Child’s first fish(es)
Discussion
So CFK2 is getting to that point where she would like/needs something more than dollies and teddy bears to love, cherish and care for. And yes, straight away, I know who’ll be doing most of the caring 
but anyway.....
We’ve suggested a few goldfish and she’s all over it. But then she is only four so hardly a surprise.
We’ve talked it over and done the whole “They’re not toys” bit which she hoisted on board pretty well, even replying “No daddy, we have to look after them and make sure they’re ok”....which was encouraging.
On to the hardware..... After a bit of Googling and trawling Amazon, Fluval seems to be pretty popular and offer a 35L bow-fronted glass tank which fits the bill size, feature and budget wise at around a Foot square and £80 including LED lighting and a three-stage filter (Appreciate there are a few more costs involved). Granted this is a fair chunk of money for what might turn out to be a five minute thing before Paw Patrol is on again but it’ll sit in a family room so we’d also like it to be aesthetically acceptable and not some gaudy toy.
We’re not talking anything fancy with the fish either, two or three common goldfish, comets or similar (which will be named Marshmallow, Lemon (bit cruel for a fish I thought) and Grace apparently.....your guess is as good as mine. She’s four, remember?)
I’ve kept fish in the past and am secretly a bit keen regardless, or should I just get a £9.99 round plastic bowl, a little figure of a diver and spend an evening chancing my luck at the local fair on Hook-a-duck?
Over to you.....
but anyway.....We’ve suggested a few goldfish and she’s all over it. But then she is only four so hardly a surprise.
We’ve talked it over and done the whole “They’re not toys” bit which she hoisted on board pretty well, even replying “No daddy, we have to look after them and make sure they’re ok”....which was encouraging.
On to the hardware..... After a bit of Googling and trawling Amazon, Fluval seems to be pretty popular and offer a 35L bow-fronted glass tank which fits the bill size, feature and budget wise at around a Foot square and £80 including LED lighting and a three-stage filter (Appreciate there are a few more costs involved). Granted this is a fair chunk of money for what might turn out to be a five minute thing before Paw Patrol is on again but it’ll sit in a family room so we’d also like it to be aesthetically acceptable and not some gaudy toy.
We’re not talking anything fancy with the fish either, two or three common goldfish, comets or similar (which will be named Marshmallow, Lemon (bit cruel for a fish I thought) and Grace apparently.....your guess is as good as mine. She’s four, remember?)
I’ve kept fish in the past and am secretly a bit keen regardless, or should I just get a £9.99 round plastic bowl, a little figure of a diver and spend an evening chancing my luck at the local fair on Hook-a-duck?
Over to you.....
budgie smuggler said:
Don't get gold fish, the tanks far too small for that.
Male guppies, male platties, male mollies.
Easy to keep, stay small, come in many colours, cheap.
Cycle the tank before putting the fish in.
^^^This. Male guppies, male platties, male mollies.
Easy to keep, stay small, come in many colours, cheap.
Cycle the tank before putting the fish in.
Small tropicals or have a look at something like white cloud mountain minnows if you don't want to have a heated tank.
Whist very pretty, male guppies spend their lives eating or mating which might be interesting to explain to a 4 year old what they're up to....
Goldfish produce a LARGE amount of poop & really aren't suited to fish tanks.
Bit of reading for you: https://aquariumtidings.com/comet-goldfish-the-car...
Edited by paintman on Sunday 7th July 21:55
Crossflow Kid said:
Crikey.
Every day’s a school day.
The minimum recommended size tank for common goldfish/comets genuinely surprised me and goes against the common perception of them being “beginners’ fish”
I think they have that reputation because they're absolutely nails regarding tolerance to ammonia/nitrite compared to most fish, and also for some reason people think tropicals are hard to keep. WHen in reality, the only real difference (for the three species I mentioned anyway) is that the tank needs to be a bit warmer. Every day’s a school day.
The minimum recommended size tank for common goldfish/comets genuinely surprised me and goes against the common perception of them being “beginners’ fish”
Seen the same in a small fishing lake with a very high population of roach.
Most were far smaller than they should have been for their ages - determined by scale readings.
The advice from the fisheries scientist who was consulted by the club & the fishery owner was to net the lake & remove a lot of them & to stock perch as a natural predator to reduce subsequent breedings.
Most were far smaller than they should have been for their ages - determined by scale readings.
The advice from the fisheries scientist who was consulted by the club & the fishery owner was to net the lake & remove a lot of them & to stock perch as a natural predator to reduce subsequent breedings.
Also got a blue one.....
The first 24hrs have been interesting. At first they were quite active, but have become positively reclusive to the point I thought they’d actually jumped out.
Water has also gone from crystal clear to having a very feint milkiness about it but I’m assuming that’ll clear in due course and is just the result of introducing live fish.
Also got a couple of tiny snails to help with the housework.
The first 24hrs have been interesting. At first they were quite active, but have become positively reclusive to the point I thought they’d actually jumped out.
Water has also gone from crystal clear to having a very feint milkiness about it but I’m assuming that’ll clear in due course and is just the result of introducing live fish.
Also got a couple of tiny snails to help with the housework.
Five days, with some tap-safe additive and the filter running.
If you looked at it, you wouldn’t think “Geez, that’s cloudy”, but I’ve noticed it as I’ve seen it when it was completely clear.
We’re thinking of adding a couple more fish too as I wonder if they’re hiding lots due to there only being three of them and thus too much open water for them to feel safe.
If you looked at it, you wouldn’t think “Geez, that’s cloudy”, but I’ve noticed it as I’ve seen it when it was completely clear.
We’re thinking of adding a couple more fish too as I wonder if they’re hiding lots due to there only being three of them and thus too much open water for them to feel safe.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 14th July 10:14
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