DS2 wants a goldfish for his birthday

[lisbey]

I've never had a pet and TBH don't really "do" animals. What would I be getting into?

If he'd asked for a dog it would be easy - no way on earth, but it seems a bit mean to deprive him of a fish. So, exactly what is involved in keeping a fish?

Aldis are doing a starter kit at the moment.

Relatively easy to care for, tank needs cleaning regularyl as can a bit smelly.

No, goldfish starter kits are terrible, sorry.

Goldfish get very very large so you'll need a huge tank. They do not grow to the size of their tank and keeping them in a tank that is too small causes deformities and premature death. A fully grown goldfish is about 8-10 inches long and can live around 20 years.

I wouldn't recommend fish as a pet for children unless you are willing to put in a fair amount of the work yourself. They are not cheap or easy to care for as many pet shops will have you believe. You'll need to do water tests, learn to maintain the filter (which is essential) and lug around heavy buckets of water.

If you really want a fish, because they are ace pets , then you'll need to do plenty of research and set the tank up at least 6 weeks prior to getting the fish (this is very important, don't let any shops put you off it). Here's a few articles for you to read that will give you the basics. If you need to know anything else, just ask, I'm a total fish geek

How to choose a tank

How to choose a fish

nitrogen cycle

Sorry, I wrote that in a real hurry and it came out a bit harsh!

Fish are lovely pets but they are quite sciencey and because it's hard to find a vet that specialises in fish you are kind of on your own if they get sick. It's not like keeping any other pet really. How old is your DS? He might prefer something a bit more interactive like a small rodent.