pet fish???

[homeschoolmama]

Does anyone have these? My kids are asking about an aquarium. They have been for quite some time now, and I'd like to at least know what it is we'd be looking at, so I can think it over. I need to know... everything. What breeds are good for beginners, what to get, what to avoid, what this would cost... all of it. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks!

[BabyGrl]

I think there is a fish thread down in other pets. I am not sure though.

[Inrun]

Despite what people say about goldfish, they're not really beginners fish. They require a lot of space, and can have a lot of problems due to the conditions they're kept in, in most stores. If you've a big enough tank, 30 gallons and up, i'd suggest a gold fish, but otherwise, i'd stay away from them. They can live up to 20 years (and over), and unless you're willing to let them live for that long, it's not fair to the fish to own one.
They are however, a cold water fish, which is distinctly an advantage in comparison to many other species due to the fact you won't need a heater, but a heater is not that expensive to buy. I think the first thing you would need to decide on is the size of your tank before a real species should be recommended.
However...
Good beginners species? I like Dwarf Gouramis myself. They're hardy and beautiful. Tetra species like neons or cardinals are often quite good as well. And mollies are too (though you'd need to do a bit more research on them because they do need some salt (not much) in their environment) not to mention that they're beautiful.

[kimberly78]

I have a tank and its a pain in the butt and really hard to upkeep. If they want a fish, I would start off with a beta. Not a lot of costs inloved with them. You cant house more than 1 betta per tank/bowl though. I have a goldfish that was won at the fair over 5 years ago, he is over 6 inches long now and at this point is outgrowing his 15 gallon tank. In with him I have a HUGE sucker fish. Its tons of work.

[Inrun]

Originally Posted by kimberly78

I have a tank and its a pain in the butt and really hard to upkeep. If they want a fish, I would start off with a beta. Not a lot of costs inloved with them. You cant house more than 1 betta per tank/bowl though. I have a goldfish that was won at the fair over 5 years ago, he is over 6 inches long now and at this point is outgrowing his 15 gallon tank. In with him I have a HUGE sucker fish. Its tons of work.

A properly maintained tank isn't a lot of work, and never should be. I had a 30 gallon tank for 10 years with three (I know not enough space) goldfish in it for that amount of time, and it was easy to clean. It had a very good balance for water quality, the fish were happy (and extremely awesome looking).
I won't suggest Betas for one of many reasons. I hate how they're kept in tiny little bowls for one, people will argue that they don't have a lot of space in the wild, that they're supposed to live like that, well no. Betas we get in stores do not live in the wild, they'd die, they've been bred to look like they do, and they're kept in small containers because people are stupid. They should have at least 2.5 gallons to live happily in. I hate fish bowls. They're dirty and disgusting and they're harder to maintain then a proper tank with a good filter.

[SkinnyPiggys]

Originally Posted by Inrun

A properly maintained tank isn't a lot of work, and never should be.

For a beginner, a new tank can be a lot of work. When I first started I made sure to do my research first. Even then I ran into many problems. Now I have a 90 gallon,a 20 gallon,a 10 gallon and a 5 gallon tank that I can run like clock-work. It takes a while to get it right, but once you do you'll enjoy it for a long time.

What size tank are you planning on getting? Once I know then I can recommend what fish to get.

[kimberly78]

I have to say that I dont agree with the statement on it not being a lot of work. I have 19 animals and 7 fosters and of everything I share my life with my tank is the most upkeep. In part I think now due to my fish being too large for the tank ( I am upgrading next year). Mind you I dont think its impossible and if you really enjoy fish its worth the effort. Myfriends daughter who is 5 has a 10 gallon tank with a filter for her betta and has no problems with it. She enjoys taking care of it and interating with it which is why I suggested it. I by no means am an expert in fish, it was my suggestion and opinion is all.

[Inrun]

I believe you've answered your own statement about why it's a lot of work. Because your tanks too small. But thats just my opinion as well. I've never had much of a problem keeping my fish tanks well maintained, but perhaps thats simply because I do my research before I go barreling into owning any sort of animal.
Out of all the animals i've got, i'd have to say that my dogs and then my horses and then my guineas would be the most difficult to deal with. I've taken care of my dads Salt Water tank before as well (for a few months) and they're way more high maitenance then a lot of fresh waters (hand feeding corals is neat though), and I still don't find it as hard to deal with as the dogs or the horses. But maybe thats just because I place things at a different degree of what is considered "maitenance".

[Percy's Mom]

I'm thinking about getting a Beta actually. I was really only considering 1 fish, and I don't have room for anything much bigger than a 5-10 gallon tank which I think would give a beta much more than enough room. Are there any websites or books anyone can recommend that I can do a bit of research on. It's been YEARS since I've had any type of fish, and I don't want to jump into them without information first.

[kimberly78]

Yea my fish wasnt something i wanted. My 5 year old (now 10) cousin, won it at a fair, his mom wouldnt let him have it so i took it. I wasnt planning on it living 5 years, must be doing something right, .

