| Goldfish in a home aquarium can be great pets for | | | | Encourage your child to help choose the plants and |
| kids, particularly for those who have not had the | | | | decorations for the tank. This will reinforce the |
| opportunity to care for a living creature before. Why | | | | ownership and responsibility attached to maintaining |
| are goldfish such good first pets? First, fish (in | | | | their fish and the aquarium environment. It is |
| general) help children learn responsibility for caring for | | | | enjoyable to plan and to choose the scenery for |
| other creatures but don't impose the pressure on | | | | your new aquatic neighbors, so don't rush too quickly |
| parents of high maintenance or high cost. Also, fish | | | | to just get some plants and gravel quickly. Enjoy this |
| tend to be quiet, clean and odor-free. Puppies and | | | | time with your child. They will likely be eager to buy |
| kittens (for example) are lots of fun, but require | | | | fish on this visit to the store, so prepare them ahead |
| much more specialized and individual attention. Until | | | | of time that the first shopping trip is to make a |
| you know how your child will react to owning a pet, | | | | home for the fish, and that then the fish get to |
| fish are a wonderful and affordable first start. | | | | come home later when their tank is ready. |
| Goldfish are colorful and easy to care for, and take a | | | | Once you are ready to purchase your new goldfish, |
| minimum of work to maintain once your tank is set | | | | look carefully to choose goldfish that are healthy and |
| up correctly. A bonus is that they don't require a | | | | vibrant looking. Avoid fish that are swimming |
| heater in their environment either, as goldfish are a | | | | irregularly, have tattered fins, or who have clouded |
| cold water species. Be sure though not to buy a tank | | | | eyes. Once you get the fish home, carefully show |
| that is too small for your goldfish. Goldfish can grow | | | | your child how to add the new fish to the tank. |
| up to twelve inches in length. It is easy to make the | | | | Teach your kids how much food to feed and how |
| mistake of buying a small bowl and then adding too | | | | often the fish need to eat. Kids will always tend to |
| many goldfish. This will only lead to disappointment | | | | overfeed, so it is important to monitor how much |
| for your child as they will sicken and die with great | | | | food is actually being dispensed, especially at first. |
| frequency. Be sure to ask the consultants at the pet | | | | Once your children consistently follow the proper |
| store what size tank will work best for the number | | | | feeding pattern, you can then step back a bit and let |
| of goldfish you wish to care for at one time. | | | | them thrive in their new responsibility. It is important, |
| Your first trip to the pet store should be to purchase | | | | though, to regularly provide guidance for other tank |
| the tank, and any additional supplies to get your tank | | | | maintenance chores, such as cleaning and water |
| set up. It is best to set the tank up at least a few | | | | levels. Keeping an aquarium is a task the whole family |
| days ahead of time, so that you have properly | | | | can enjoy! |
| conditioned the water and readied the environment. | | | | |