. They need the biggest tank you can buy as they are incredibly messy fish and produce a lot of ammonia. Although you can get 2nd hand ones. I recently bought a 180 litre tank for my two goldfish for £100. But the tank new is about £600/ £700. With two goldfish in a 180l tank I feed every other day or smaller amounts everyday in summer, and usually 3 or 4 times a week in winter as the colder water/environment slows their metabolism down a bit. I do 50-60% water change once a week.
Some small types of tropical fish are happier in a smaller tank, or cold water fish such as minnow. Although all fish would need as much space as you were able to provide really. :)
Please also look up the nitrogen cycle before getting fish. It's better to do a cycle before you add any fish so the tank is ready for the waste they produce. :)
They make great pets though, I love watching mine of a night time and goldfish are very interactive at feeding and cleaning time. :)