Fish for kids

[Lankyrob]

My daughter will be seven next month and wants a fish tank for her bedroom.

We will need to get something that either needs no filter or that can have the filter off overnight whilst she sleeps.

Obviously not looking for anything too fancy/Expensive but any suggestions or recommendations are readily welcomed.

Thank you all in advance.

[Starbuck]

get an axolotl! ;) they are super easy, need NO heat whatsoever, and a very VERY small lo-flo filter for minimal water flow. You can keep one adult in a 10gal, though i keep mine in a 20. I don't keep any fish with mine, and they will eat smaller deorative fish (guppies etc).
I feed mine once every 5 days or so, frozen bloodworms, sinking newt pellets, frozen beef heart etc

[rmfsnakes32]

What about a betta fish? They require no heat it filter

[smy_749]

What about a betta fish? They require no heat it filter


Mollys are pretty hardy, give birth to live young, and will eat at the algae in your tank. Downside - you may have lots of mollys eventually and they have long stringy feces that doesnt pinch off so they swim around with it like a tail

Angel fish- beautiful get somewhat large and aggressive if you didn't raise them up with the cage mates (mine ate one of my danios tails, was gory)

Cory cats - swim along the bottom sifting sand, fun to watch and harmless.

Danios or neon tetras - fun to watch, swim in schools, and the neons have cool colors.

all of those are under 5$ here, mollys, danios and tetras are frequently 5 for 5 $

Oh and my favorites, german blue ram cichlids (not aggressive, pretty colors, and cute faces).

[EmilyS]

My daughter will be seven next month and wants a fish tank for her bedroom.

We will need to get something that either needs no filter or that can have the filter off overnight whilst she sleeps.

Obviously not looking for anything too fancy/Expensive but any suggestions or recommendations are readily welcomed.

Thank you all in advance.

Why can't the filter be on overnight?

If you don't like the noise, you could use a Whisper filter. I have one on my 10 gallon that's right next to my head while I sleep and I honestly don't hear a thing. :)

What about a betta fish? They require no heat it filter

That's not actually true. Bettas come from rice patties in Thailand, where temperatures are in the upper 80s, and IMO, are the one fish I absolutely can't imagine without a heater.

[smy_749]

Wow I'm sorry, came back and didn't realize the thing you said about the filter.

[smy_749]

Disregard this :S :D

[stephanbakir]

Zebra danios are frequently sold as fish to get the bacteria cycle going in new tanks. They are bombproof.

I had a colony of short fin betas that were pretty cool, hard to find tho. One of he few beta species that can be cohabbed

[Aaron_S]

You'd want a filter on pretty much all the time or you'll be doing extra water changes.

I think fish might not be in the cards if the proper parameters weren't met.

[Lankyrob]

I know what shes like and any noise will keep her awake, if there arent fish that can either live with a filter on just during the day or no filter then she wont get her fishtank

[BradleyReptiles]

this thread is probably over but go for a betta or you could go with SW all you need is live rock and a skimmer for filters and you have happy fish, much more expensive then FW but alot more fun a Amphiprion ocellaris or Amphiprion percula as most other clown fish get too large, i own a 24g with a ocellaris and a yellow tail damsel (suprised theres no fighting) but no longer gonna have the tank soon sw is loads of fun with corals etc

[alessia55]

I had a happy healthy betta fish that lived to be a little over 5yrs old in a tank with no filter. I did regular water changes and fed it brine shrimp.

[Lankyrob]

get an axolotl! ;) they are super easy, need NO heat whatsoever, and a very VERY small lo-flo filter for minimal water flow. You can keep one adult in a 10gal, though i keep mine in a 20. I don't keep any fish with mine, and they will eat smaller deorative fish (guppies etc).
I feed mine once every 5 days or so, frozen bloodworms, sinking newt pellets, frozen beef heart etc

We/she likes the idea of an axolotl, various care sheets online state that filters can be detrimental as the waterflow can stress the animal and water changes are better for maintaining the environment than having a filter running constantly.

Can anyone who keeps them explain/show their set ups and comment on the above?

Cheers

[smy_749]

We/she likes the idea of an axolotl, various care sheets online state that filters can be detrimental as the waterflow can stress the animal and water changes are better for maintaining the environment than having a filter running constantly.

