| Bettas: Of all the fish at any given pet store, a betta is the best pet for kids younger than 10 years old. Bettas can breathe air, so are the only fish that can survive in a goldfish bowl (they prefer more room though, and never house a betta in a "betta vase"). Bettas are carnivorous and can be fed specialized pellet or flake food, frozen or freeze dried food, and an occasional earthworm or baby mosquito as a treat. They cost less than $5 at most pet stores. |
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Goldfish: Goldfish are a classic, easy to keep fish that can be bought at almost any pet store. Many pet stores sell dirt cheap feeder goldfish and most sell multiple types of goldfish food. There are hundreds of goldfish bowls on the market, but just say no!!!!! If I came into your house and saw a goldfish bowl with goldfish in it, it would tell me that you don't care about the welfare of your pets enough to get even a 10 gallon tank, but instead encouraged the production of an inhumane item for maybe a few dollars less, or in some cases, more. | |
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Community Tank: A community tank has a few compatible (able to live together) fish living peacefully, or almost peacefully, together. Community fish include guppies, bettas (1 male per tank if the tank is less than 50 gallons), certain snails, dwarf frogs, and gouramis. Some fish can only be grouped with similar fish, like most ciclids (oscars, firemouths, etc.) can be kept together and some loaches can live quite happily with other loaches. Barbs and danios can be kept together with other fast-moving, nippy fish. |
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Species Tanks: A species tank is set up for one species of fish to live in. There are four common reasons to set up a species tank. First, you might be breeding fish that would normally not breed in a community tank, like bettas, loaches, angelfish, and killifish. Second, some fish are delicate or have special requirements such as very soft or acid water, large amounts of salt, or a plant that would be eaten by other fish but is necessary to the health of the ones you want. Third, the fish you are keeping are very large or aggressive, such as oscars, pirahnas, or muskelunge fish. Fourth, wild-caught fish may be carrying diseases they are not sensitive to but other fish are. Only teens and adults should keep species tanks. | |
| Marine Tanks: Hey parents, what do you do when your kid says: "Can I have a seahorse?" or "Can I have a clownfish?" or, at the beach, "Can I take this home? We could put it in my fish bowl!"? You say NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Saltwater aquariums cost thousands of dollars to buy and maintain for the lifetime of almost any given marine fish. Saltwater spills can, and will, damage the nice carpet or expensive hardwood flooring, not to mention your nice dining chairs and your favorite sofa. Don't forget that the saltwater will eventually end up down your plumbing, corroding the metal pipes. Also, most saltwater fish are not bred in captivity, so buying them puts a drain on the wild population. The only solution to all these problems is simple, but you may not like it: Don't get a saltwater aquarium!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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