Image Credit: Flickr

 

Tropical fish are such beautiful creatures and with a good tank and bit of care, they can really benefit you. They are calming when you are feeling stressed, they are easy to look after and they could be the ideal first pet for your young children to look after themselves, especially if they have anxiety.

 

With a good tank and a safe place for it to stand, you can have a range of tropical fish to look at  and keep. However, be careful which fish you place together as some may be predators to the others. You should also consider the size of the fish you are buying as they will grow larger over time.

They are Very Calming

There is something about water that is just so soothing and we all recognise that instinctively. Of course, you can’t spend your life wading through a river, but a fish tank could be the middle ground you are looking for. Looking after your fish and maintaining the tank is a very mindful activity that can give you time to think and chill out.

 

A fish tank is a great way to harness this and the steady motion of the fish will be instantly calming. There are many psychologists and educational experts who believe that fish can be particularly good for calming children who have ADHD. The tank can also be beneficial for cognitive development

They are Easy to Look After

With a good tank, fish should be really easy to look after, just make sure you don’t get tempted into overfeeding them! Technology can make things even easier. Tank controllers are great because they can control the temperature of the water as well as any problems with the water.

 

A bi-weekly clean is the best way to ensure that the glass stays stain-free and your fish are as healthy as possible. This might sound like a lot but really, once you get into the system it will just become part of your routine. Plus there’s no reason you can’t get the kids involved too.

An Easy First Pet

Children are always begging for their own pets but they probably don’t really know what looking after a pet entails. Tropical fish are a good place to start because they will teach your children what it takes to look after another animal. With a bit of help cleaning the fish out, they can be trusted to feed them and really feel that they are their own.

 

Though a fish isn’t cute or fluffy, they make for great first pets because you can easily view their lifecycle together and discuss their biology amongst other topics. You might be surprised, but fish can also be trained to perform tricks. Training any animal requires patience and tolerance, perfect for encouraging these great qualities in your children.

 

Tropical fish really are great pets for all the family. They offer a little bit of peace and tranquility, calming moments in the day and if nothing else, they are simply beautiful to look at.