What kind of fish would be good for a classroom?

Question

I work in a child development center in a class with one-year-olds. Some of the kids get transitioned in as young as 10 months, and they stay anywhere from 18-24 months, depending on developmental readiness. I've gotten the okay from my director to place an aquarium in the classroom. I'm looking for hardy fish that wouldn't be driven crazy from tiny faces constantly peering in at them and tapping on the glass. Eventually, after they get used to having the fish in the classroom I don't think they'll tap on the glass as much, but the first fish that we put in there need to be okay with it :O)

Answer 1

i wouldnt do it.... all animals wll get scared when poked and prodded.. especially fish. i say its not a good idea. even a few weeks of poking and prodding and tapping is enough to serously harm the fish. just ger some fake fish. i know its not what you wanted to her but its true,. sorry...

Answer 2

Beta is too small for child to watch. Best to keep cichlids like parrot fish, rose queen, jack dempsey, convict cichlids, or flowerhorn.

Do not keep red devils, snakehead or piranhas, if child put fingers into the water, they will bite them.

Best to have a tank hood attached to the tank, it is safe for children.

Answer 3

i would get

3 gupppies

6 zebra danios (very crazy fish)

and

3 corydoras

Answer 4

It honestly depends on the size of aquarium that you want.

Bettas are great if you want a couple of smallish bowls.  they're very colorful, but can generally only keep one per bowl.

Other than that.  Tetras (larger ones), danios... are both very hearty fish, and do well in small groups of at least 3.

Goldfish are very hearty, but they get too large for most tanks.  goldfish generally reach between 6 and 12 inches, and are very dirty fish.  For every inch of goldfish you want about 2 gallons of water... full size.

You want to have a tank that will be big enough for the fish at full size.  Generally you want 1 gallon of water for every inch of fish (at full size).

Just keep that tip in mind while you're looking for an aquarium.  :)

Answer 5

Really good fish for a tank would be very colorful ones. Gourami can have the prettiest colors so they would be good. Also Platys are gorgeous but they breed like rabbits so if you do not want a bunch of fry then I would go with the gourami.

Answer 6

maybe some fancy male guppys

Answer 7

het guppies.they are small and pretty.and get a male the male is the best 1.if you want babies get a male and 3 females.

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Answer 8

gold fish

Answer 9

First let me say...20 Gallon PEOPLE...not a pond...and she already told you her luck with Goldfish...too big...small tank.

LOL...had to get that out of the way.

I remember when i was in elementry school...there was a fish tank with Neon Tetras.  Now I know they are bit skittish...but if you put a some plant cover (silk or plastic) in there...they would a little hiding room.  Add a Dwarf Gourami and some cory cats and you will have a good Community Tank with different fish.  Also, cory cats, in my experience arent as skittish.  So they would be great.

Any fish is going to be a bit skittish when you tap on the glass...but I think you are right in that after the newness it will not happen as much.

The Neons are colorful and kids like color.  The Black Light Tetras are a bit different and add a bit of contrast to the the color.  The Dwarf Gourami will only compliment the color of the Neons.  And the Cory Cats will give ya some bottom feeders.

1 Dwarf Gourami (neon blue or flame) your choice...but only one of these.  Regular Gourami...Blue, Kissing, etc can get up to 8 to 12 inches and will be too big for this tank...The Honey Gourami only get about 4 inches but I would stick to the Dwarf Neon or Flame Gourami.

They are in the same family as Bettas and can get a little territorial against other males.

Cory Cats are social and need at least 3...but I will tell you in a 20 Gallon you could do 5...I would start out with 3.  Shrimp Pellets are great for these guys.

Add one Black or Golden Mystery Snail...one for now...you dont want a tank full of snails.

Recap

1 Dwarf Gourami

5 Neon Tetra

5 Black Skirt Tetra

3 Cory Cats (albino, emerald green, panda, etc...but pick one type for now).

1 Mystery Snail

OR

1 Dwarf Gourami

3 Cory Cats

3 - 5 Platy (same s*x) or you will have lots of fry before you know it.

5 Zebra Danios

1 Mystery Snail

The Platy are colorful and they are good fish.  There is the Micky Mouse Platy with the little Micky Mouse ears on the tail...and what child cant identify with Micky.  Also Zebras will stay on top to middle of tank.  Some will tell you the Dwarf Gourami will go after the zebras...he may chase a couple of times...but I have yet to have this problem.  Make sure you put medium plant cover in the tank and you shouldnt have an issue either...go with the short finned Zebras also.

Dont forget that stump or log for the cory cats to hide in.  They will come out...but they like an escape.

Have fun and name the fish.  Awesome idea...cant believe they hadnt done it before.  If you can go with a 30 Gallon rated filter and you want have as many maintance issues...either way...you are awesome for doing this.

Best of Luck!

Answer 10

Just some nice Goldfish definitely. Dont get to fancy.

Answer 11

My vote is for guppies!!!

You can get lots of amazing colours and they'll multiply so you may not have to replace any that die! (Although this could also get out of hand if they multiply like crazy). I agree that you should get lots of plants (plastic is easiest in your case) so they can hide if they need to!

You'll need a heater and definitely a filter too. Make sure you cycle your tank properly(look up the nitrogen cycle), Ive heard that "CYCLE" is not really effective and a waste of money. Remember not to put more than one or two fish in at a time. I have a 19 month old and she's pretty good at just looking at the fish and not tapping on the glass, I just teach her to be "gentle" when she wants to put her hands on the glass. She loves them, I think it's a great idea!

Answer 12

I would go with little active colorful fish like platys, guppys, mollies, swordtails, & neons. These types of fish are livebearers so read up on them & choose carefully. & they are really cheap fish so if you do loose some then you are not out a lot of money. Just make sure you have all the proper equipment & a good covered lid cuz a lot of those kinds of fish are jumpers & will jump right out of the tank.

Answer 13

some neon tetras. they are very low maintenance maybe 6-7 of them. then you could get some guppies or mollies they are really cool. maybe a golden nugget plecostamus because they dont get to big only 4 inches long. then a female betta.

or some clown loaches because they are really active.

dont keep all of them just get a few because there is a general rule that you kan only keep 1 inch of fish for every gallon.

or what you could do is go to your local pet store or fish store and bring some papeer and a pen. theen write down some fish that you think look pretty. write down the name of the species. then when you get to a computer do some research on them at some websites like my favorite http://myfishtank.net  or  fishlesscycling.com or read a book about them. do reduce the amount of care you have to do is go online and get a automatic fish feeder. if you cant get to the class in time then get a cheap timer for the lights.