Fish for kids

[samwitwicky]

I really need some help!

DS7 is insistent that all he wants for Xmas is a goldfish.

We don't have a lot of room for a huge tank and figured we'd go for something smallish (not quite a bowl though).

Pet shop man said we can buy tank, leave it running for 3 days then go back and get the fish. Then in 9 weeks we'll need to buy a bigger tank because goldfish grow so much!

I'm so confused.

Never owned fish before and there is so much info around I'm drowning.

So can anyone help or suggest the type of tank we would need, the number of fish, and a type of fish similar to goldfish which doesn't grow much?

We'd prefer a tank that doesn't need a lot of cleaning but appreciate the water needs to be changed every week or so (is that right?).

Pet shop man also mentioned something about a sponge but by then my brain had done a runner.

Any help is appreciated!

Bump

Robo fish?

Definitely not a goldfish.
If you only want one fish and a small tank (but not too small), then a Betta (Siamese fighting fish) might suit.

Small room temp tank with filter and some white cloud mountain minnows don't need too much room they are tiny .

Your pet shop man is an idiot. Find another one.

I've just got my kids a robo fish that comes with a tank from b&m Haha may be oka

Don't underestimate how difficult fish can be to keep.
Even a goldfish.

Goldfish do grow fairly big and they need a much bigger tank than other types of fish of a similar size as they have a high waste (ammonia) output. They would pollute the water too quickly in a small ish tank.

No fish are easy to look after. You need to do regular water changes, clean the tank etc. It's genuinely more time consuming than having a cat!

Yes they’re hard work. Much harder than our multiple rodents or dog!
Perhaps not for Christmas?

Thank you all that's very helpful.

The other option is a Guinea pig, although I'm told they should be kept in pairs.

Any advice?

Fish are quite a bit of faff. My DH maintains ours. You could read up on it, get a book on how to look after then for your child to read. Realistically you will be doing all the work, so get an animal you like & can handle.

I wouldn’t, we have a goldfish and they really aren’t as easy as they seem! My cat requires much less maintenance!

@GrrrlPwr

Fish are quite a bit of faff. My DH maintains ours. You could read up on it, get a book on how to look after then for your child to read. Realistically you will be doing all the work, so get an animal you like & can handle.

This ^

We started with a goldfish, (and went through all of the care stuff at the pet shop - must admit I was a bit surprised at the long list, but they are only doing their best to make sure you are committed to looking after them) and as other posters say, they do require some work. We then moved on to two guinea pigs (beautiful creatures, lovely pets, but you do have to take good care of them). We were all heartbroken when they died (got 10 years, which is good for a guinea pig). At about 4-5 years they got abscesses on their mammary glands, and we paid £900 to get them treated - I know it is a lot, but we decided we could not live with ourselves if we didn't give them the best chance. They survived it, and for many more years of love. When they died, heartbroken DD wanted a dog. I refused, I was still working, and a dog is another step up again. In a weak moment, I agreed to two rabbits (I know I know !!!! chewed internet cables or skirting boards anyone?) we all absolutely love them, they are treated like royalty and do add loads to our family BUT GrrrlPwr is right, you will be doing all of the work, and will cost you plenty, not just looking after them when you are away and the right conditions / feeding but also if they get poorly. Good luck with whatever you choose x

I don't want a pet in the house. But I feel so bloody selfish. But I know it's going to be me who will end up doing all the bloody work.

So how do I let DS down? He still believes in Santa. Do I write him a letter from Santa explaining why he didn't get a pet?

I feel shit but absolutely certain I don't want a pet.

It's your house. Your rules. I say to my DD8 you can have whatever pets you want when you have your own house. She keeps whinging and I keep saying no.
You know what you are capable of. A child is always going to push and push. It's meaner to yourself to get stressed out looking after a creature that you don't like/ have the time for.

Go to a fish shop and ask what book to buy to read on how to look after fish. It's reading practice for your child too!

Research what size tank, where it will live, what type of fish.

Then join the Facebook group 'Tropical Fish keeping UK' lots of detailed advice on there.

Then you can make a considered decision. Any living creature is a real responsibility.

Right I have had a chat with DH ie fish man.

He said "a goldfish difficult to look after, compared to what- a rock?"
Ha!

So I quizzed him.

You need to change the water in the bowl if you have it in just a water bowl. If you have an air filter bubbling in you can change the water less often. And you will definitely need to clean the inside of the tank or algae grows and it looks awful.

In my experience of watching all this, it is messy and water is heavy! Only get 1 fish as then you need a smaller tank. Ie less water to cart around when changing it.

If you truly love fish then all that faff is just part of it, that's my take on it.

He got a book, read up and he minded his fish, his mum did nothing for them. He was a bit older than 7 and learnt it all himself. The hard way ie lots of algae and some dead fish.

Maybe suggest to your child when they are 10 or something you can have a fish?

@GrrrlPwr

Right I have had a chat with DH ie fish man.

He said "a goldfish difficult to look after, compared to what- a rock?"
Ha!

So I quizzed him.

You need to change the water in the bowl if you have it in just a water bowl. If you have an air filter bubbling in you can change the water less often. And you will definitely need to clean the inside of the tank or algae grows and it looks awful.

In my experience of watching all this, it is messy and water is heavy! Only get 1 fish as then you need a smaller tank. Ie less water to cart around when changing it.

If you truly love fish then all that faff is just part of it, that's my take on it.

He got a book, read up and he minded his fish, his mum did nothing for them. He was a bit older than 7 and learnt it all himself. The hard way ie lots of algae and some dead fish.

Maybe suggest to your child when they are 10 or something you can have a fish?

Wow that's amazing you did that, thank you for going out of your way.

I think you're right. He's a little young yet, and waiting until he's a little older to be able to manage this stuff (with supervision and support) is likely the way to go.

Thank you all so much x

Santa never gives out pets - stuffed toys only.

Fish are great BUT are hard work and surprisingly expensive (she says, currently sat next to her £800 custom made fish tank...). Goldfish grow massive, need equally massive tanks, and easily out live a dog or cat. Personally I'd never keep Goldies due to the size and mess they make.

The tanks always need a careful position in the home - not near near windows or radiators but in easy proximity to a plug socket - plus good flooring. High traffic areas with kids thundering past is also not advised.

And never take the advice of a pet shop worker as gospel - while there are a few who give out good advice, on the whole it's terrible advice and will just lead to fishy death and disappointment.

Size wise here, and they should quadruple in size within 2 years.

FYI bowls are no places for fish. Bowl-shaped tanks are also naff as they have poor surface area - you need a good rectangular tank for decent surface area. If a tank has a tiny surface area it will have a lower amount of oxygen, because science.

Fishkeeping is a science, and will definitely help kids understand biology and chemistry if it's done right.