tank for a child

For a pleco, I suggest either the clowns or the bristlenose, but they are not to be added without a need unless you're willing to feed them veggies regularly. In many tanks, there is not enough algae to support them and they starve.

For rainbows, the praecox are lovely little fish that school nicely. Also, look at some of the larger ones--turquoise are a favorite of mine.

Make sure that she understands she will need to protect her tank from friends. Most kids do not understand tanks, and a playmate could inadvertantly hurt the fish if she isn't supervising them. While this goes for pretty much all tanks, anywhere in the house, it is very important for a tank in the child's room.
 
Originally posted by Dahlia
Does anyone have apple snails with the above fish? Do the fish leave the snails alone or do they try and eat their tentacles?
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Ok, i just realized I didn't answer this question, these guys should be ok with what you listed. The only time I have had problems with snails have been with Africans. If you get one remember to feed them shrimp pellets and alage wafers. But they are a great addition to any tank. :)

As for apistogrammas I would stay away from them for her tank for the time being. I would probably experiment with them in a different tank in the house before putting them in hers. I find them to be a bit touchy..

Other critters you could keep in there that would be fantastic are Amano shrimp.. I find them to be a hardy shrimp and live longer than ghost. I have had a pair for over 3 years now and doing fantastic. Ghost shrimp last about 6 months to a year.

Since you are getting a large tank, the you should be able to go with a pleco, i just find them to be to big for most tanks and just not a big fan of them.


jim
 
did you really mean 120 gallon tank???

i think that may be a little large for a beginner tank...

however if that is the right tank size that you meant then have you considered getting her a couple of oscars??

in 120 you could put 2 or 3 easily and they are the most amazingly owner responsive fish I have ever seen. They seem to spend all their time sittin gat the front of the glass waiting for someone to come buy so they can beg for food.

that might be somethign to look into if you are serious about getting her a tank that big, plus a fish that responds to her might keep her attention better than the smaller not so responsive fish.
 
are you trying to get a tank for you(since a tank that big would be a major undertaking for a small child)?
I hear six foot tall people complaining about cleaning tanks that are over two feet deep, how big is this tank going to be comparatively to this six year old?

by all means get her the biggest tank she can work in but don't exclude her from some of the upkeep because of the size of the tank

take her to the store and see what size she is interested in(while you explain what can be kept in a tank that size of course)

while it would be my dream come true to have a tank that big, I also have vary specific ideas of what I want to do in that amount of space :D
 
Okay responding to all of the above:

I am interested in plecos in their own right... smaller ones than the "common" pleco. I feed the bristlenose I have now plenty of veggies. My daughter loves to watch it suck on the glass and the way it swims so I figured she would be interested in one. I don't keep any animal just as an addition to other animals (for instance I don't keep things just as an "algae eater". I make sure that anything I have is getting it's own diet so it is as healthy as possible. Which includes snails... even the little pest ones. :)

We already have some smaller tanks in the house, and she has been helping me clean the 20 gallon and the betta's tank. She "points the hose" for the 90 into the bucket and finds that a very fun job, and she helps with various other smaller tasks. I understand a 120 will require "help from Mom" and am okay with this, I want it as something we can do together. Also, kids like a large variety of fish so in a larger tank she won't crowd them, and I think she will get more educational experiences out of it (she can actually see schooling and breeding and such). I also think it's harder to make mistakes water-quality wise with a larger tank, which may be helpful for a kid. Really, I'd consider all the tanks in the house "our" tanks, and this will just be the one located in her room. There is also the fact that when she is older, she'll already have a great tank to start off with if she chooses to stay in the hobby, and if not I'll have a great tank to keep. Judging from how much she loves fish and how much she has already learned about them (she DEVOURS knowledge of fish), I'd say that she is a die-hard aquarist already.

I also like that a taller tank is harder for her (and friends) to "play in", she will need to ask assistance until she is old and tall enough to know better and really understand what her fish need. She seems very disciplined in this area, though. She didn't take after her mom in that she doesn't "get into" things if she is told she is not allowed. There is also the fact you can pretty much tell what anyone is doing in our house, as it is not very large.

So amano shrimp and ghost shrimp won't eat the small fish in the tank?

Thanks for the other species info and suggestions, if anyone has any more I am interested.

I think at this age she is more into trying lots of different things and would probably get bored with a species only tank (oscars for example). Also she is soft-hearted and I doubt she'd be into feeding a fish other fish.

Currently one of her favorite things to do is sit in front of the 90 gallon and make up stories about what all the fish in the tank are doing and name them all (the names change frequently). She can do this for 2 hours without seeming bored. She likes to pretend they are going certain places or make up conversations they are having. This is another reason I think a variety would make her happy.
 
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