Wednesday 9 July 2008

Keeping An Aquarium Fish Tank Is A Great Hobby For Children

Aquariums come in all shapes and sizes. Setting up an aquarium or fishtank is a great hobby for young and old alike. A great way to get your kids involved in keeping fish is to take them to the local aquarium. They will see a variety of fish and aquatic life and will learn about their habitats. Seeing the fish close up will inspire them to want to keep their own fish. Keeping an aquarium will not only teach your child responsibility for another living creature(s) but many other things that will help them with their school work. They will have to understand water quality and how to maintain the water so that it is habitable for the fish. This will help them in science and chemistry at school. They will be a witness to the life cycle of many fish species and this will help them with biology. They will also get great pleasure out of watching the personalities of the fish come out. Some will be aggressive, some will hide behind plants and there will be much pleasure in watching their own little world take shape.

Children who would like to keep some aquarium fish in their bedrooms will be successful if they study fish before they set up a fish tank. There are many books in libraries or book shops that cater for children. They explain the basics and help them to start their first tank. Probably the first bit of advise they will need is to start small and build the aquarium up as they become more experienced. Choose aquarium fish that are hardy and adaptable to water conditions. Good fish for new aquarium owners include include goldfish, danios and angelfish. These fish survive well, but they must be cared for properly. The care of these fish is usually a great learning experience for young children.

Most people start with tropical fish tanks because they are easier to look after. You can get all types of fish in a tropical fish tank but the cichlid varieties seem to be the most popular. Cichlid fish are found in tropical regions in parts of South America, Asia and Africa. They are popular because they are quite active fish and have elaborate courtship and behavior routines. Some cichlids, like the discus fish, have beautiful coloring and are fascinating to watch. Watching fish can be quite therapeutic and stress relieving.

Many cichlids are also pretty hardy fish that will survive in varying water conditions. However if you get a new fish then it is important to know all about it. You should know what type of water quality is best for it, what type of habitat it likes, what it eats and whether it will be compatible with the fish that you currently have.
Breeding Discus Fish