fish for pets

Question
My three children would EACH like to have their own pet fish.  We would like to have a SMALL tank & allow them to pick one fish each that would live well together in one tank.  (Freshwater w/filter)  What size would you suggest, smallest possible, and any suggestions on the 3 fish?  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Donna,
  I think you need to rethink this.  There is no point in embarking on a course of action that is doomed to failure.   

  If your kids want fish then either embrace the idea and do it right, or don't do it, but coming at it with the attitude of "I want to minimize this" is almost assuredly going to result in 3 dead fish and 3 disappointed kids.  It is also a disaster in the making to assign particular fish to each child.  Fish don't work that way. Many fish have relatively short lives, particularly in the hands of new fish keepers, so what happens when Jimmy's fish dies?  Worse yet, what happens if Jimmy's fish kills Teresa's fish?   (I am making up the kids' names -- I don't know your kids).

 If you want a successful fish tank, start with a tank at least 20 gallons in size. The cost of setting up a 20 gallon tank is only slightly higher than the cost of a smaller tank, yet has MUCH higher chance of success.  Personally, I would go with what is known as a 20 gallon "long" (the "long" designation refers to the dimensions of the tank, i.e., it is longer rather than higher.  For some reason, people seem to prefer higher tanks; most fish MUCH prefer longer tanks -- it gives them a lot more workable space).

 You will need the tank, an air pump, a filter, heater, and gravel.  I strongly encourage you to buy some plastic plants to put in the tank to break up the space. This greatly increases your odds of success.  One plant won't do it. Get at least 5.  And don't make the mistake that so many do of saying "I'll just try it without the heater", this will result in dead fish and a very bad experience.  

 As for the fish, there are thousands of freshwater fish to choose from.  Which you choose depends tremendously on the size of the tank as well as which others you choose, and requires some research and discipline.  For instance, putting a goldfish in with tropical fish is a recipe for disaster.  Similarly, putting a highly territorial African cichlid in with a guppy will quickly result in the disappearance of the guppy.  Probably the easiest fish to start out with would be mollies or platies, so you might strongly consider those.  

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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