What are best fish for 9 yr old to start aquarium with?

Question

What are essentials of keeping a fun and healthy fish tank?

Answer 1

In my experience, whatever you chose, the 9 yr old is going to like something else. Why not allow them to research different fish (with some assistance) and choose one(s) that they like and they can get proper equipment to keep? Along the way, you'll be getting info on the proper care and maintenence as well. And if the 9 year old loses interest in fishkeeping during the research phase, you'll know it before you've put out the money for the equipment and fish (which you'd eventually end up caring for).

I'll provide some links to starting a freshwater tank, some fish profiles, and a compatibility website below.

Good luck with the tank!

Answer 2

I would say stay away from gold fish, they are probably one of the messiest fishes. My daughter is 8 years old and has had a fish tank her whole life. I started her tank in her nursery to give her something colorful to look at while she was trying to sleep. They are great for giving children the knowledge that things die, need to be fed, and so much more. I would say stick with a 20 gallon tank or bigger and use a whisper type water filter not an under gravel filter, they are messier. You will probably end up doing water changes which should be done every two to four weeks, with a gravel cleaner as well. Get a good declorinator and check your water for nitrates, ammonia, etc.
Check out this website, they have quite a few different community fish combinations that work.

Also remember you want to only have as many fish in inches at their full grown rate to the gallons of water in the tank so 20 inches to 20 gallons.
Small fish now will grow. Plecos, angels and clown loaches can get big.
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/beginner.htm

Answer 3

Well there is no BEST fish for anyone. So many fish have similar characteristics that it's just a matter of prefference. For a 9 year old I would recomend a betta. I say a betta because they are one of the few fish that do just fine by themselves and you can keep them in a smaller tank (anywhere from a 1 to 5 gallon). They will still require alot of attention and water changes. Although there is no perfect fish, there are bad choices. A common misunderstanding is that goldfish are good for children. They are actually some of the hardest fish to take care of even if they require less heating. They produce alot of ammonia and require constant maintnance. They also don't do very well in small tanks. I also wouldn't suggest anything like an oscar. They prefer meat or live fish and it may be hard for a 9 year old to take. Guppies are also a bad idea because they could be nicknamed "the rabbits of the sea". They reproduce so much. Not a good idea for someone so young and new to fish keeping. I still will barely deal in guppies because they are so high maintnance. Mollies can be just as bad and are really prone to disease like dropsy. You could try some African Cichlids. They are expensive but beautiful. Little boys tend to really like them, while bettas tend to be prefered by little girls.

Answer 4

Zebra danios are a great beginner fish if you want more than one fish. They are hardy, tolerate a variety of water conditions and are fast swimmers. They like to be in a group of 5 or more.
If you want just one fish, then go for a male betta. These have their own personality and are responsive to human actions. They are also hardy and are labyrinth, which means they have the ability to gulp air from the surface so do not necessarily need an air pump (Danios need an air pump). But keep only ONE male betta in a tank. If you keep 2 they will most probably kill each other, they are also called Siamese Fighting Fish. They are beautiful and are my personal favourite.
The rule is one gallon per inch of fish. Be careful about overcrowding and overfeeding. Overfeeding is one of the main reasons for fish deaths. Feed only once a day the amount they can finish in 5minutes.
Get a water tester (to test ammonia,PH) get a thermometer, a heater. If you dont want a filter, then you will have to be very regular with water changes.
For more info on bettas log on to www.bettatalk.com
For other fish www.liveaquaria.com or www.fishlore.com and you will find many on google.
Good luck!

Answer 5

Crayfish! or as some people call it, crawfish.They fasinate kids and adults alike.

This may help you i made it myself:

Ive had alot of experience with crawfish ( I call them crayfish). Get a good filter, feed him only a maximum of 3 shrimp pellets every 4 days, DO NOT PUT RAW SHRIMP IN TANK( shrimp carry deseases fatal to crawfish), Put 2 or three live feeder fish fish every week or so , gat him a bubble maker to put oxygeg in the tank, and about 2-3 hiding places. If you evr think of getting 2 crayfish get a 20 gallon( for best results get a 30gallon) and 5 hiding places. Remember this rule, it applies to most species of crawfish: 1crayfish per 10 gallons. If he molts(shed off his shell) he will get bigger and lost limbs will start to regenerate, leave the molt in there so he can eat it and regain calcium from the molt to harden his shell(do not touch it after it molts, its body is fragile at that time.

So They are extremely hardy and can live without food for weeks! I sugjest a procambus clarkii(may be miss spelled)

Answer 6

Danios are very hardy as are several species of tetras such as red-eyes. Goldfish, while very hardy, will quickly outgrow a small tank. A single goldfish needs at least 20 gallon and preferable 30. Neon tetras were also mentioned but are not suitable for a new tank. The are quite delicate and need a fully cycled tank.

As mentioned, bettas are good too. But they do indeed need a filter. Bettas produce waste just like any other fish. If kept in an unfiltered tank, the ammonia will build up and they will die of ammonia poisoning. If you do keep them in unfiltered tanks(please, at least 1 gallon and preferable 2), you should do daily (at least very other day) 100% water changes. Otherwise, you will only be removing half the ammonia and it will build just as if you didn't do any water chagnes, only half as fast.

Answer 7

I would recommend platies! Hardy, colourful, eat anything and you may even get babies if you provide lots of hiding places like low plants or a pebbled area! Visit one of the excellent fish-keeping sites thinkfish or aquahobby for information on how to set up and maintain a tank! I could explain but it would take too long!

Please DO NOT get a goldfish! They should only be kept in large tanks or ponds and given a chance to grow to a decent size or at least have as long a life as is possible!

Answer 8

Dont buy goldfish unless you dedicate yourself to frequent cleaning, water changes, and buying a LARGE tank.

For a 9 year old, buy a 20 gallon tank, cycle it (read up on it. many internet articles on it) buy an emperor 280 filter or similar , and buy the following fish:

6 danios
a dwarf gourami
8 neon tetras
6 cory cats.

Answer 9

I would say some lyrtail mollies, they are pretty and if you keep you water about 82 degrees, they will breed and you can have even more. My daughter was very excited when she woke up and found babies in the tank. They are faily easy to take care of.

Answer 10

The best fish for a 9yr is a betta. Betta's have beautiful colors and live up 5yrs and maybe more if taken care of properly. Betta's don't a filter or a air pump. The fish can make their own air. It doesn't take much to take care of them. Betta's don't need a lot of room because they don't get very big. Change their, feed them, and keep them warm and they'll live a good life. Changing their water simple. Just do a half water change every 3 weeks. Never take the fish out of their tank. Betta's do great by themselves but if you want them to have company you can put in neon tetras. And just feed them on whatever schedule is best for you. Most of the time you'll only see male Betta's because they have all the pretty colors, the females aren't very pretty.