I have a confession… I’ve always told my kids we would never have a pet fish. Ever. For some reason I thought I didn’t like them, and try as they might, they couldn’t change my mind. They love going to PetSmart to look at all the beautiful fish, but we were never going to take one home.
But, like many other things, parenting changes you. I caved and we are now the proud owners of a Betta fish named Royal Princess Bubble Gum.
Now that we are happy fish owners, I have to tell you, it was so silly of me to keep them from this! RPBG is a lovely little friend who pays us no mind and is exponentially easier to handle than our dog. The kids love to watch him swim and check in on him making sure he’s still happily floating around the bowl.
If you are on the fence about getting your kids a fish, here is why I think you should consider it.
5 Reasons To Get Your Kids A Fish
It is an inexpensive pet to maintain.
The initial cost to get us started was only about $20. After that, the Betta food containers will cost less than $5 and I suspect I’ll only need to buy one every few months. Compared to dog and cat food, grooming, obedience training, etc. that seems like nothing.
Kids can take care of them.
For this particular type of fish, he will only be fed about three times a week. That is something the kids are completely capable of managing. Make a fun little chore chart so the kids know which days to feed them, how much, and who is responsible.
It’s peaceful.
Studies have found that watching fish swim reduces stress and anxiety. We love the tranquility of a pet fish and if your children suffer from any anxiety it can be a great thing for them to concentrate on.
They’re fun to watch.
My kids are having a blast just sitting and watching him swim!
No allergies.
For kids with allergies it can be really hard to find a pet. Luckily you won’t have a problem with a fish and kids can still feel good knowing they have a pet.
PetSmart has a ton of fish options for you to choose from, food and supplies, and so many fun things to decorate your bowl or tank with!
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.
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Vanessa says
My son won a beta at summer camp two years ago. I really wasn’t sure at first, but it turned out to be a really great pet for him. Easy to take care of for sure.
Luca says
Very true – fish are great for kids and not only. Cheers
ellah says
they are
Emilia says
Thanks for sharing, you are absolutely right. In your aquarium there can be many amazing inhabitants besides fish, even Neocaridina shrimp, here https://www.theaquariumkeeper.com/neocaridina-shrimp-colors you can study their features in more detail. You won’t have any problems feeding shrimp, including neocardine. They feed on algae, dying parts of aquarium plants, and can eat the remains of uneaten food after fish
lekarra says
Fish are a great first pet for children, as they teach responsibility and care for living things.
neartell says
In addition, watching fish can have a calming effect, which is especially useful for active children. If you have any questions about care or choosing an aquarium, you can contact dutch pet where users share their experiences and feedback. The main thing is to properly prepare the environment for the fish so that it feels comfortable.
Elaine Johnston says
When my daughter was small, we would keep fish in a small, but beautiful round fish tank. However, those fish never lived long, that was upsetting her. So after a brief discussion with my husband, we read some useful info about how to get a purebred cat. So now a small kitten lives in our house. I take care of him, but when my daughter grows older, she can help me to feed him.
Sophia says
Hi, nice post!
My concern is that betta fish need a minimum of a 5 gallon tank with a filter and heater (they need water between 78-80 degrees F).
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Sophia says
Hi, you have an amazing blog!
My concern is that betta fish need to be fed 1-2 times a day. Thank you!
Have a awesome day!