If you're not quite up to the responsibility of a dog or cat, you think a fish would be a good pet. The answer is yes—and no.

Fish don't need to be litter-box-trained, but they do require very specific care. A few mistakes can be a matter of life and death for your finned friends, so please don't look at a fish bowl as an easy answer to the pet question! You might be surprised at all that's involved.

You know those 1-gallon bowls? Forget 'em. Fish need more than that. Going with a tiny tank actually creates more work for you than if you use a slightly larger aquarium. Most fish experts say a five-gallon tank is the absolute smallest acceptable size; with anything smaller, you will have problems maintaining stable water chemistry and controlling temperature fluctuations.

When you bring a few fish home, float the bag in the tank for a while to let the temperatures equalize. Then slowly begin adding small amounts of tank water to the bag; continue for about an hour before you transfer fish to their new home. Avoid mixing the old bag water with the new tank water-you can't be sure what kinds of parasites you may have brought home in the bag.

When it's time for your weekly water change, remove only one-third of the water to ensure you're not drastically altering the water chemistry. Never use soap of any kind when you clean the tank. After removing the water, replace it with dechlorinated water the same temperature as the water in the tank. About once a week you can "vacuum" the gravel (gravel vacuums are available at the pet store) to remove food and other debris that settles at the bottom.

Variety is the spice of life, and your fish wants a piece of the action. Think of fish flakes as you would rice: okay as a staple, but awfully boring day in and day out. Just as you would add veggies or meat to your rice dish, add live worms as well as frozen and freeze-dried foods to your fish's diet. But be careful! Fish can get fat, and if you feed an excess of protein-rich foods such as bloodworms, you'll have a fat fish on your hands. Beware of flake food that is old damp-it will have less nutritional value.

Taking care of fish does involve care and responsibility. There's really no such thing as a work-free pet, so be sure you're ready for the chores as well as the fun!

Published 10/10/08