Can anyone who keeps them explain/show their set ups and comment on the above?

Cheers

Another bonus is that you don't need a water heater, I'm pretty sure they like it pretty cold (low to mid 60's I think) ...Although in the summer months if it gets too hot you may have the opposite issue on your hands :P

[Lankyrob]

Another bonus is that you don't need a water heater, I'm pretty sure they like it pretty cold (low to mid 60's I think) ...Although in the summer months if it gets too hot you may have the opposite issue on your hands :P

Living in the UK getting too hot shouldnt be an issue ;)

One question that seems to be different on every caresheet is the size of tank needed? Opinions?

[Starbuck]

I've read in lots of places that you can keep an adult axolotl in a 10 gal tank, but mine isnt even full grown yet and seems way too big for that :/
I have him in a 20 gal, which will be his forever home. I do partial (about 3 gallons) changes once/week, and 50% changes once/month; adding as evaporation causes it to get lower.
I do have a SUPER small filter designed for a 5 gallon tank in mine.
I can post some pictures later when i get home.

[asgrande]

The only "fish" you could really do would be a betta because of them being air breathers. The big think with a filter isn't always the cleaning of the water its actually the gas exchange that's what makes it important for most fish to have a filter. It does also have the bacteria needed in it but that's also in the tank. And there are also submersible filters that she wouldn't ever hear.

[Lankyrob]

I've read in lots of places that you can keep an adult axolotl in a 10 gal tank, but mine isnt even full grown yet and seems way too big for that :/
I have him in a 20 gal, which will be his forever home. I do partial (about 3 gallons) changes once/week, and 50% changes once/month; adding as evaporation causes it to get lower.
I do have a SUPER small filter designed for a 5 gallon tank in mine.
I can post some pictures later when i get home.

Iam no good with gallon measurements, could you give me the size in inches?

Thank you

[Hurrok]

A standard 10 gallon is usually 20" x 11" x 12".

A standard 20 gallon is usually 30" x 12" x 12" (long) or 24" x 12" x 16" (high) :)

[Pareeeee]

We've always kept bettas without a heater, but maybe our place is warmer than yours, but heaters are silent, why not get one?

A tank of female bettas would work, they can be put together unlike the males.

[Lankyrob]

We've always kept bettas without a heater, but maybe our place is warmer than yours, but heaters are silent, why not get one?

A tank of female bettas would work, they can be put together unlike the males.

Ts the filter we are concerned about with regard to the noise.

[Donnie]

Does it have to go in her bedroom? Maybe just put it somewhere else and still let her take full responsibility for them and you will open up the type of fish options so much more?

[Lankyrob]

Un fortunately there is very little space elsewhere for anything, the comromise for her having something is that it goes in her room :)

[Lankyrob]

Went to look at real life axolotl's today and she doesnt like them, she did however like the Fire Bellied Newts so we are researching them now.

[Pareeeee]

Firebelly Newts are cool, as well as firebelly toads. Used to have the former, so long ago I can't remember their specific requirements though.

[Lankyrob]

Firebelly Newts are cool, as well as firebelly toads. Used to have the former, so long ago I can't remember their specific requirements though.

We chatted to the guy working at the aquatic centre and he gave lots of good advice, him and his girlfriend breed them and his advice checks out with the caresheets i have found online.

We are giving her a week "cooling off" period to make sure she is still set on them and then we will sort out a tank and get things set up.

[Brently]

I have a betta setup, about 3 gallons and the in tank filter is completely quiet. got the setup at walmart for cheap. its a nice little setup would be great for a kid.

[Lankyrob]

Well, it proves that its good not to jump into animal keeping, after giving her a good idea of the commitment involved we left her fir a few days to consider and she has decided that she doesnt want an animal yet "maybe next birthday" were her exact words.

Thank you all for the advice and information given :)

[smy_749]

Well, it proves that its good not to jump into animal keeping, after giving her a good idea of the commitment involved we left her fir a few days to consider and she has decided that she doesnt want an animal yet "maybe next birthday" were her exact words.

Thank you all for the advice and information given :)

Wow, that is a very adult decision for your daughter to make on her own haha, you should get her something cool now llol