Fish for Kids: Starting Out

Fish are a great pet for children of all ages, and as they are relatively low maintenance too, they are perfect for busy parents.

Before you decide on the fish, it’s a good idea to get an idea of the kit you’ll need. Swell UK have a wide range of aquariums available, often with lots of extras which reduces costs for you. If you are planning on just a few fish then you don’t need a huge aquarium. A 20 or 30 litre aquarium is ideal.

A few goldfish are great, but you don’t have to stick to the basic cold water tank. A tropical tank can be kept easily too and the fish are exotic and colourful.

Some ideas of kid friendly fish:

  • Goldfish – available in many beautiful varieties
  • Neon Tetras
  • Betta or Siamese fighting fish (just one as they will fight!)

To keep the tank clean and lower the amount of maintenance required, then a filter is essential. Many tanks come with one in the set. Choose one that can handle the size of your tank easily. A filter suitable for up to 40 litres is great for tanks of 20 or 30 litres. You can add a pump too, which will increase the amount of oxygen in the water. This is great for healthy plants and essential if you have air activated ornaments. Again many aquariums come complete with a pump, or you can buy separately.

Most tanks will have a light fitted, usually into the hood. In cold water tanks, this is to give the fish some natural light, and allow you to view them. Don’t leave it on all day, too much light will promote algae growth. If you have a tropical tank, there are lamps available that enhance the colours of your fish and promote beautiful plant growth if you have them.

Aquarium

You can have fun with your children choosing substrate and décor. There are many types of gravel, sand and pebbles in all colours to make the tank as neutral or bright as you (they!) would like. Artificial plants are the easiest option, as they need almost no maintenance, just a wash in old aquarium water if grubby.

There are many types of ornaments too, from the more traditional anchor to cartoon characters. They are relatively cheap, so as your children grow they can be changed to suit.

It’s important to get the water ready before you add fish. Add the water and allow it to sit from 3 days to a week with the filter running, before adding the fish. If you want to be more cautious, you can ‘cycle’ the water, which is a more complicated process. This involves adding ammonia to encourage the beneficial bacteria that removes it to grow. Speak to a fish specialist for more information. Test the water with a test kit to check the pH and ammonia levels and avoid problems.

At this point, you’re probably thinking that this is a lot of work, but it will be worth it once the fish are in situ! Leave them in their bag from the shop, and let that sit in the water to acclimatise the fish for a while.

Then set them free to enjoy their new home!

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