Best Fish Tank For Kids: 5 Great Aquariums for Children

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 by Flora Gibbins

Fish can make good pets for kids.

But let’s look at the bigger picture…

Keeping an aquarium is an excellent way of teaching responsibility, compassion, and patience to a child, helping them translate these vital life skills into becoming caring and responsible adults.

Keeping fish can also help relax your child, as watching them swim about may have a therapeutic effect on humans, helping reduce stress. Let’s take a closer look at what makes the best aquarium for kids and why I chose the Aqueon 10 Gallon LED Aquarium Starter Kit due to its size and contents.

Our Top Choice – Best Fish Tank For Kids

1. Aqueon 10 Gallon LED Aquarium Starter Kit – Best Overall

This Aqueon starter kit comes with a range of useful extras, including; a low-profile hood with built-in LED lighting, a QuietFlow medium cartridge power filter, and a preset 50-watt heater that will keep the water at a balmy 78°F.

You also get a thermometer, water conditioner, fish net, and even premium fish food to get your kid’s fish-keeping experience off to the best possible start.

The Aqueon LED aquarium starter kit is a 10-gallon glass fish tank made in the USA.

This is a great bonus as it helps take any guesswork out of cartridge changing.

The lighting in the Aqueon 10-gallon aquarium is cool white and keeps plants and fish happy and well lit. There’s also a five-stage ammonia filter and water conditioner to keep water pure and clean.

Pros

• Complete kit
• American made
• Great price
• Easy to set up
• Suitable for freshwater or saltwater fish

Cons

• Only a 10-gallon tank, so suitable for a few small fish or a Betta
• Lighting can be a bit bright
• You may need an additional air pump and air stone depending on the fish being kept

Takeaway

We think this is the best children’s fish tank for your kids because every major component you need is there in the box.

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2. Marina LED Aquarium Kit – Best Larger Size Kit

Here is another excellent option when you’re looking for the best fish tank for children. This kit comes in a larger size of 20-gallons which means it can hold bigger fish species such as a goldfish, or a greater number of small ones.

The Marina LED Aquarium Kit has many of the essential components needed for tank setup, including long-lasting natural daylight LED lights, ideal for plant and fish health, fitted discreetly into the canopy.

Nutrafin products make up the rest of the kit, including a water conditioner, biological supplement, a soft mesh net, aquarium guide, and even fish food.

Pros

• Glass tank
• 20-liter size
• Long-life natural LED lights
• Easy change filter cartridges

Cons

• Additional items will be needed
• Takes up quite a lot of space
• Only suitable for freshwater fish

Takeaway

The Marina LED Aquarium Kit is a great starter tank for keeping goldfish or stocking a larger number of small fish.

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3. Koller Tropical 360° View Aquarium Starter Kit – Best for Small Spaces

This Kroller 360° view tank is great if your kid’s room is tight on space. It’s pretty small, holding only six gallons of water, so it’s only usable for a Betta or a few mini fish like neon tetras.

The tank is energy efficient with LED lighting that illuminates the fish in seven different colors, including purple, aqua, blue, amber, red and white.

There’s also a lighting timer that uses a choice of two power sources, 3 AAA batteries or a 5V power adapter – both of which are sold separately.

Filtration is provided by a powerful internal filter capable of cleaning 45-gallons of water per hour.

Because this is a plastic tank, it’s impact resistant and has been molded in a seamless design.

It is only suitable for freshwater fish species.

Pros

• A small amount of space needed
• Very affordable
• Choice of LED lighting color options
• 360° view of the fish

Cons

• No heater or aeration is provided
• Small size limits fish to a single Betta or a few tiny fish such as Neon Tetras

Takeaway

This Kroller tropical 360° aquarium is a highly affordable starter tank. It has the added bonus of a choice of LED lighting colors so kids can choose which they prefer.

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4. GloFish 5-Gallon Betta Aquarium Kit – Best Fluorescent Fish Tank For Kids

The GloFish brand has created a range of products to complement GloFish. These are genetically modified fish with the added DNA of fluorescent aquatic species spliced into their own.

GloFish tanks are designed to make the most of GloFish and all of the associated products, including fluorescent gravel, plastic plants, and ornaments. There is even GloFish fish food and water products to enhance luminescence.

This betta fish tank for kids comes complete with an LED lighting system of white and blue lights to give tropical and fluorescent fish a glowing appearance. It also has a filter and lid.

This is the smallest tank I have reviewed at only 5-gallons. This makes it suitable for a single Betta fish, a few small GloFish, or something small like Neon Tetras.

Note that genetically altered fish are not permitted in some states.

Pros

• Glass tank
• Made for GloFish
• Comes with a built-in filter

Cons

• Tiny size
• No heater or aeration system

Takeaway

In a small, dark room, this tank can have a lot of impact with its neon color effect. This GloFish 5-Gallon Betta Aquarium Kit is definitely a talking point!

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Bonus! Bonus!

What Is The Easiest Fish Tank To Maintain?

I wanted to tell you about one last type of fish tank. Well, you’d have to buy a standard 10-gallon tank separately, but this definitely deserves to be on the list of the best aquariums for kids.

5. The AquaSprouts Garden Self-Sustaining Desktop Aquarium Aquaponics Ecosystem – Easiest Fish Tank To Maintain

Aquaponics certainly aren’t’ new; they’ve been used as a way to grow plants, and fish as a food source for decades. The two work in harmony, with one system supporting the other.

The plants purify the water and keep it clean while the fish waste provides the food for the plants to grow.

Only recently has this same basic idea been translated down to an aquarium setup for keeping pet fish.

Why am I telling you about it? 

With an AquaSprouts aquaponics system, this isn’t necessary as the plants do all the work. What’s cool is that your child won’t only get beautiful fish to look at, but they’ll also get some gorgeous plants to enjoy too.

