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Original poster

A basic first fish for small boy - what should we get?

42 replies

WideWebWitch · 30/10/2004 18:49

Ds would like a fish and I've said yes but want to get him something low maintenance (they're all fairly low maintenance aren't they?) so have questions:

What fish should we get?
Should we get 2?
Will it definitely need a heated tank?
Will it be hard to keep it alive?
I just told him that it's his responsibility to look after it and he looked quite worried as I'd just told him about my goldfish dying (I was 25, didn't know what I was doing, won it at a fair IIRC). All and any advice welcome. TIA

OP posts:

pixiefish · 30/10/2004 22:13

you need to get the water suitable for fish by building up the bacteria etc. get a couple of fish to begin with and then every 2/3 weeks empty half the water and put more water in (from the tap). Never replace all the water at the same time as you need to mature the water. as the water matures you can add more fish.
be careful you don't overfeed them

misdee · 30/10/2004 22:14

its also best to set the tank up a week before adding fish to make sure the water is clear of harmful gases etc. after a few hours of adding water to a new tank u'd see little bubbles forming on the sides etc, these need to be gone before any fish are added.

KateandtheGirls · 30/10/2004 22:14

Easy, the bowl is so small, that one gallon of distilled water from the grocery store lasts for months.

Misdee, betta fish don't need a filter, you just have to change the water regularly.

misdee · 30/10/2004 22:17

KATG its now recommended by most pet shops that ALL fish have a filter in their tanks. it means less water changes for you and creates a better enviroment for the fish. might be different where you are but i know thats what they are recommending in the UK.

misdee · 30/10/2004 22:22

q and a about bettas

think they are lovely, but untill recently i have yiger barbs and they arent compatable, and untill i get rid of my red finned shark then i cant get one either.

mieow · 30/10/2004 22:25

I'll have your shark misdee

misdee · 30/10/2004 22:26

you'd have to get rid of all your tetras, and small fish as he will eat them all. he is very aggressive lately.

mieow · 30/10/2004 22:29

oh ok then, that other fish you gave me, is doing fine and hasn't attacked any of my fish

pixel · 30/10/2004 23:06

If you do want lots of fish we've got some little minnows (chinese I think) and six are living in a small tank. They are silver with a red tail and a stripe so quite sweet. They must be hardy as we have had them ages whereas we didn't have much luck with goldfish despite following all the instructions from the fish shop about 'ageing' the water etc. My dd prefers them to the goldfish as they dart around in a little shoal and are much more lively.

princesspeahead · 30/10/2004 23:48

get a filter - saves on a lot of cleaning and aerates the water too, makes for happier less stressed fish.
get as big a tank as you can, the bigger the tank the less often you have to clean it out and the bigger your fish will grow.
also goldfish are extremely poopy, almost any other fish is cleaner.
needless to say we have 6 poopy goldfish (and one heavy duty industrial strength filter)

KateandtheGirls · 31/10/2004 00:45

Thanks for the info misdee.

nightowl · 31/10/2004 01:32

colinsmommy...dont pretend you dont like that fish

colinsmommy · 31/10/2004 03:05

Now I'm going to have to change my name, because whenever people see Colinsmommy now, they're going to think "she likes fish". And I've been working for months to achieve my reputation as a fish-hater. Just don't let Derick know. I've still got him cleaning out the tank on guilt that it was his mom that bought the fish.

Original poster

WideWebWitch · 31/10/2004 09:30

Ewww at poopy goldfish. Sounds to me as if we do want a filter, mainly so we don't have to clean the tank too often. And then we could get several fish. I'm quite excited (on his behalf of course!) now.

OP posts:

misdee · 31/10/2004 09:40

if you can afford it go for a starter tank with everything inclused (filter, light etc) think they start at around £40-50. fish tanks can look lovely if set up right and with the right lighting.

mind u i have a 4ft tank which recently set me back £230. dh wasnt happy, but has said that when my fish go to the big bowl in the sky, he wats it for marine fish. thing is, my catfish seemes to be living forever.

princesspeahead · 31/10/2004 22:56

www there are always fishtanks for sale in your local free ads paper - loot or trade it or whatever, we got a very big one for £7 instead of paying £50 or something. And as they are just glass, they clean up immaculately. Then it won't be so painful buying the tank, filter, pretty gravel, waterweed, etc etc etc which REALLY adds up.
Just a handy hint for you m'dear!

nightowl · 01/11/2004 01:38

derick...your wife likes fish...its o"ffish"ial...sorry...couldnt resist.

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