Should I get my son fish for his birthday?

Question

He is turning 4, and he really wants fish. He has always loved them. I just don't think that I want the responsibility. How difficult/expensive is it to maintain fish.? He likes clownfish (Nemo) the best, but he likes other types too. He likes Bettas, and I think I could handle one of those, but my son would lose interest with just one fish? What is it like to have just a Betta? Does anyone have any information about setting up a 10 gallon or so aquarium? (cost, tips...) Around what age can kids start helping to take care of fish? Thanks.

Answer 1

I have a tank with goldfish in my kids room, it's a 30 gallon though, and they love, my girls are 3&5

Get a 10 gallon tank tropical kit, that costs about $40 at walmart which should include a heater and a filter

The temp should be between 76-82 at all times

Get your tank cycled before you think about buying fish
here are some links for you to read
http://fishlesscycling.com/forum/index.php?topic=229.0
http://fishlesscycling.com/what_is_fishless_cycling.html
http://fishlesscycling.com/how_to_do_a_fishless_cycle.html



If your son loves bettas, you could actually put up to
5 females (no males)
2-3 cory cats (bottom feeder)
lots of liveplants in your tank

or

get 1 male betta
6 neon tetras (they're schooling fish)
2-3 platies (males, that way you don't have to worry about fry)
2-3 corycats

betta's are community fish and will get along with other species, as long as they don't have long fancy fins like a male guppy

A no no, is female/male and male/male


Do partial waterchanges of 25% weekly with a gravel siphon, and replace with conditioned water.

Never overfeed your fish, only what they will eat in a period of 5 min, the rest needs to be netet out

As for a betta, feed each of 3 pellets twice a day, 6 days a weeks, and fast them for 1 day out of a week, that way you prevent a swimbladder disease and constipation

As for the bottom feeders, feed them 1 algae wafer a day, in the evening just before you turn off the ligth, they're night active and will search for their food then

if you want to put decorations in it, only something that has no sharp edges to it

As for the light, keep it on for 10-12 hours during the day and turn it off at night for 12-14 hours, a timer is very helpful for that

Since betta's eat pellets, you could let your son help you feed them, just give him a couple of pellets in his hand, and show him how to throw into the tank. kids love to feed their animals.


Hope that helps
Good luck


EB


any more questions, feel free to email me

Answer 2

Hi!
I think a fish is a great idea...be glad he doesn't want a dog or something for now! I have a Betta fish and it is soooo easy to care for! And very inexpensive! Betta fish are very interesting and beautiful, so if your son really likes fish he would probably not lose interest in them very soon.
Betta fish simply need a tank (small-medium). They don't need a fancy filter or anything! Just a tank, and if you want to you can include a silk plant or something to make it more fun. Betta fish need their water cleaned once a week and fed once a day, and that's basically it! The tank can cost about $7, the fish is usually around the same.

Clownfish, on the other hand, need a lot of fancy equipment...including a filter, saltwater tank, and other expensive gadgets. If your son also likes Bettas, they seem like the perfect pet for him...easy and fun. He'll love seeing the fish eat each day. I own a Betta and it's really simple! I also LOVE LOVE LOVE clownfish but they're too expensive and difficult for me. But no, you can't put a Betta with another fish as they're very aggressive and will kill them!
On that note, Betta fish are very intelligent and beautiful fish, easy to maintian, inexpensive and the perfect pet for your son!

I hope this helps! =D

Answer 3

clownfish are saltwater fish, and being so they would have a much larger maintenance involved, as well as the time and cost of setting up a saltwater aquarium. also saltwater aquariums do better at larger sizes, increasing cost and maintenance. i would get about a 10-20 gallon freshwater aquarium, put some bettas, or even others in it, theres quite a selection of freshwater fish, many quite beautiful. freshwater tanks are easy to care for and much less money, plus they are great to observe grow and develop. i would go for it, im sure your son would love it. get more than one fish, more interesting. the cost for an aquarium itself is about $40-100, filter, and heater together would be about $30-40, and lighting included, the cost not including fish and the cheap ornaments like rocks, gravel, and fake plants would add up to $100-200. I got a 55 gallon freshwater aquarium when i was about 6 or 7, I'm sure with a smaller aquarium he could help to feed, but changing filters and the other maintenance could be started to be done by him around age 10, its not hard, but it does take focus and care.

Answer 4

Biorbs are terrible as beginner tanks. 30 litres equates to 6 UK gallon, but being a posh bowl they have little surface area for gas exchange and are harder to clean than a regular tank. Nothing with the word shark in its name is going to last long in this size and shape tank, they all as the other posts point out grow too big. I don't think you will keep 12-18 smaller fish happy either, they will all be occupying the same surface area gulping for air. Can't recommend any catfish as biorbs have very little substrate. If you are going with this tank I'll second the single male Betta/Siamese Fighter idea, it's what these Asian made tanks are designed for. If you are going for the shark option, I would suggest looking for a second hand 20 UK gallon tropical set up which will knock you back £50. Then you can accommodate a Ruby or Red Tail Shark no problems and you have numerous tank mate options. Biorbs are much more an ornament than an aquarium and the disappointment of failure often puts youngsters off the hobby. You would be much better with an ordinary oblong tank.

Answer 5

A clown fish would be a huge task as it's a salt water tank and not for the novice.

Try a Betta fish in a nice big fish bowl to start. No filter, low maintenance and low expense.

My daughter started with one when she was 4, it eventually died. We got her a 5 gallon little starter tank with a filter but no heater, and now we have a 35 gallon beautiful fresh water aquarium that we all love. So you can grow with it.

Salt water is pretty complex, I personally wouldn't tackle it unless you're very enthused and dieing to learn about it.

Good luck, hope the cutie has a happy birthday!

Answer 6

A ten gallon would be a little small and saltwater gets very expensive and it sound like you got a 4 year old on your hands so it sound like you don't have the time either, but you can try a freshwater i'm sure he will love it just as much!

Answer 7

ok dnt get a "nemo" they are hard to take care of and expensive not to mention saltwater go to walmart get a few fish u can get lil baby sharks too and then go to petsmart and get a tank they are cheaper and u cna get fish there too like 5 for $5 its really good hope it helps and i hope he likes him Happy birthday to him!!

Answer 8

It depends on whether you are going to check on the fish every day or not. A four year old cannot do this alone. To know how much to feed the fish, when, you need filtration etc. I would say no. Better yet, please no.

Answer 9

get a beta and put in one of those beta bowls, feed it a little everyday (beta food)and change the water once a week.
or get a goldfish, put in a fish bowl and do the same (feed goldfish flakes). he is old enough to feed it. i put a little food in my 3 and a half year olds son hand and let him drop it in there. because he can't be careful enough not to put all food from container in there. their not much hassel at all- probably the biggest thing is cleaning bowl out. you don't need to buy dechlorinator or anything else they try to get you to buy at pet store.

Answer 10

A pet fish is a cheap, and easy-to-maintain type of pet. I think it would be very nice of you. GO FOR IT!

Bettas AKA Japanese Fighting Fish- DO NOT PUT FINGER IN TANK!!!!!!!! THEY WILL BITE IT TO SHREDS!


Tip: Go to "Petco", they have goldfish and other fish very cheap. Goldfish are 10 cents, 3 cents of tax, 13 cents