| Most children are fascinated with animals and want | | | | certain amount of work to keep their child's fish |
| a dog, a cat, two birds, a horse and some fish. | | | | alive and healthy. True it didn't cost that much but |
| But are fish and aquariums suitable for children. | | | | it is still a living thing and does as such deserve to |
| The answer to this question is to a very high | | | | be threaded with care. Expect that an aquarium |
| degree depending on how old your child is. Children | | | | will require 5 minutes of your time each day for |
| under 12-14 years are not suitable to keep an | | | | daily care and an hour each week for partial |
| aquarium by themselves and will need help from | | | | water changes etc. |
| their parents or some other adult to maintain their | | | | Remember that a small aquarium requires more |
| aquariums. The child can take care of the daily | | | | work than a large one. You should therefore |
| care such as the feeding of the fish. They will | | | | never buy a small goldfish bowl or other small |
| however require help with larger undertakings | | | | aquarium for your child. It might seem easier but |
| such as changing the water in the aquarium and | | | | requires a lot more work and only experienced |
| cleaning the electrical equipment. | | | | aquarists should keep fish in small aquariums. I |
| Small children under 5-7 years of age should not | | | | recommend an aquarium of at least 25-30 gallon |
| be entrusted with the care of any animal including | | | | (around 100 L) as a first aquarium for your child. |
| fish. This is not to say that small animals shouldn't | | | | Anything smaller will give you a lot of extra work |
| have pets but rather to say that the parents | | | | and most likely more dead fish. A little larger |
| understand that the pet is their responsibility and | | | | aquarium also allows you the luxury to choose |
| not the child's. A child in this age group can benefit | | | | between more fish for your aquarium. So what |
| a lot from being allowed to interact with animal, | | | | fish should you choose to your child? |
| se fish swim and feed the fish but is not ready to | | | | Some fish species are more suitable than others |
| care for the animal themselves. As an example | | | | for children. First of, a child should never be |
| can be said that children off this age group only | | | | allowed to keep toxic or otherwise potentially |
| should be allowed to feed the fish when a parent | | | | harmful fish species. Secondly the fish should be |
| is present. It isn't an uncommon event that | | | | hardy enough to be easy to take care of, accept |
| children tries to be kind to the fish by feeding | | | | flake food and other easily storable foods and be |
| them the entire can of fish food causing a | | | | calm enough not to be stressed by the children |
| biological disaster, and if not discovered and | | | | playing near the aquarium, tapping on the glass |
| corrected the death of all the fish in the aquarium | | | | etc. Suitable fish includes many livebearers, barbs |
| within a matter of hours. | | | | and tetras. Always buy fish that are suitable for |
| Small children under 5-7 years should never be | | | | you aquarium and don't just let your child by the |
| allowed to change water in the aquarium or work | | | | fish he think is most beautiful, coolest or |
| with the electric equipment used in the aquarium | | | | otherwise most appealing without considering their |
| due to the risk of injury. | | | | demands. |
| Some parents might think that a fish is a good | | | | And don't forget that you as a parent have to do |
| pet for a child since it require less care than say a | | | | your research so that you know how to take |
| dog and are cheaper. This is only partly true. A | | | | care of an aquarium before letting your child get |
| fish requires good care to remain healthy and the | | | | one. It might be your child that is getting an |
| parents should expect that they will have to do a | | | | aquarium but you are getting the responsibility. |