Fresh Water VS Salt Water Aquarium

If you’re not committed, I’d stay away from salt water. Also salt is much more expensive.

Joey Freshwater

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Looking for pros and cons for both

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salt water:
pro - can keep salt water fish in it
con - can't keep fresh water fish in it

fresh water:
pro - can keep fresh water fish in it
con - can't keep salt water fish in it

con for both - you have clean the tanks and feed the fish and stuff and your kids aren't going to help and there's a good chance they'll kill the fish and break the aquarium

Get a sorority of betas

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I was considering salt water because the fish options are really cool, but don’t know anything about them.

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If you go the saltwater route, get no smaller than 30 gallons. Anything smaller makes it harder to keep the salinity stable due to evaporation. Start with damselfish. They're the cheapest and the most hardy, also some of the prettiest, but can be a little territorial (just move the rocks around and they settle down since you change their territory)

fresh and get a blood parrot.

mine:


weirdest thing ever when he looks at you. really smart and will jump and hit the top of the aquarium if hungry.

Whatever you do don't bigger Goldfish..Those things are just a shitting machine.. Get Cichlids..Pretty easy fresh water and they will grow. They have a bunch of pretty varieties.

My daughter had a freshwater tank when she was around 8. I was taking care of it but the fish kept dying. Drove me crazy because I did everything right. Then one day I walk in and she’s sitting on her bed with a fish in her hand, petting it. Problem solved.

Note that cichlids have been mentioned a couple of times and are generally very easy to care for BUT be aware the most colorful ones are African cichlids from the rift lakes in Africa. They tend to be harder to care for, require more attention to water quality and are more aggressive than their American cousins.

Personally, for kids I think a tank with a good mix of well mannered and colorful community fish is the best option.

Tetras
Guppies
Platies/Swordtails
Rasboras
Danios
Barbs (not Tiger barbs they tend to be fin nippers)
Hatchetfish
Gouramis
Mollies
Pencilfish
Kulhi Loach
Glass Catfish
Cory Catfish
Pleco Catfish

Many of these work best in small groups instead of individuals. Take a look at the tanks and watch where each tends to swim and group then get some fish that prefer different parts of the water column.

Don't get all the fish at once and learn about the cycling of a tank. In general, you want to get the least aggressive (but hardy) fish first. I suggest you learn what you want before taking the kids to buy them, this way you can steer them away from fish that won't work in your planned tank from the beginning.

If you are in Baton Rouge area stop by Louisiana Fish store behind Celebration Station and talk to John about it. He has it all in that store and will help you make your decision.