Buying a Pet Fish

[sooz07]

I want to buy a fish as a pet but I don't know where to start! I have never had a pet before. What kind of fish do I buy? What kind of tank to I get? How do I look after, feed and clean it? Any replies would be great, thanks.

[FelixtheDog]

sooz07, get off your ars e, turn off your computer and walk to your nearest pet shop. All the answers are there

[tinkerbell99]

start off with a gold fish u need plants (plastic or real) and the flake food is better than the round food u need to get a heater and filter i find they live longer with a heater i set mine on 24 degrees and there thriving get an under gravel filter 2 as the water tends to go yellow and i clean mine out once a month and i clean everything

[hammerman]

Ok....if you're going to do it properly, be prepared to read up a little on what fish you choose and spend the right amount of money on the environment it's going to live in.

If you want a goldfish, you don't need a heater as mentioned above...goldfish are colwater fish and will live quite happily at room temperature or outside in a pond which has ice on it !!!

Get a tank....about 24" is ideal, some gravel...about 2" deep would be good and a filter, a small internal filter will be fine.

A light is not needed but will be useful if the tank is in a dark place or will be growing live plants.

In this set up, 2 4" goldfish will be ok allowing for growth. Feed them once a day...goldish are very greedy so don't be tempted to put more food in. Use flake or pond sticks.

Add some rocks or other ornaments....you could even put an air pump in for some bubbles.

Whatever you do, expect to spend �50-�100 on your set up...go for the biggest you can get and you'll be fine.

If you want tropical fish, you'll need to add a heater and thermostat...plus a thermometer.

Good luck

[showcatbenga]

A 60 liter tank is an excellent starter size & most fish shops will do a coldwater kit - suitable for goldfish including a tank with a lighted hood & an internal filter plus a starter size of water conditioners & food. This will cost around �70 - 80. You will also need to add sand or gravel for the bottom & some plastic or real plants & maybe a decoration. You will need a length of pipe & or a gravel cleaner to syphon out the dirty water from the bottom, small bottle brush to help clean the filter, replacement filter media, a net to catch your fish when necessary. You will need to set up the tank ahead of time because you need to get the filter started. All explained in the tank instructions.
Then you get to choose your fish. Have a look on the net at all the different varieties of fancy goldfish available. A regular pond fish will be cheap but it will soon outgrow your tank. Fancy fish are slower growers & will live for about 10 - 14 years.
If you want tropical fish your set up will cost a little more because a water heater will be included. You will be able to have more smaller fish in a tropical set up than goldfish in the same size tank. Beginner tropical fish for 60 litres are;
6 x Corydorus,- eat up any food scraps from the others & sit on the bottom.
1 boy + 3 girl mollies, silver, black & orange livebearers - have live baby fish instead of laying eggs.
1 boy + 3 girl platies, yellow, red, orange & black livebearers.
1 albino Ancistrus bristle nose catfish to eat all the algae from the tank & must have a piece of bogwood to live on.
The total set up will probably cost around �100 - 120.

[hammerman]

Blimey...there's an echo in here !!!