Does your child want a pet? If you don’t have room for a puppy or a cat, and he’s allergic to birds, then you may want to think about getting him a fish.
But fish breeds all have their own characteristics. Some require a great deal of care, or large aquarium space. Obviously, you want to pick a sturdy breed to be your child’s first pet. What should you get? Surprisingly, goldfish aren’t your best bet. Here are some that you might want to consider.
Fresh water vs. saltwater fish
Your child may beg you to get you ‘Nemo’ but saltwater fish are a little high maintenance (not to mention more expensive). Start with fresh water fish, ideally those that are live-bearing. They may not be as colorful as the ocean breeds, which are known for their intense and iridescent color, but it’s best to stick to a hardy breed. It can be heart breaking for a child to run to his aquarium, and find, well… you know. It’s not like you can say that his fish has gone off to live in a farm.
<h5.Pick a platy
The platy is easy to take care of, and most of all, they won’t hide in the corals. Your child will want to see his pet, and the platy will oblige. It is a very active fish that will love to dart around in the aquarium. It is also a social fish, so you should get more than one. Its diet consists of fish flakes.
Start with a sword tail
This sword tail fish is an amazing swimmer. It will do little water acrobatics, racing around the talk—your child will be very entertained! And the sword tail variety comes in a lively array of colors. Mix and match several in one aquarium – and their colors will brighten up the room!
Go with the guppy
The guppy is an excellent starter fish. It also has a very playful and social temperament. It is also has a very strong constitution. While it’s very important to teach your child to take of his fish (and give him the responsibility of making sure the aquarium is kept clean, and the water is changed regularly) we all know that sometimes the child ‘forgets.’ But the guppy is a real trooper: it can do well in a number of tank conditions. In fact, it can probably survive in brackish water, but no responsible fish owner would allow it to reach that point.
Which brings us to this important reminder: when you and your family choose a pet, you assume responsibility for another living thing! Don’t just say, ‘it’s just a fish.’ Your child has to understand what he needs to do, and be old enough and willing enough to take charge of things like feeding and cleaning. (At least, with fish, he doesn’t have to worry about grooming!) Responsibility is just one of the values kids will learn from pets.
Photo from fishlinkworldwide.com
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