Instructions
Talk to your children about the importance of caring for another living being. Children, especially very young children, have a difficult time with responsibility for others. It's a good idea to limit pet care duties to children who are over the age of six. Explain each detail of caring for a fish, especially the dirtier details, like cleaning a dirty tank or aquarium.
Visit a reputable pet store to look at the different breeds of fish and the care that each requires. Some fish are very fragile by nature. If someone does something wrong for that kind of fish, it will likely die. As you are learning about each breed of fish, begin to decide what kind of fish you and your children can easily care for.
Teach your children what kind of equipment fish need to live and thrive. Look at the various tanks and aquariums available, along with related supplies, such as the water pump and filter, plants, net, chlorine neutralizer and other supplies. Decide what you can afford to spend and how many fish you want to care for.
Show your children how to care for their new fish. After the first few demonstrations, let them do some of the work as you supervise. You will need to supervise everything, including feeding the fish. Explain to your children that it is very easy to overfeed your fish, and that it is just as bad to overfeed as it is to underfeed.
Clean the fish tank or aquarium as your children watch. Give them simpler tasks, such as cleaning the hose or rocks, adding chlorine neutralizer to the water or placing the rocks and plants back in the tank. As your children become familiar with the cleaning technique, let them do more of the cleaning while you stand by and supervise.
Fish, especially guppies, can get sick just like any other pet. If you or your children notice signs of illness in your fish, call the pet store or the vet. Your vet can diagnose and treat illnesses in fish. Follow the vet's instructions and make sure your children do the same. It may be necessary to isolate the sick fish from the healthy fish.
How to Care for Fresh Water Fish
Having a fish tank or aquarium in your home is a good way to introduce your children to caring for pets. Fresh water fish, such as goldfish, are relatively low-maintenance pets. Because fish are such a low-maintenance pet, they are the ideal first pets. Read on to learn more.