Getting my kids an aquarium?

Question

I have two young daughters and we're considering getting them an aquarium. What fish would you pet people recommend? We want something colorful, easy to care for, that can live in about a 25 gallon tank and aren't too expensive to replace if something happens.

Answer 1

First Read this info on cycling an aquarium-
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin.html

Second- Do not listen to the people who recomended goldfish, certainly not the twit named phoebe, goldfish are not disposable. They are living creatures who depend on us to provide them with the care they need to thrive.
Goldfish get too big for a 25 gallon, here are sites on goldfish.
http://www.mu.edu/~buxtoni/puregold/home.html
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1922&articleid=2650
http://www.goldfishparadise.com/care/care.php

The tank will need a heater, 5 watts per gallon. So a 12 inch 150 watt heater should do.
If i were setting up a 25 gallon tank, i would go with 10 neon tetras, 1 male platy, 3 female platys, and 1 male betta. It is better to understock an aquarium. Always add fish slowly, like 2 every couple of weeks. Patience is the key to being successful in this hobby.

Answer 2

My background: I run a 100 gallon, 40 gallon, 5 gallon, 2 gallon
my new fish start in 2 or 5 gallong, move up to the 40 then to the 100.
I started all the tanks as described below and just moved my last 2 goldfish to a pond (1000 gallongs) at the horseranch (they were about 10-12" each) I had to move the goldfish out because maintance was 10fold having them in the aquarium and throwing off the PH for my other fish. If you don't establish the tank first you'll lose your fish. There MUST be bacteria system working before most community fish can be added.

Before you go getting expensive fish, setup your aquarium with gravel, plants (fake), filter, etc. Let it run for 2 days then add in a dozen small gold fish (start with little ones about 1'-1.5", they grow fast in space).

Goldfish are great for getting your aquarium started and running and getting the bacteria level working. After a month you should have about 8-10 goldfish left.

I will assume you have an over the back filter. clean the filter and change the carbon but not the filtering pad part, just rinse that. Wait 2 days then change 50% of the water and refill adding your water conditioner (i recommend Amquel + plus)

Wait one week then you can add in a couple other fish. If you add oscars they will eat the goldfish so be sure oscars are large enough to eat your size goldfish...you then have a tank conversion. You can add other fish to your take that wont eat the goldfish though too..but remember goldfish are DIRTY fish and will mess up the PH for a community tank.

Ultimate I would suggest a four ground feeders, 4-5 mid feeders, and 3-4 top feeders. Or you can do like schools of smaller fish such as tetras or mollies. I've included a link below to a good website for what fish fit in these areas.

Answer 3

There's quite a few hardy species for an aquarium. First off, though; if you're going to get goldfish; get comets only. The others are often prone to health issues, and are not as hardy as just the comets. I personally, don't like goldifsh because they are one of the most messy fish there are, they eat and poo, eat and poo; and make it so you have to change to water more; but they are bright, and there are varieties of comets that have slightly longer tails.
What I would recommend... There's quite a bit you can get for beginners. Guppies are a definate; that many colours and varieties to choose from, and they're hardy. Platies are pretty hardy, and things like the micky mouse on the tail on some might add allure to them. Mollies can be pretty hardy; too; but watch that if you get one of the balloon variety it's swimming absolutely vertical, because they can sometimes have problems with their swim bladders. There's neon tetras; these do pretty well as long as you watch the water quality; I've not had a problem with them, but they aren't as hardy as say, a guppy. Danios are good, a couple of different varieties of them, and they swim pretty fast, active fish. Congo tetras are one of my favourites; tehy're a larger-sized community fish (3-4 inches), and have a pretty rainbow irrideschence; and flowing fins. And, don't forget Corydatas (loaches work, too, but I prefer corydatas), they're smaller-sized (2 in) bottom feeding fish that eat the food that the other fish miss that falls to the bottom; they're active fish and swim in groups of two or three and are pretty cute little things. And last, but not least, algae eaters. There's the short (3/4 in-1 1/2 in) stumpier ones, and then the longer ones that come in a few colour varieties; both are hardy and help remove the algae from the tank.
So; quite a few for you ad the kids to choose from. Rememeber; about an inch of fish per gallon as a general rule of thumb. I'd recommend at least 2 corydatas and an algae eater of some sort; and then whatever other species from the list you want; give yourself some personal choice of which you prefer. And, adhereing to your question, all of the above listed are pretty cheap, too.
Have fun with it! Fish are great.

Answer 4

I have a 48 gallon tank and I will tell you it is a pain in the a** cleaning it is just a huge project. But if you really want one I would recommend getting some mollys they have various colors (black, white, silver I think that is all the colors.) anyway they are pretty hardy I also have some bottom feeders but they are ugly. Don't forget you can't mix tropical fish with goldfish. the goldfish waste is toxic to tropical fish so you have to decide between getting a bunch of different tropical fish or stick with the boring goldfish. Oh ya don't get an angel fish they usually don't last long they are whimps. Be prepared to have baby fish too. Every single time I brought home a new fish it would have babies a few days later. You have to get a separate net for the babies or the fish will eat them. That is all I can think of for now hope that helps

Answer 5

do not do it! I were given an aquarium once. i became about 17 and purchased it myself. The aquarium in ordinary words value $50. After a year, my mom had probably spent $four hundred between fish, chemical compounds, a sparkling pump, and filters. And all the stupid fish died besides. in case you extremely extremely desire a fish, get a beta fish. No chemical compounds, no pump/filters. I had one which lasted very nearly 3 years and that i nevertheless have the sector of foodstuff pellets from when I were given him. i finished up with 4 or 5 of them at one element and that all of them lived for about 2 years. you in ordinary words ought to placed them in separate tanks.

Answer 6

Go to "About.com" and follow their links to setting up a freshwater aquarium. There are rules to follow and suggestions on fish to put in the tank.

It is good that you are asking questions before going out and buying a tank and fish and then wondering why they die. Most people who ask questions here in this forum have done no research at all and expect quick fixes for big problems without giving any details of what they have.

Answer 7

DO NOT get gold fish they get far too large for that size of tank. go with a small assortment of livebearers (mollys or platies) get a breeding trio. 2 femails and one male. they are hardy and come in a ton of varietys. plus you will have baby fish that you kids will love. make sure you research and understand the nitrogen cycle before getting the tank otherwise you will have to explain death to your kids early. you can do a search for "nitrogen cycle" or new tank syndrome online. an aquarium can be a great experience for you and your kids. they are a lot of work andyou will be doing most of it. also dont let the youngsters over feed the fish.

Answer 8

If your aquarium has a filter you are open to wide range of colorful hardy fish!! Most fish are tropical, meaning they meed warm water 76-78. You could try Danios (the best way to kill them is to take them out and step on them), Red Eye tetras, Most LIvebears are very hardy, Platys, Paradise Fish well I hope that helps you a little.
Happy Fishing

Answer 9

For me, I will choose Siamese Fighting Bettas as they are beautiful, cool and hardy. But, as you know thet are territories fishes that may attack other fishes, especially fishes with long finnage, fancy patterns and colours due to mistaken of another bettas. Maybe you can try Barbs, especially Rosy/One Spot Barbs as they are cute, have shiny scale like Goldfish, hardy and best suitable for beginners. Champagne Tiger Barbs are great too, they are cute and adorable, not a fin-snipper like Tiger Barbs do. Please make sure that you have at least a pair for each type cos' Barbs are happy to live in groups.

Answer 10

I have kissing Gouramis red fin shark pleco tiger barbs rosy barbs guppies clown loaches and some other fish species but these I have had for 1-2 years and they are healthy fish and seem to be hearty.