Anyone's kid a proud owner of a fish tank?

Can you talk to me about your experience as a parent of a child with a fish tank? How good are they about cleaning the thing, or at least helping you clean it? Does the fish live a while or do they all drop dead in two weeks and then the drama starts?

Both my kids are begging me for a pet fish and I am seriously thinking of getting a small tank with 2 fishes for their birthdays in April. Am I setting myself up for a disaster?

Re: Anyone's kid a proud owner of a fish tank?

Well when DD started potty training & was doing well DH promised her a fishtank. I thought we'd get a tiny one & he said a bigger one is easier to maintain. We have a 20 gallon tank & about 15 fish. Honestly we've had the tank over 2 years & had maybe 4 casualties in that time. DH adds water each week & cleans the tank maybe once every 2 weeks or so. The key, we found, is not to overfeed them. We feed them once a day. DD & DS love to feed them & watch them.

Mine are too young to clean the tank, but they watch DH do it & surprisingly after 2 years they are still interested.

ETA: Definitely ask for help at the fishstore to hearty fish & not mean fish (like the mollies--I think).

Message edited 1/28/2012 9:51:03 PM.