Kids Right's, Fish Rights...

[Tommy Gunnz]

I hope that I do not offend anyone with my opinion on this subject, but I think that it would be completely rediculous to ban children from buying pets. Think back to your childhood and I am willing to bet that more than half of us have had a childhood pet, whether it be a cat, dog, or anything. Not to mention, this would be un-American in a lot of ways, but I know we are not all Americans.

Anyways, my main point here is that if you are 16, you should not be living alone and a parent should be wise enough to help their kids out with a pet or two. Especially on the fish subject because it is more than just a child's pet, it is an investment for parents as well since they are most likely going to be paying for it, and if not, they are the ones paying for the electric bills, water bills, and would have to fix anything should something terrible happen like a tank breaking.

I am obviously a lot older than 16, and I have a 9 year old son, a 6 year old step-daughter, and a 7 year old son who is autistic. I use my tanks as a bonding experience for me and my kids and I take them to the LFS with me EVERY time that I go; even just to buy food. I then have the chance to explain what I know about the 'nemo's' and 'dori' fish and how hard they are to keep. I also tell them the other facts about the hobby and they are just like little sponges for knowledge.

I think that the true problem here is that SOME, not all, fish stores are more worried about the all mighty dollar (or euro, or whatever type of money you may use) and this can be understandable if you are trying to make a living my selling fish at a couple dollars a peice. Still, if the stores did ask the all important questions, then the hobby would be safer for the fish and for us as well since we can get discouraged fast by fish dying because we are uneducated.

So, my opinion is that a law banning the sale of a pet to a 16 year old is just a little bit overblown, however IF there was a way to ensure that every LFS remained responsible as they should be, then the hobby would benifit greatly. But to deny a child a learning experience, and possibly even a parent a chance to learn as well as learn with their child would be a greater injustice than any law could prevent. I do agree that there is a problem within the hobby as well as with other types of pets, so please do not take me wrong, I just feel that you cannot punish everyone for a couple of bad decisions made by children; especially since very few of us can say that we have not lost a fish due to a bad decision.

 

[Loko17]

Personally I think its a good law because i'm 13 and I think about my non fish keeping friends and think its good because most of them I wouldnt trust with a pet rock. If you are into fishkeeping and you have to be accompanied, whats the big deal? Get your parents to come in with you, its not like you cant get fish alltogether. Luckily around here there isnt that rule or its not inforced because I go into my lfs all the time while my parents sit in the car and get my fish needs.

 

[afireinside]

In my mind, these kind of laws are saying you can't trust teenagers for anything. Just my opinion though. My dad always comes with me to buy fish, mainly because I can't drive yet. lol.

 

[Mr Miagi]

I reckon 16 yearl olds should be allowed fish. Ive seen a great deal more knowledgeable youngins than oldies. No offence oldies! But when it comes to knowledge of this hobby, age doesnt matter.

 

[Loko17]

I reckon 16 yearl olds should be allowed fish. Ive seen a great deal more knowledgeable youngins than oldies. No offence oldies! But when it comes to knowledge of this hobby, age doesnt matter.

Brotha you said it.

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

Honestly, I think it's a valid law. I'm not saying that people under 16 shouldn't OWN fish, I'm just in agreeance with the fact that thier parents need to be in on it and all that.

The LFS here reserves the right to refuse to sell to anyone they deem unfit, and I am totally in agreeance with that idea as well. I will say this, I know plenty of adults that I wouldn't trust with an earthworm, and plenty of kids/teens that I would trust with anything!

 

[Lynden]

I agree with many posts made after mine. Good points have been made here.

-Lynden

 

[Flumpus]

I don't think anyone is arguing that all people 16 and under make for bad pet owners. There are most definitely some that will take great care of the fish, and research and all that stuff. Laws like these are made for the greater good, which in this case is for the fish, and not for the special cases, which would be the responsible young fish keeper.

plain and simple kids should have right (not just saying because im a kid)

I'm sorry, but in most places kids don't have many rights, other than an education and reasonable living conditions (which constitutes a great number of things we don't need to get into here). I don't think this is going to change much, because looking back on it, most people think they did some pretty dumb things as a kid (myself included), and you do learn from it, but that doesn't mean kids should be given the rights of an adult.

 

[Lynden]

I think that the point here is that buying fish shouldn't be the right of only adults.

 

[SPLiSH]

I am 14 and we don't have that law in Australia, but personally I think it would be a good practice, just as a precaution. Although I do see both sides of the story...

I'm not saying under 16's commit animal cruelty/neglect more often than adults, but younger kids (under 10) who usually get very excited and impulsive when they see a cute animal may just waltz into a store with their pocket money and buy whatever takes their fancy.

On the other hand, there are many adults who think that their life experience = fish experience. Sadly, my Mum is like that - she refuses to believe that fish need such frequent water changes etc. She might be able to drive, she might know more about finance and politics, but when it comes to caring for fish, my 11 year old sister knows more than her.

Personally I think people of all ages should be obliged to take home some sort of information booklet or something.

 

[Qays]

That rule sucks. I know loads of under 16s on this forum who have given me/others excellent advice on fish.
The rule wouldnt affect me though.

