It's common for children to beg their parents for a pet. When most people think of pets, they think of dogs or cats and mice or hamsters. They may overlook some the greatest pets to own; fish. Few things are as mesmerizing as watching brightly colored fish swim around their aquariums. Their vivid colors seem to glow under the aquarium lights and they continuously swim and circle around their own little environments.
You can buy accessories for your aquarium that make it look like a tiny underwater paradise. There are beautifully colored rocks and gravel that you can adorn the bottom of the tank with, as well as little statues of mermaids or the ever popular treasure chest that seems filled with gems and pearls. You don't have to stick with one type of fish but instead can enjoy a variety all in one tank. Some people add snails and even frogs to their fish tanks creating a both an entertaining and educational environment. Because fish are always in motion, they are never boring to watch.
You can watch them chase each other around the tank almost as if they were playing a game of underwater tag. Children can watch them as they interact and get a lesson in science that's better than any undersea documentary on television while being much more enjoyable to watch. There is also a lot of ease that comes with caring for fish.
Unlike dogs that have to be walked and constantly entertained, your fish get their own exercise without any help from you. There's no annoying fur that has to be vacuumed from the floor and furniture and you don't have to worry about having the dreaded pet odor permeate your home. They only need to be fed twice a day and if you have to go out of town you can get automatic feeders.
You won't have to go through the trouble and expense of finding a kennel for the dog or someone to come and feed the cat. The important thing to remember is to make sure that the tank is outfitted properly. Fish need oxygen just like mammals do so you should put some plants in the tank that are designed for underwater living. Make sure that you install a light in the tank so that the plants can flourish.
You will also need to have a thermometer to make sure that the temperature remains at a healthy level and a filter to keep the water free of toxins. It's also important to clean the tank on a regular basis. When filling your fish tank you should use distilled water. Don't dismay if your fish becomes ill.
Talk to your vet about it but usually just raising the temperature of the water that it's in will help the fish to become healthy again.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as pet supplies at http://www.petmedicationandsupplies.com