[zakfoxmom]

Here's my two cents: We have a 40 gallon tank with live plants, little fresh water sharks, and a couple other types of fish. My husband handles all the upkeep on the tank and it does not require a lot. We have other pets and the fish tank is the easiest to take care of.

Once you get the tank up and running its really not that difficult.

[Sabriel]

I have 6 small tetra's in a 10 gallon and I haven't found it too hard to upkeep. The pigs and cats need daily care, the fish tank only needs to be cleaned weekly (25% water change and a light cleaning with the gravel vacume/siphon) and feeding isn't all that complicated. I think fish make a good pet for a meticulous person who doesn't want the fuss muss and mess that come with living with mammals.

I do have a question though, is it that bad to keep a beta on his own? I have 6 semi agressive tetras in my tank and it was not reccomened to add a beta, but my husband loves them. Would it be cruel to buy a 5 gal tank for one? Filtered of course.

[Marlania]

I kept my tank up for years, and it was never much up-keep. The most common thing I did was wipe the glass with the magnet cleaner doo-hickey. I only took it down recently because I had one fish after we moved, and he/she/it went to live with my neighbor in one of her many tanks.

A tank is basically an investment (if you're getting a larger one). By the time you buy it, accessories, and fish, you'll have spent enough to make you want to keep it for quite some time. When we move again (and hopefully for the last time), I'd like to get a larger tank , but that definitely won't happen until I have all the funds in place.

[fourbwabbys]

I do have a question though, is it that bad to keep a beta on his own? I have 6 semi agressive tetras in my tank and it was not reccomened to add a beta, but my husband loves them. Would it be cruel to buy a 5 gal tank for one? Filtered of course

You can add a non-agressive fish with them. Not tetra's though, as they are fin biters and the beta's fins are just too tempting. No male betas, as they will fight, and no female unless you want a little beta breeding ground, which I highly doubt you do. They can live alone, though. As long as they have a large tank (5 gallons is plenty). They do, however follow the humans back and forth in their cage. They enjoy being in a busy room as it keeps them occupied.

[homeschoolmama]

I guess we were looking at a somewhat smallish tank? We've got 3 small tables in the living room that could easily hold something about 12-14" deep, by 18-20" long. (I don't even know how many gallons that would be!) And two of the tables are right near outlets, which would be necessary for things like filters, right? We also have a spot on the kitchen counter that is out of direct light & wouldn't be "in the way" that could hold about the same size tank or maybe just a touch bigger, could definitely take the weight of a full tank, and is also right near an outlet. I don't know about a stand, they kind of worry me... the ones that look like TV stands would be great, but cost a fortune & I don't think we've got the room for something that big. And the ones that look like wire racks just wouldn't be sturdy enough for me to feel comfortable. So I don't really have the room for anything big at all, but I do have a few spots that ought to work for a small tank... I'm still working on this one though. I just never really understood the attraction to a pet that you can't... PET!

My daughter loves to drag me to peek at the betas when we go by mall pet-shops, but they always look so... bedraggled to me. I can't imagine housing ANY animal in a bowl so small that their bodies are constantly in contact with the walls. I had read that a 2-3 gallon tank is recommended for long-lived Betas, and I did find this tank... http://www.4u-depot.com/aqfitape.html and liked how it looked. Most of the tanks by this company seemed just too small to consider, but is this one okay for just a few tiny fish? Or maybe just ONE Beta? (I am spatially inept & can't come up with how many gallons this is) I don't see how one could anchor a filter to it though, so I'm a little worried about this one.

And does anyone know the pros & cons to warm versus coldwater fish? I'm reading up as quickly as I can, and this keeps popping up. It would seem to me that coldwater fish ought to be a bit... hardier, right?

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate it. I am so unsure about fish. My husband thinks it could be fun to have a tank though, and I want to give the idea a fair bit of consideration.

[homeschoolmama]

Okay, I found a few sizes and it looks like for the space we have we'd be looking at something no bigger than about 10 gallons. From what I've found, that's usually 10 x 20 x 12... right?

So the one I was looking at that was 17.6 x 8.1 x 5.3 would be (if I did this right) roughly a 3 gallon aquarium. From what I've read so far, that ought to hold 1 Beta... is there anything else that can live comfortably in something that size?

What would we be able to care for properly in a 10-gallon tank? I'm willing to do any amount of "homework" long before we actually brought fish into the house. I guess at this point I'm wondering specifically what the differences in cost/care/maintenance are for freshwater versus saltwater, and coldwater versus warm water fish. I'm still trying to get an idea of what all we're in for here & am not really sure what even to be asking quite yet.

[redinque]

OK, I have a dilemma. I work at a school, and parents have given us 3 beta fish on 2 separate occasions. We should've declined the fishes, but they were given with good intentions. They were given in those horrible tiny bowls, and though I would like to add the fishes together into a larger tank (which I have), those fish happen to be the kind of fish that can't be put in together! I'd like to give them a better home with a filter system, but I can't have three separate tanks for them all. We currently put them in larger individual containers, but it's still not ideal. What can you recommend that I do? I'm thinking about putting dividers within the aquarium tank, but will they be able to sense the other fishes' presence and get agitated?