 

[Egmel]

As far as I'm concerned this has nothing to do with your ability to look after the animals, it has to do with the fact that you are expecting to keep these animals on your guardian's property and as such you should have their permission to buy them. It's common courtesy to ask your guardians if you can keep animals in their house, nothing more, and if they say no then you have to abide by that, it's one of the problems of being under 16.

Besides, as many people have stated (though it seems to have been ignored) the law doesn't say you can't buy fish, just that you can't buy them without an adult present.

 

[brewyn]

Well Laws or not, I think the responcability should fall on the parent, lets face it, thats what were there for, to teach them the difference between right and wrong. I would rather buy my kids a pet bird or a fish and allow them to create interests, instead of see them hanging around on street corners getting up to no good, and eventualy being ignorant to whats around them. A pet for a child is a fantastic way to teach them responcability, consideration, and dedication. BUT, to do this the parent also needs to learn.

Anyway, I would love for my kids to share the same interests as me, but all he wants is his X box and his nintendo dogs LOL.

 

[catxx]

i agree with eqmel.

this is not banning under 16's from owning pets, they're perfectly welcome to own pets, they just need to have a guardian, whether that be mum, dad, grandma, big brother, present when they go to buy the pet. and if anything happens to this pet that could qualify as gross cruelty or someone is harmed by this pet, it's the guardian's responsibility to go through any court cases etc etc, NOT the under 16s.

and not many under 16's are going to be living in their own home. if they're going to bring home animals it's their guardians ultimate decision whether they should be allowed in the home or not. you can throw your teen angst around all you want, stomp, pout, sit in your room and cry, but until you own your own home respect your guardians wishes.

when i lived with my parents my mum did not want any fish in the house because ultimately she knew she would be doing the cleaning out when i got bored of it, and she would've been right, i was a lazy teen! we had gerbils, she cleaned them out, we had a rabbit, she had to remind us to clean him out, she actually hated rodents, so to let us have gerbils was a big step for her.

my brother got fish last year (he was 20) for the first time after i got mine (i moved out 2ish years ago and i'm 24) when he lived with my dad, then he moved to my mums house, and she took on the fish VERY grudgingly, wouldn't let him have a betta i got him for his birthday until he moved out to his own house, which he has now done. now my dad is very easy going, 3 years ago i came home with a cat. i was 21 i think, so completely legal, completely spur of the moment! but thats worked out fine and now he lives alone with the cat and couldn't be without her.

i've rambled.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yes i agree with catxx that this is not about banning under 16's from owning pets, its about making sure they have adult supervision or that adults have a say in the matter.
As catxx mentioned, most under 16's will be living their parents. Not all kids listen to their parents- if this law wasn't in place, many kids would simply buy fish regardless of what their parents said. If the kid goes to boarding school, its the parents responsability to look after the animals. At least with living with a parent, if you tire of looking after the animal, the animal may still have a chance of someone else in the house looking after it.

Also, most under 16's don't have jobs to pay for their hobby, so its up to the parents to come up with the cash. Thus i think it is totally reasonable that any minor must have an adult (preferably a relative) with them when they buy an animal, as it is most likely the adult who will be paying for the pet.
I read many a thread on this forum of kids here posting threads on how to convince their parents to buy them like their 4th tank or whatever- all this shows is how much such kids really depend on their parents to have their hobby at all.

I think its fair enough that the law allows to you to go into a petshop and buy your own animals at 16 years old or older because at least there is a chance that at this age you can financially support your own choices in life, this one of course being the decision to own an animal/s.
Some people say that pets teach kids responsability, but this can only be so to a certain degree until the kid/teenager is completely supporting their own hobby, otherwise how can you call it a true responsability?
I think pets can be great for kids, particually younger children, but when it comes down to it, most kids are very dependant on their parents or other relatives supporting the hobby. I mean, how many may 10 year olds would be able to completely look after a dog or cat or even fish tank?

When i was 16 i moved out of home after going to college, got a job, rented a flat- this was also the point when i bought my first aquarium.
Sure, i made mistakes like most people do when starting out in fish keeping, but at least i was old enough to completely prepare for my situation and take responsability for my actions- my fish were also truely my own too, and my mother could no longer tell me what to do.

Also, i think that at 16 years of age you should start having a pretty good idea on what you want to do over the next couple of years- most 13 year olds though don't even know if they are going to good in their exams or go to uni yet.
I mean, what happens if you get fish at 14 years old, but decide to go to uni at 17 but your uni won't let to take animals with you? What will you do with them? Are you going to be able to afford them at uni? Can you trust you parents to keep your fish alive over the next couple of years while you are doing yoru education?

This is why i am wary of some of the younger members owning so many tanks here when they haven't even moved out of home yet- most people will badly want to move out of home by the time they are 20 (some even younger than that like i was), have you any idea on how difficult it can be to move 3 largish tanks?

Most people will want to take their pets with when they move out of home. There are some people here who cannot even move out of home at all because they have too many animals with them that no Landlord in his right mind will want to accept in his appartments (which is another factor you have to take into consideration- most landlords will barely accept a fish tank let alone a furry animal like a dog or cat).