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Do goldfish make good pets? |
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Do goldfish make good pets?
Goldfish can be difficult to raise or enjoy. Here are a few tips to help you decide if you want a goldfish for a pet.
Some folks like dogs as pets, while others prefer cats. Many raise birds or reptiles. Surprisingly, a good number of people enjoy goldfish. If you are wondering whether fish would make worthwhile pets for your family, here are some things to consider.
1. The fish are relatively inexpensive. Available at most pet shops and some department stores, goldfish come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. For a few dollars you can buy several to start your aquarium. They are easily transported home in cartons provided by the store, and the food is cheap.
2. Goldfish can be expensive to maintain. They require substantial supplies and equipment to survive. You can't plop a fish in a bowl of water and expect it to thrive for long. Rather, you're going to need a tank, an aerator (for oxygenating the water), a filter (for removing debris), and aquatic decorations for inside the tank and/or a landscape for your fish’s living quarters, and fish food. All of these things need to be in place when your new pet comes home. Smaller tanks aren’t terribly pricey, but larger ones can be.
3. Most house fish never see a veterinarian. Actually, a large number die because their life spans generally are short and they sometimes do not live long in a compressed environment, like that afforded by most at-home tanks. They are, however, easy to dispose of and to replace if desired. A single flush and they're gone, though children who become attached to their fish sometimes prefer to give a funeral and bury their dead in the back yard.
4. Fish are hard to relate to. They don't make audible vocal sounds and their expressions remain largely fixed. So it's difficult for an owner to know what a fish is thinking, let alone trying to communicate in any meaningful way. Goldfish can't sit on your lap, lick your cheek, or go for a walk. Swimming aimlessly around their aquariums, their movements rather than their personalities entertain us. Research does show that watching fish in a tank can be relaxing, but so can stroking a dog or cat. You'll have to choose your inclination after balancing the pro’s and cons.
5. Fish don't require a lot of maintenance in terms of grooming, immunizations, or collars. But cleaning the task is an onerous chore, not to mention the smell. Removing the accessories, scrubbing the container, and replacing all within fresh water and reconnecting pumps to electrical outlets can take a bit of time. Be careful not to get the briny water in a cut or scratch on your body, or you may end up with a staph infection, some of which take months to heal. The good part is that you can feed your fish with a shake of the food box and you're done.
Goldfish make useful pets for those who are busy or looking for a simple lifestyle for their pet. Those seeking more interaction or communication might be better served with a four-legged animal. You can still name your fish and talk to it, but don't expect much of a response.
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