Yeah, Betta fish.

You might want to pick one up for your kid for Christmas, a birthday, or just for a pet. You know, instead of a puppy.  Our 6 yr old wanted a fish. I wanted him to have a fish too.

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I thought he might learn some responsibility.

Waterfall Globe Aquarium

Why Betta Fish make good pets for kids.

Earlier this year I picked up a couple goldfish at Walmart and they didn’t last very long. We might have gotten a few days- maybe three days for the first fish; then, the other passed on to better seas not long thereafter.

Next attempt, the Betta. Some Betta fish are beautiful! I found a couple at a real pet store and got one for each of our boys. Of course Betta’s have to be separated or they’ll fight, so I’m told. I have seen the bully-like-stare that seems to happen when they meet fish to fish (their tanks are side by side).

BioBubble Wonder Bubble Tunnel Kit

I do keep them separated…but I’ll admit, the last time time I was cleaning out their fish tanks I wondered what a Betta Fish fight would look like. I was tempted to put them in the same dish to witness it firsthand. Don’t worry, I didn’t 😉

This Beta fish, not so pretty.

So, why do I think Betta Fish make good pets ? Well, I can tell you it isn’t because they automatically guarantee to teach “responsibility”. That’s the parent’s responsibility. There are books on how to care for Betta Fish available, too.

Aqueon Kit Beta Falls

Here’s what I like about Betta fish.

• Betta fish are more interesting to look at. Some are kinda pretty-at least compared to goldfish.

• Bettas somehow manage to keep their tanks pretty clean, longer than the goldfish did. Way longer! This translates into less tank cleaning for mom.

• The fact that Betta fish are pretty hardy fish make them a good pet for kids, too. So far ours have lasted since Sept 30th in a tap water tank (no filter). And, I don’t boil the water first. I try to do a somewhat lukewarm/cool tap water. (But you might want this for an office desk set up.)

• Our Betta fish have personality. I don’t know if they all do or if we just got *ahem, lucky? They seem to look at us when its time to feed them. Its our cue to question: who fed the fish last and when? Kinda weird maybe, but its entertaining. Makes them a bit more part of the family I think.

And, that about sums it up.

Oh wait, one more! They’re cheap and easy to care for- however, you may want to spend more on a really nice looking tank or one with a filter.