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Anonymous
hey /an/. i'm about to move into a small apartment. i'd like some animal "company", although i can't afford to own more substantial animals like a dog or a cat, i'd like something.

so i was thinking fish. what are some pretty fish that are easy to care for that'll brighten up the place? and what kind of aquarium would they need? (how big how much etc.) i'd kind of like to get a big bright aquarium with tons of fishes that'd be aesthetically pleasing.

i've never owned fish before except when i was a real little kid, and whether we took care of them properly or not is questionable, so basically i don't know shit about fish.

would appreciate the help!
>> Anonymous
start at www.aquahobby.com

try a betta
>> Anonymous
fancy guppies are pretty awesome. cheap ($2-3 each), tons of colors, easy to care for. you could put 2 or 3 in a 2 gallon little desk top tank. i have a 10 gallon with about a dozen adults. and 6 little babies. they breed like rabbits, but 90-some% of the babies will be consumed by the adults.
>> Anonymous
>>261196
thanks. that website seems pretty sweet.
>>261197
those sound right up my alley. now caring for tanks confuses me a bit. can you get tanks that clean and filter themselves or do you do most or some of the maintainence?
>> Anonymous
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alternate suggestion: finches.

pros:
-can survive in open air environment
-cheap
-longer lifespan than most fish
-totally kawaii desu ne ^^;; etc- image related

cons
-they poop in the water dish
-cheep (cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep)
-bigger stomachs than most fish, so food upkeep is mildly more expensive

fish and very small birds are really more of a screensaver than a pet, but I think the birds are more interesting.
>> Anonymous
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>>261194
>>261255

Moar alternatives: Leopard Gecko

Pros:
Watch them hunt
Very cheap.
Extreamly easy reptile to care for.
You can handle them.
Somewhat exotic or at least unusual.

Cons:
Must eat live food (crickets cost about 12 for a dollar, which will feed them for a week or so. Mealworms last longer.)
Take a lot of feeding in adolesence.
Don't move around as much as fish or birds.
>> Anonymous
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I'd suggest investing a little more for further sustainability. I suggest starting with these links.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/index.php

I find myself more interested in shrimp and plants than actual fish. I'd browse around in there to find some general info on aquatic plants and some small schooling fish. Small colorful schooling fish with a lovely natural landscape is very soothing and infinitely more enjoyable than clown puke gravel and fake plants.
>> Anonymous
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>>261194

If you want a substantial pet, read one of the billion rat threads. They're cute, cuddly. smart, not stinky if cared for and can work into a poor mans budget.
>> Anonymous
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>>261197
Ugh guppies! I had nothing but problems with them over breeding and crowding the tank. I almost got something to thin the herd down but I didn't want my other fish to get chomped. Seriously it went from 6 to 30 in a ten gallon tank in a matter of a month, I guess I had too much cover for the fry to hide in.

If your looking for something interesting, I've been considering a crayfish. I had one I caught for a few weeks but turned loose when I wasn't sure what to do with it (Damn the times before the internet!).

Pros
-Free if you live in the right places or know a spot you can catch them
-They're badass
-If you get guppies, free crowd control!
-If your crayfish dies, just catch another!

Cons
-Little ninjas, tank has to be securely covered
-Highly territorial so you can only keep one at a time in a 10 gallon tank
-Not exactly conductive pet for winning the hearts of women
>> Anonymous
Get something less boring than a fucking fish
>> Anonymous
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totally agreeing with>>261485

Aquatic plants are really beautiful. And paired up with fish, it's simply breath taking.

I REALLY recommend going to a fish store. Not Petco, or Petsmart, or some chain. A real fish store, where the people specialize in aquatic animals. They arn't hard to find, just takes a little interneting to find one in your area. The fish at these places are in better care, and in wider variety. The people there are expert hobbyists instead of college kids working a summer job.

Also, it's a great place to go to for ideas. I go down to a nearby fishstore once a month or so, just to browse. The tanks they have set up are beautiful, multiple species per tank, with lush live aquatic plants. You can really get a feel for what you're looking for.

When you see that shit, it'll be impossible to settle for a goldfish.
>> Anonymous
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>>261706
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
>>261728
;_;
Beautiful.
>>261725
I lol'd.