[daftscotslass]

I have 3 fish - 2 rescue (yes!) goldfish and an oranda. The two goldfish were table centrepieces in a vase at a function in the hotel I used to work at - urgh. They're now 2 years old and still thriving.

[aqh88]

A betta would love a 5-10g tank. A 5g hex might fit where other tanks would not. These tanks are very tall but with a small base. If it's a rescue situation I would at least attempt to get each betta in a 2-3g tank but preferably a 5g. You can also take a 10g or any tank at least as long as a 10g and put in a mesh divider. Then you can have 2-3bettas per 1 tank only needing 1 filter, heater, and maintenance routine.

While many say bettas do fine in small 1-2g tanks I highly disagree. Yes they are from still waters so they adapted to breathe air but they are not from small areas of water. They live in huge rice paddies and can be quite curious and active in a larger tank. Sometimes when you move them to a bigger filtered tank they don't even know how to swim properly because they never needed to use all their fins. They just wiggle their little pectoral fins and freak out but eventually most learn to love the space and water movement from a filter. They will sort of pout and get depressed when you try to move them back to a small tank.

Some tetras are nippy. White skirts, cochu's blue, and serpaes come to mind but some are not nippy and do great with bettas. Many people on the fish board I visit have been keeping 1 betta with 5-6neon or cardinal tetras in a 10g tank. Right now my betta is in with a few black neons, angelfish, yoyo loaches, and bristlenose pleco in a 29g tank. Neons or cardinals are 2 of the very few schooling fish I would put in a 10g. Most tetras are schooling fish and so require preferably 6 plus fish per tank to feel safe and secure. Very few commonly sold species are small enough for anything less than a 20g long. Threadfin rainbows might also work but they are far more sensitive and expensive than neons making them a poor beginners fish.

Bettas also sometimes get along with bottom dwelling fish such as cories and loaches(also schooling fish and not suitable for a 10g beginner tank) or small plecos. A bristlenose pleco or smaller species(clowns are another common one) should be ok but do not touch common plecos, royal plecos, or sailfins. These commonly sold plecos will get at least 8-10" and potential up to 36" long if cared for properly. It comes down to the temperament of the betta as to whether they will tolerate tankmates or not.


Tanks that were well researched and well thought out are not much work. It's when you add too many fish or get fish that will outgrow your tank that you run into trouble. Typically tank maintanence will only require a 25% or so water change with gravel vac every 1-2weeks.
First though you need knowledge in basic water parameters see this thread: http://fishprofiles.com/files/forums...l?200512230242
A test kit is of great value particularly when fish get sick. The Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master kit is usually the favorite for covering the basics at a good price and their tests are quite easy to read. Test strips are notoriously inaccurate and won't compare to a good liquid kit like the Aquarium Pharm ones.

Then you need basic fish care knowledge. As said above a typical tank will require 25% of the water changed and 25% of the gravel cleaned every 1-2weeks. Even with one 90g, two 5g, and one 20g it only takes me maybe an hour every weekend to change water. Very small tanks(under ~5g) or poorly stocked tanks will require much more work. Sometimes twice weekly water changes. Filters should be cleaned at minimum monthly but preferably every other week. Activated carbon is often used in filter cartridges to remove chemicals in tapwater and discolorants in the water such as from driftwood but will lose their effectiveness within 1month. After that time they can leach back out the junk they collected along with high levels of phosphorous. Result is a huge algae bloom and possibly dead fish.

Overfeeding is one of the biggest causes of poor water quality. Do not feed stressed fish such as when you just get them or the day you change the water. This helps greatly in reducing digestive tract upsets. Feed them very small amounts and if you feel your underfeeding then feed twice a day instead of just increasing the amount and in exchange skip 1 day a week of feeding them. Healthy well fed fish will still be healthy and not starving to death if they aren't feed for even 1 week. They aren't the same as most mammals and many people skip a day or 2 of feeding every week to make sure their fish aren't overfed and stay healthy. A rule I've heard many people quoting recently is to feed them what they can eat in 5mins but my tetras in the 90g could probably polish off my smaller container of fish food in 5mins and it would be 10times what they need. It depends on type of fish and type of food as to how fast they can eat. A better one I've heard is that a fish's eye is about as big as their stomach so feed enough to fill that area for each fish. You get a feel for it after awhile and after seeing how much uneaten food ends up in the gravel.

All fish mentioned are not real picky but some foods are better than others. New Life Spectrum, Hikari, and O.S.I are some brands of a bit higher quality. At the bottom would probably be Wardley and Tetra products are middle quality. Those last 2 and Hikari are what you'll find at places like Walmart and most chain stores that sell fish.

There's a few beginner articles here: http://fishprofiles.com/articles/#beginner. I don't really have links to any beginner sites. The ones I used several years ago when I set up my first tank are no longer active. Mostly now if I need info I do google searches or ask everyone on the fishprofiles board.

[homeschoolmama]

Thanks so much for the links aqh!!! I don't even know things like what a sick fish would look like yet... and I certainly didn't know that you could rescue them!