kids!!!

What- you just say "ha ha honey- look what the little darlin's did now"?

Any toy or other posession that was put into the tank should be forfeited. I would explain that if you loved your toy you wouldn't use it in this manner- so now you can't use it at all.

They know that this is Daddy's special project, and that they damaged it. I'd be finding their most prized posession and imposing one week of denied access.

And I'd probably take all of the damaged goods and think up some chore to make the children do to fix them- whether it works or not isn't the point. The point is to make them sit and dry the books page by page for at least a day.

I know- I'm a hard case.
But this is disrespect for someone elses property and the sooner you make it clear to them the less likely you are to experience further *pranks*. Like borrowing your car without permission in a very few years.

Aquariums are "do not touch without adult supervision" objects.
Period.

(boy am I glad that my nest is now empty)
 
Kids & pets are a tough combination, at least until the kids are old enough to get emotionally invested in the pets' welfare. Until then the Thundering Fury of the Father is your best weapon.

Safety is definitely an issue & I'm with Tando on fastening the hood shut. :) Kids that age can climb up anywhere. Also lock the cabinet or whatever you have for protection of your filters etc. Aside from the havoc caused by "what does this button do?" you could get up one morning & find water all over the floor. :p I used bungee cords to shut cabinets when my boys were little; that worked fine.

What does your set-up look like, mattj?
 
I disagree somewhat. There do need to be safeguards but kids are surprisingly willing to learn. My kids know not to go near the fish tanks without asking first. They are 14, 10, and 7 and they know that they are not even allowed to feed the fish without permission.

Safeguarding against a toddler drowning or toppling the fish tank is a good thing but they should not rule what you put in your tank. If you cannot enjoy your own hobby then what is the point.

Usually involving your kids in feeding the fish and letting them know that anything else will kill their pet will curtail them from putting anything foreign into the tank.
 
Buy a canopy and put a file cabinet lock on it. When I was pricing them for my 90 the prices and stock varied at different petcos in the same area. I ended up getting my All Glass Pine for $100. Compared to the oak and maple next to the pine stuff in stores the pine looks rough but when I got it in my living room it looks nice. You can use a router to cut the slot or do a cheap and dirty poor man's routing that no one will ever know by drilling a few small holes close to each other and reaming them together with a small drill bit.

All Glass Stands and Canopies
 
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I see 3 clear issues--one, the safety of your children. While this prank did not pose a threat to them, there are some fish that could, and children playing in water unsupervised is a problem--drowning, pulling the tank down, electrocution, consumption of hazardous chemicals, burns, etc. Second, the safety of your animals. I've heard many stories from people who's child/ren decided to clean the tank by dropping in some laundry detergent, or wanted to see if another pet could swim (cats, small dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice), or 'fed' the fish by dumping in an entire container of food. The third issue are the lessons the kids can learn from the tank--biology being just one small piece. Environmental conservation, respect for other's property, responsibility for ones actions, etc.

All three are important. Safegaurding the kids and the pets is important. Punishment for violating the rules are important for kids--while I'm not suggesting beatings, some punishment for misbehaving should be expected. I was punished when I gave my long hair calico hair cuts as a child--didn't hurt her at all, but it was a bad thing to do. If the kids are responsible for killing fish, what do they learn if there aren't any consequences?
 
I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old. In my experience children of any age that are familiar with aquariums understand that you don't:

1) throw things of any kind in it
2) climb on/near the stand
3) put hands or other appendages into it
4) lean over or into it
5) tap on it
6) attempt to feed without supervision

Of course, this is a little less clear to my 2 year old who is convinced that the crayfish want to play with his toy (plastic) fish, than it is to my 5 year old.

I also have a 5 year old nephew and 4 year old niece and they don't have aquariums in their homes. They don't understand any of those basic concepts. They yell at the aquariums, tap on the glass, pull chairs up to them and lean in. I firmly tell them no, and I direct their attention to other activities. Because they aren't my kids and it's not my place to tell other people how I think they should discipline their children. If it becomes an ongoing problem I will either address with my sister or have my children play at her house.

When my 2 year old sticks his hand in the water I spank the back of his thigh. That's my perogative as his parent.

When a child I don't know beats on the glass at the State Aquarium, I inform an employee. I don't reprimand the child and I don't tell the parent how to reprimand the child either.
 
Well.... having 3 kids of my own.... I have to say that kids will be kids. When you have kids you have to make some sacrifices. Sometimes it will include small animals. :) Secure the lid for their sake. Punishment wise, that is something only you can determine because only you know your kids. With my oldest, I could have just said don't do that anymore, and she would have cried and things would have been fine. With my middle child, no amount of punishment would be enough. The only way to keep him out, is to include him in taking care of the tank - letting him pour in some water or feed the fish every day. He looks forward to it all day. Just knowing that he will get to "help" at bedtime is enough to keep him in line (aquarium wise) all day long. He still "looks" but he doesn't touch. He's 3 also btw.
 
I was waiting for someone to say that! I have found the best way to gets kids to respect the aquarium is to get them involved and let them help from the start. This way is is not a mystery and since they feel involved they will be less likely to damage something that have an interest in. They will also learn how to interact with the aquarium properly. By saying this Daddy's/Mommy's private project and do not touch you are only increasing their curiousity and likelyhood they will get into trouble. I have had my three year old involved from the beginning. I let her feed the fish (I measure the food into a little cup first), hold assorted things when I am working on the tank, pick out a few fish (appropriate choices) at the LFS, etc.

It has been a great hobby for the both of us.
 
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