Tips on Fish As Pets for Children

When a child can't have a mammal as a pet, because of space, allergies or rental agreements, fish are an option. The drawbacks are that most fish are not actually easy pets, many need specific conditions and a considerable amount of care, and fish do not relate particularly well to people. A child whose heart was set on a puppy is probably not going to be happy with a fish and is liable to neglect it. On the other hand, some children find owning a fish to be a rewarding experience. If you decide to have a fish as a pet, take the maturity of the child into account and the time you can spare as well as your budget.

  1. Choosing a Fish

    • Decide on the species first. Betta are among the hardiest of fish. Guppies and mollies are also relatively easy to care for, stay small and may breed, which is exciting for a child. However, they need a heated tank, which adds to running costs. Goldfish are cold-water fish but they get big, so unless you have a very large tank or a pond, they are probably out of the question. Some cold-water fish such as minnows do stay small and would make a good alternative. When buying the fish, let your child pick the one he wants. Children prefer pets they have chosen themselves.

    Equipment

    • No species of fish should be kept in a bowl. Some might survive for a few months, but fish are liable to become highly stressed and die quickly in a bowl, which is sad and disappointing to their owner. You need a minimum of a 10-gallon tank for a betta fish and most fish need a 20-gallon tank or larger. Other start-up costs include lighting and heating equipment, a gravel cleaner, aquatic plants, aquarium gravel, aquarium rocks and fish food. The fish itself might cost a couple of dollars, but the costs for everything else you need could add up quickly.

    Care

    • Teach your child how to care for his fish. This includes how to clean the tank and how much to feed the fish. Children are liable to overfeed their fish out of kindness, which causes all kinds of problems including algal blooms and diseases. You may need to do some research. You also need to be prepared to take on the care if your child loses interest.

    Alternatives

    • If you simply want an easy "starter" pet for your child, there are alternatives that may be more appropriate than fish. Pet bugs, such as stick insects or crickets, are the easiest pets available. Raising tadpoles from frogspawn you found outside, watching them turn into froglets and releasing them might be more interesting to a child than owning a fish. Tadpoles are also hardy water creatures and the project will only last a few months -- ideal for a child who loses interest quickly. Robot pets, such as robot hamsters, are a fun alternative to a real animal, and you never have to worry about their being neglected or having to pay unexpected vet bills.