who knows anything about fish?

Question

i dont know why, but lately ive been wanting to get a fish. not anything fancy or high dollar...just a simple little fish. we have a petco down here and i know they sell different kinds of fish...i just dont know anything about them really...i know there are some that come in that jar...angel fish or bettas?? i dont know....but i was just planning on getting a small, simple fish bowl..not any big tank or anything....so what would be the best thing for me to get?

Answer 1

I would definately get a betta. They are about as easy as pets can get. You feed them about 3-4 times a week, and they can live in really small bowls, and can live in dirty water since they come from the rice field puddles in Thailand. Oh, I would get a male (but only one since they can fight to their death) because they have longer fins than females. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Please do me a big favor and stay away from these bowls, it is cruel to keep any fish in small environment like that!!!!!!!!

The fish you saw in these small cups are betta fish, not angels

If you really want to get some fish, do some research first, but here are some tips and links for you.

I would start off either with at LEAST a 5 gallon or a 10 gallon tank
You can purchase a 5gallon hex at walmart for $30 with the whole setup , or as you mentioned you can buy a complete 10gallon setup at petco, here is an example
http://www.petco.com/product/13810/Marineland-Eclipse-System-12-Aquarium-Kit.aspx
You should also be able to get it a bit cheaper then that

When you have purchased a tank, you need to cycly it first, before you can put any fish in it, here are some sites on how to do that:
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/cycling_your_tank1.html
http://www.firsttankguide.net/
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_fishless.php
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article14.html

You're also going to need testkits for ph levels, ammonia and nitrite, this are the 3 dangerest chemicals in water that can kill your fish

After you have cycled your tank you can start adding fish and also highly recommended real aqarium plants(it's healthier for your fish as well as your tank)

A tank setup for a 5 gallon can look like that:
1 male betta
2-3 zebra danios
1-2 pepper cory catfish
But that's the absolut limit on fish for that tank

A tank setup for a 10 gallon can look like that:
3 guppies (1male & 2 females)
3 platy's (1male & 2 females)
3 balloon mollies (1male & 2 females)
6 neon tetras (they are schooling fish)
2-3 pepper cory catfish
That's also pretty much the limit for your tank

You will also need food for your fish and a heater for both of these setups since they are all tropical fish

The temperature for these fish should be anywhere between 76-82 degrees

You're also suppose to do a partial waterchange of 25% once a week to keep your tank clean, and the best way to do that is by getting a gravel siphon

If you really only want to keep a betta fish, you still need at least a 2.5 gallon tank
There is no heater required because they can live in room temperature
Here is some info on keeping a betta healthy and happy
http://justbettas.home.insightbb.com/feed.html
http://www.oneworldinternetcafe.com/betta/
http://www.oneworldinternetcafe.com/betta/betta_fish_care.html
http://www.oneworldinternetcafe.com/betta/betta_fish_bowls.html
http://www.oneworldinternetcafe.com/betta/betta_fish_tanks.html


Alright, I hope all that info helps
Good luck



EB

Answer 3

Probably the ones in a jar are Siamese Fighting Fish.

I think its just terrible that they do that to them. I dont know where that stupid habit got started. Maybe because two males cant be housed together very successfully? One or both usually end up dead. Females are just a little bit more able to live together but there is no guarantee they will survive the close quarters either.

Its cheaper to stick them in jars then in individual tanks in the stores.

Its so cruel, they need as much space as other fish do ! You cant even put them in with their own species, but that no reason to be so inhumane towards them.

If you want one fish you can get the Siamese fighting fish, get a large tank but be advised the tank environment needs some special creating for them to survive.

You are better off with fresh water fish, you dont want to go the tropical tank route - its pretty complicated -

A gold fish needs a bowl or tank with a large surface, it cant be placed in direct sunlight. They need to be fed once a day.

The real expense comes in because they not only need a tank, they need filters, and heaters, and "atmosphere" Rocks and woodwork to provide hiding and resting places are a must, as is a tight-fitting glass lid and a fluorescent light. The tanks need to be cleaned regularly.

Its a big commitment to have and treat fish humanely.

Whatever you do if you get a fish and decide it is too much work DO NOT flush it or release it into a pond, stream or any natural body of water ! They can carry diseases that are killing off indigenous fish species and can destroy the eco system of ponds and lakes because they eat plants, and other species. Its a problem all over the world.

Quote: "People releasing pet fish into natural waters may cause unintended and potentially serious problems. Almost fifty species of exotic fish have established populations in the U.S., including many cichlid species and goldfish. These non-native species can disrupt the ecology of the community by competing with native species and introducing parasites." End Quote

Answer 4

The only fish I would recommend are white cloud minnows. They are cold water fish and are small. A Betta is a tropical fish and they need a heated tank. I would recommend a larger tank such as a 10 gallon. Larger tanks are easier to maintain. With bowls you will have to do many water changes during a week to keep the fish healthy. With a larger tank you would need to vacuum the gravel and do a partial water change once a week.
Goldfish won't survive in a bowl for long, they need at least 10-15 gallons of water per fish to stay healthy.

Answer 5

Your best bet is to get a 2.5 gallon aquarium with a filter. They are quite inexpensive little kits that include all the basics. This will be a great tank to house a betta (the fish in the cups) as well as something like 2-3 ghost shrimp. You could get out of the store with the whole thing for $30-35 in most parts of the country.

MM

Answer 6

Fish don't do well in bowls, it is very stressful to live in such a small space. Bettas are the fish in the little containers. Spend $20, get a 2.5 gallon starter kit, use this site to get started http://www.firsttankguide.net/. Once you have done some research and you know how to care for your fish, you can go buy a Betta and some Betta pellets (Hikari Gold is good) when your tank is set up. If you have any questions, email me at [e-mail]. Good luck!

Nosoop4u

Answer 7

I would go with a betta, the are easy to take care of, I have one myself. Just change the tank whenever it looks dirty or if the water evaporates and there isn't a lot of water left. But make sure to decholrinate the water or else he will die.
I don't know the ranges of prices for bettas because I got mine from a friend, but they can't be too expensive right? And they are really pretty fish.
Good luck finding the right fish!
-Ana

Answer 8

Get a 1.5 gallon bowl and get a siamese fighting fish. IT really depends on what fish you get for information. E-mail me when you buy the fish or post the fish you want for care and you should be all set. Try to talk to your pet store though!

Answer 9

I would go with a betta or a guppy... I would recommend males... Guppies have colorful tails..

I would recommend to get a air pump with tubing to make sure your fish is satisfied...

It would cost you about a max of 15 from wal-mart to get a pump and tubing with a bowl and a fish...

You could get two guppies if you had a pump and tubing

Fish will cost about 3 dollars for a guppy


Hope it turns out well!!

Answer 10

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/h701elmers_freshwater_handbook.htm
Good answers here... DON"T even consider a bowl! If that's what you want, consider this instead:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-1181682-7075945?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=aquarium&Go.x=10&Go.y=11&Go=Go