The AquaSprouts Desktop Aquarium basically miniaturized the aquaponics system, eliminating the need for water changes or filter replacement.

A standard 10-gallon aquarium can be transformed into a fantastic science project which has made it one of my choices as the best fish tank for children.

Pros

• Self-cleaning fish tank setup
• Keep fish and plants
• Adds additional interest
• It’s a great way to learn about aquaponics

Cons

• Cost

Takeaway

I love being able to educate my kids, and this kind of setup not only makes fish keeping easy and fun, but it also teaches them about a great, sustainable ecosystem.

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Is A Fish Tank Good For Kids?

Fish are perfect pets for apartments or anyone with limited space for other animals.

Fish won’t chew your kid’s favorite toy or have an accident on the carpet. You don’t need to take them for walks or vacuum up their fur. They won’t cost you a fortune at the vet’s office either.

A fish tank filled with attractive plants, ornaments, and fish is also a rather beautiful thing and can be very decorative.

Consider if there is space for a fish tank, where it will be kept, who will be responsible for its care and if the child has the right disposition to maintain it in the long term.

What You Need To Know Before Buying The Best Aquarium For Kids

When choosing the best aquarium for your children, there are some things you should know first.

Bigger Is Always Better

A cute little aquarium can look so adorable on the packaging. Still, they are terrible for several reasons and certainly don’t make the best fish tank for children.

Firstly, the larger the tank, the easier it is to care for. Fish create waste from their uneaten food, pee, and poop. The chemicals this produces as it breaks down are toxic to fish, particularly when they build up to high levels.

Regular partial water changes and vacuuming of the substrate (gravel at the bottom of the tank) are what keep the water clean and safe for the fish.

Kids can be pretty good at forgetting about doing this kind of stuff, so the more water volume the tank holds, the longer it takes to become dangerous for the fish.

This is why ideally, starting with a tank that holds 20 gallons, is much better than one that contains less. Plus, it gives more choice over the fish species which can be kept.

Next, in a big tank where the fish have more space, they are less likely to fight and cause each other harm.

The biggest downside to larger tanks is that they cost more to buy and run, as they need a larger heater, filter, and water treatment.

Available Space

Another downside to getting a larger tank is that it’s going to take up more space than a smaller one. In this case, there are two possibilities. You could buy a stand that’s made especially to hold the tank and often all of the things needed to look after it, or you could choose a tank that is tall.

Tall tanks can look interesting, and have a smaller footprint. You will need to add additional aeration, as there will be less air to the water surface available to oxygenate the water, and yes, fish do need air.

Which Is Best? Acrylic or Glass?

The reason for this is because acrylic (plastic) tanks scratch real darn easily, and let’s be honest here, your kid isn’t going to be all that careful when cleaning the tank.

Glass tanks are cheaper than acrylic ones, they are more stable, they won’t warp, and they last a really long time.

The upsides to acrylic are that they’re lightweight and less likely to break if your child drops something on them.

Aquarium Kit Or Individual Components?

It can seem like a far simpler task to pick up an aquarium kit that has all the basic components. The problem with a kit is that many contain cheap parts that either won’t work right out of the box or break down real quick.

Also, read people’s reviews of the product and decide based on what they say.

Although you may think buying individual components will be difficult and cost more, there are some things in favor of this approach.

To begin with, you can get quality gear that will do the job efficiently and know they will all last for a really long time.

You can choose exactly the right setup for the type of fish you want to put in the aquarium.

For kids under 13, I would only recommend getting goldfish, as they are the easiest to look after. They don’t need a heater and are pretty hardy. For this type of setup, I would definitely buy components and not a kit. You’ll need a large tank for goldfish, as they grow pretty big.

For teenagers, choosing tropical fish, which are often less hardy, is also an option and can add greater interest and diversity to a tank. For this, look for a quality kit or individual components. For instance, Betta fish don’t like fast running water, and many filters cause too much flow through the tank.

What Equipment Is Needed?

For a kid-friendly fish tank, you’ll need:

• The tank (minimum of 10-liters is best)
• Tank lid
• A Filter
• Lighting
• Heater
• Thermometer
• Air pump and air stone
• Net
• Gravel vacuum
• Water conditioner
• Fish food

In kits, some, but not always all, of these things will be included.

Keep in mind that if part of the setup fails, the fish can die, which is quite upsetting for your kid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best starter fish tank?

I personally prefer glass aquariums over acrylic.

Even though acrylic tanks come in exciting shapes, they scratch very quickly and are harder to take care of than glass ones.

Look for American or European-made starter kits with lots of the components you need to be included.

Go for the biggest size you can afford or have the space for.

Do babies like fish tanks?

Toddlers often find fish tanks very fascinating. They are attracted to the movement of the fish and the light.

Caution must be taken, however, as young children don’t realize that striking the glass can not only harm the fish but could break the tank and cause a serious accident.

How do I choose the right aquarium?

When selecting an aquarium, always buy the largest one you can afford and have room for. Read reviews for starter and kids fish tanks carefully. Check to see which items you’ll need but aren’t included.

Try looking for aquariums recommended for the type of fish your child wants to keep.

Conclusion

An aquarium can be a wonderful gift for a child who has the right aptitude. Be prepared to end up cleaning it out yourself though!

You should now have a good idea about the kind of fish tank you want to buy and I hope this article has helped you understand a little more about which is the best fish tank for kids.

My overall winner is the Aqueon 10 Gallon LED Aquarium Starter Kit because almost everything you need is right in the box and it’s a reasonable size for a kid’s room.

When looking for a kid’s fish tank online don’t forget to read as many reviews as possible to get an overall idea of how each performs.