Pet goldfish for dd, advicve needed please?

[marne]

I want to get my dd some pet fish as she loves waching them. Would like a good sized tank but they cost alot, has anybody bought a second hand one? Ive seen a few at carboot sales and they always look dirty, are they easy to clean?
Also what fish are easiest to look after? think i would preefer cold water fish.
Any advice please!

[Newbarnsleygirl]

We got rid of ours a few months ago with the fish and everything.

Cold water fish (goldfish) are easier to look after compared to having tropical or marine fish because you have to be really careful with temperatures and which fish will be compatable with others.
Places like pets at home do set up tanks including filters, gravel, little hidey homes and food but depending on what size tank your after they can be exspensive.
Have a look in your local paper for second hand ones.

You can buy a little rectangular magnet for the tank. One side goes on to the inside and one on the outside, this one has a little handle and it basically wipes off all the algae from the sides of the tank. Very quick and easy.

Deffo get a filter, that would be my top tip. Don't buy your fish from pets at home they are always riddled with disease or they die after the first few days. Buy them from a garden centre or a local, small and reputable pet shop.
Don't over crowd the tank with fish other wise they will fight and kill one another and if you can buy all your fish at once. They'll have a bigger chance of surviving if they are all introduced at once rather than putting one in at a later date on it's own.

If you can get a catfish as they like to eat algae and they'll keep your tank a bit cleaner.

I wouldn't reccomend buying wood for the tank either because they mucky the water up to quickly.
Clean your tank once every 2/3 months and get some treatments for the water. The pet shop will recommend some to you.

Phew....
If I remember anything else I'll come back.
Hope that helps.

[marne]

thankyou very much, looked in a pet shop and i think i will get a tank 2nd hand (alot cheeper). Thanks for your advice, i will look on ebay for a filter. Cant wait to get started, dd loved looking at the fish in the pet shop.

[starlover]

marne I have a fishtank for sale! also a filter and gravel!

[starlover]

i'm in sussex if you're interested!

[starlover]

just realised that it's not really the kind of thing I can post! LOL
was looking for £25 for the lot

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Your welcome.

Fish are great pets to have.

[marne]

Im in dorset (bit to far), you should try selling it on ebay, they seem to go for loads on there. If i lived closer i would of had it, it sounds like a bargin.

[starlover]

well, I am going down to devon next weekend.... could possibly do some kind of meet-up? (can you tell I am desperate to get rid?)

that sounds bad... i actually really wanted to get it up and running but never got round to it, so it has never even been used! Now need the cash and the cupboard space!

[marne]

how big is it?

[starlover]

it's 40cm x 20cm and it's about 29cm high including lid

[starlover]

so not very big really... just re-read your original message and you wanted a bit bigger one really didn't you

[Satine]

Starlover - can I have second refusal if marne doesn't want it? My ds is very taken with fish too! I'm near Chichester.

[starlover]

yeah sure!

[marne]

Wanted one a bit bigger realy, sounds like satine will buy it. thanx anyway.

[starlover]

that's ok... sounds like it's yours satine!

[Satine]

Ooooh! How exciting! Whereabouts are you? (do cat me if you'd rather not reveal all!)

[starlover]

I am in Crawley. As I say I am going down to Devon next weekend, so could go via Chichester then? Or we could perhaps arrange to do it sooner if you wanted.
we will probably be going down Thursday evening (won't be too late though I wouldn't have thought)

[Satine]

If it's not too far out of your way, that would be fantastic! But I don't want to put you to too much trouble.

[starlover]

no it's fine! it'll be nice to take a different route for a change!

[Satine]

That's so kind of you. I actually live just north of Chichester - halfway to Midhurst - but could meet you wherever you want. Unless you want to stop for a coffee/glass of wine/loo stop on your journey!

[starlover]

e-mail me with your address so we can work route out [email protected]

wine sounds lovely! but am b/f and dp will be driving! coffee would be fab though, but will have to run it past DP!!!

[Satine]

I've emailed you!