Disclosure: This post was sponsored by PetSmart through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about PetSmart, all opinions are my own.
Have you ever owned fish? My children have always wanted a pet, but both my husband and I are very allergic to dogs and cats. Ā One day at a dinner eventĀ we were attending, our oldest daughter won a fish tank in a raffle. Ā She and my husband were so excitedĀ thatĀ we stopped at PetSmart on the way home and bought our first pet fish.
We chose a Betta because they are so easy to care for, and they come in just so many amazing beautiful colors. Ā The males are big and beautiful, while the females are smaller. Ā You can even find baby ones that are teeny tiny.
Over the years we’ve had a few Bettas — from Harry Potter and Darth Vader to Inspector Catfish Neverclean and Flaming Hot Lips Cheeto. Ā Flaming Hot Lips Cheeto was my favorite. Ā He was a beautiful iridescent pearl color, but his lips were bright reddish orange. Ā After we had him for a few months Cheeto’s color actually changed and the bright red orange started spreading throughout the rest of his body.
Bettas are very low-maintenance fish. Ā However, they are also solitary fish and cannot be in the same tank Ā with each other or they will fight to the death, so my husband devised a plan to separate our aquarium into two separate places. Ā This way we couldĀ have two fish.
We used plastic canvas mesh from the craft store and plastic dividers and report covers from the office supply store. Ā You can search for a DIY aquarium divider and find several different ways to make one. Currently, weĀ have a 10-gallon aquarium tank and now have two Betta fish – a double tail male and a spade tail male with a DIY divider my husband made.
Just because you have Betta fish doesn’t mean you can’t add other aquatic life to your tank. Ā We have Ghost Shrimp, which help clean the aquarium. Ā Because they are somewhat invisible, they are very hard to find, soĀ my kids love playing “Where’s the shrimp?” You can hunt for a long time before finding one.
A moss ball is something else you can have in the aquarium. Ā Often times they are sold as aĀ companion to Betta fish. Ā Moss balls are great because they help keep the aquarium clean, they take in fish byproducts, and they add oxygen. Ā Both moss balls and Ghost ShrimpĀ require almost zero maintenance. Ā You can find them at PetSmart.
My husband and our youngest daughter love to sit in front of the aquarium and just watch the shrimp and the fish. Ā It’s very calming and relaxing, and it’s something they can do together.
There are so many reasons why having a pet fish is awesome:
- Fish are great starter pets, especially for children to learn responsibility.
- Fish are very calming. Ā Watching a fish swim through the water is very tranquil and relaxing.
- You don’t have to worry about a fish making too much noise like a barking dog.
- Adding a fish tank to your home space is a great way to add decor.
- You could train your fish to do tricks! (We had one Betta that could swim through a hoop for a treat.)
- You get to decorate your fish’s tank just the way you want!
- It’s so much fun to give your new pet fish a “cool” name! Ā How many dogs and cats have a name like Flaming Hot Lips Cheeto?
- Best of all? Fish don’t need to be walked!
If you’re considering getting a pet fish, PetSmart is your go-toĀ placeĀ for fish supplies, aquariums, and food & care products.
Do you have a pet fish?
17 comments
When I was growing up, we always had an aquarium and pet fish. I loved feeding them, naming them and watching them swim around. We didn’t have moss balls or ghost shrimp back then, but it sure would have helped keep everything cleaner.
One of my friends in college had a Betta fish (it was the only pet allowed in the dorms) and he was so BEAUTIFUL! I had a few fish when I was very young (maybe 3 or 4) but I remember getting so excited that I was allowed to feed them from time to time! Pets in general are just so great. I don’t know what I’d do without my dog, Loki.
I agree that fish can be a great starter pet. The biggest challenge that we have had with our daughter is sometimes a challenge with her following through with cleaning or sometimes forgetting to feed her fish!
I had a fish when I was growing up. It was a lot of fun. I agree that not having to walk the fish is a huge benefit over other pets. I’d love to get a fish for my kids!
We have all kinds of pets, including several fish. Fish are definitely great pets and they are much more entertaining to watch than I thought they would be.
I love my fish. We have a 55gal tank and It’s one of my fave things in my house. My kids love it too. I just wanted to say this made me so happy to see what a big tank you have, and even divided it’s amazing size for those fish! Awesome! I get so sad seeing them in plastic tanks or little bowls.
Fish are super calming!! love the sound of the water š
I always had fish when I was a kid and still have such vivid memories of them. Such a great way to teach responsibility.
My kids love fish and we visit our local aquarium multiple times a year. Pet fish is awesome
Pet fish can really teach kids to be responsible. They would also enjoy having pets and its low maintenance.
oh this brings back memories. my mom used to keep a fish tank all the time. it was so cool to watch her clean it and i always used to get really excited when she brought new fish home.
Last weekend I was actually talking to my SIL about getting a fish to keep as a pet since I spend all day at work so cant keep a dog and I am not big on cats so this post has come at the right time for me
I agree with all of this, we started out kids out with fish. Watching them swim around became a family bonding time.
My kids having been asking for a fish. We are moving to our new home so maybe I will let them each get a fish.
Fish are definitely great pets and Iād love to get a fish. It will be a lot of fun!!
Awww so so cool and so much fun! My son would so love to have an awesome fish tank as yours.