Fish for kids

Lankyrob · 04-13-13, 08:31 AM

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 · 04-13-13, 08:40 AM

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 · 04-13-13, 09:00 AM

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

smy_749 · 04-13-13, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfsnakes32

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 · 04-13-13, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfsnakes32

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 · 04-13-13, 10:59 AM

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

smy_749 · 04-13-13, 11:00 AM

Disregard this :S

stephanbakir · 04-13-13, 11:01 AM

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** · 04-13-13, 11:10 AM

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 · 04-13-13, 01:20 PM

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 · 04-16-13, 05:20 PM

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 · 04-16-13, 07:47 PM

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 · 04-17-13, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 · 04-17-13, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

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 · 04-17-13, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

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?