Tank for a 3 year old

abcdefghi

abcdefghi

AC Members
Jun 6, 2007
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My 3 year old is always wanting to help out with my 55G tank, he wants to help use the gravel vac, feed the fish, watch them etc. I have a spare 10G tank that I am not using, sometime in the future I want to set this up in his room.

What type of fish would work in a tank for someone of this age? he will probably be closer to 4 by the time I decide to set it up. It needs to be a fish that is not bothered by sudden movement/noises, but is also colorful and grows to a reasonable size (for a 10G) and finally easy to maintain.

I am thinking of just a single betta, but having never owned one I am not sure how they would do in a childs room. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
A betta might work. You could also try guppies (all male unless you want to deal with fry). Platies may be an option as well.
 
Bettas if they can live through shelf life they can live through that!
 
A betta would be great. Mine loves attention and to be in the middle of the activity. (or so it seems) They are very personable, good sized and pretty too!
 
Snails :P Really, Apple snails are(next to my betta) the most interesting aquarium inhabitants I have.
 
be careful with the little one. Make sure that he knows not to put crap in the tank and that fish dont like big pieces of human food...lol, just looking out for the fish. I mean hell, my friends betta was in a 1 gallon bowl and ppl put beer in it andhsit freshman year. WHAT A GROSS BOWL, i saw it and made him cloean it. mind you it hadnt been cleaned in forever and the fish was not moving at all. We put him in new water and he perked right up. He died a bit after i think though :(
 
Perhaps keeping the tank out of reach but still within sight until the child understands is a good idea???
 
i would say a betta

but my dad who just came to see says that you should get the little one

4 neon tetra, 2 blood eye tetra, and some long fin danio and if you can get it a fire belly newt
 
Snails :P Really, Apple snails are(next to my betta) the most interesting aquarium inhabitants I have.
Click to expand...

I am not just saying this because I am the invert junkie, but of allllll my tanks, the snails are my children's favorites (they are 4 and 5). In a 10g you could get an apple snail or two and a betta (if its a nice gentle one, lol). Put in some easy low light plants and some fun decorations. Make sure the tank has a nice tight-fitting lid and DO NOT keep the food in the bedroom. Make teh feeding of the tank something that you two do together, and its fun and safe for the fish. My children take great joy in helping me with maintenance on my snail tank, and have each named on of their own that they "take care of". It would be a low impact tank with a critter that is easy to see, name, and identify for the child. I personally would leave the betta out. You could also look into something like adf's or skip the snails and get an ACF. Lots of children like the clawed frogs and they are fun to hand feed. They also get nice and large but do not do well with other tankmates (like small fish) as they will eat them.
 
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