Ah, the age-old question of which is more affordable, fish or a dog? I am the proud owner of a beautiful cappuccino colored retriever as well as a fishkeeper enthusiast, so I feel I can safely answer this burning debate for you.<\/span><\/p>\n
Own A Dog Pet or Keep Fish Tank at Home: Keeping fish tank is more affordable, easier to care for, and less troublesome in the long run. Dogs are more costly money vice and also a huge time investment. Fish, on the other hand, don\u2019t need to go for walks (in fact, I strongly urge you not to walk your fish), don\u2019t require shots, and don\u2019t really eat very much at all. They do not need vet care, do not mess up your furniture, and do not shed at all.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at the cost benefits of fish as compared to owning a dog. These can include:<\/span><\/p>\n
Add a few extra dollars for fish, and you are ready to go. Saltwater aquariums may cost a bit more to start up and maintain, but will still have the financial edge over Fido – your dog. Smaller aquariums will cost even less to set up and maintain at home. Price can also vary depending on a preferred choice between<\/span> Saltwater or Freshwater fish tank<\/span><\/a> read the whole article about.<\/span><\/p>\n
It\u2019s true; once the initial investment is made, keeping your freshwater fish tank well maintained can cost under $200 per year for miscellaneous things like filter cartridges and food. <\/span><\/p>\n
Saltwater tanks, of course, will be a bit more costly to maintain per year, but they will still be well under the annual cost of keeping a dog.<\/span><\/p>\n
Dogs enjoy the food. A lot. Dogs also tend to shred toys on a regular basis and get hurt for no apparent reason. Your yearly maintenance on a dog could look something like this:<\/span><\/p>\n
In fact, I highly advise that you do not take your fish to your local groomer; living in water, they bathe regularly. Dogs, however, need routine:<\/span><\/p>\n
Prices for grooming will vary widely depending on the breed of dog, the type of grooming needed, the size of the dog, and your choice of grooming facility. You can look at between $100 to $150 for professional grooming services at a pet salon.<\/span><\/p>\n
Not only do fish not have bad breath, but they also do not drool on you, no matter how happy they are to see you.<\/span><\/p>\n
Never, in all of history, has anyone ever shown up to work for an important meeting covered in fish scales from hobby fish keeping. Dog owners show up daily covered in hair, frantically trying to remove it with wadded-up tape or a wet paper towel before meeting with the boss. For dog owners, hair covered clothing is as much a part of life as having to carefully remove dog hair from dinner plates before serving guests.<\/span><\/p>\n
The bond you share with your dog is a deep one, and one of the hardest decisions an owner has to make is knowing when the time is right to let their beloved furry family member crossover. Afterward is the heart-wrenching decision on what to do with your dog\u2019s earthly remains.<\/span><\/p>\n
Cremation or burial?<\/strong> Both options can be very costly, and the emotional devastation is ongoing for days, months and even years after the loss.<\/span><\/p>\n
A fish is a lot easier to deal with at the end of life. There are several humane ways to end a fish\u2019s suffering quickly at home, and if you find him floating, a simple flush \u201cburial at sea\u201d takes care of it.<\/span><\/p>\n
Dogs are not easily changed to suit your mood. While you can put a sweater on a dog, or give him little booties in the winter, the appearance of your aquarium is limited only by your own imagination.<\/span><\/p>\n
Try these fun themes:<\/span><\/p>\n
Fishkeepers know that fish need a lot less of a time investment than dogs, as well. For instance:<\/span><\/p>\n
Fish get all the exercise they ever need by swimming in their tanks. I have never had a vet tell me that my fish has gained too much weight and must be exercised more.<\/span><\/p>\n
Dogs thrive on being pampered and cuddled. Fish, however, do not appreciate being held for long periods of time.<\/span><\/p>\n
From house training to obedience training, dogs require a lot of teaching. I\u2019ve never had a fish yet that ate my sneakers when I wasn\u2019t home.<\/span><\/p>\n
Your dog doesn\u2019t stop needing to be cared for just because you are going away. You can hire a pet sitter, board him at a kennel, ask a family member or friend to come over several times a day to care for your furry friend, or for an additional cost, you can find a hotel that allows your dog to stay with you. Fish can be left alone for a day or two, thanks to affordable fish vacation feeders that you can drop right into the tank as you leave. If you will be away for an extended period of time, it\u2019s easy to find a friend who can come feed your fish every other day; unlike dogs, fish don\u2019t require constant feeding and attention.<\/span><\/p>\n
Dog owners know all too well the hazards of ownership associated with having their fluffy family members. <\/span><\/p>\n
Keeping a freshwater or saltwater aquarium doesn\u2019t have any of the risks that owning a dog may have. Your fluffy canine companion has unlimited potential for destruction and heartache, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n
Even the sweetest dog can become afraid or feel threatened and bite someone, resulting in legal fees and doctor bills. Unless you have piranha, your fish will most likely not jump from the aquarium and deliver a nasty bite to anyone.<\/span><\/p>\n
Yes, fish do this as well, but they don\u2019t do it on your favorite carpet or hardwood floors.<\/span><\/p>\n
From chewing your shoes to scratching your doors, bored dogs will find ways to pass the time when you are not around. Fish never seem to be bored, and I have never owned a fish yet who had separation anxiety. Fish do not dig holes in your yard, chew your favorite chair, or eat your sneakers when you are not looking. Bored fish may pull up or even eat your plants in a tank. This is not caused by boredom but some other issue. When did you feed your fish pet last time?<\/span><\/p>\n
Fish do not, as a rule, chase squirrels or deer. In all of my years keeping fish, I have never seen a Lost\/Missing sign for a single fish. <\/span><\/p>\n
There are no roving bands of stray fish in any neighborhood I have ever visited, and to my knowledge, no fish has ever jumped from his tank and had his way with the neighbor\u2019s ladyfish, resulting in unwanted fry.<\/span><\/p>\n
To be fair, neither can fish, but the difference is that fish don\u2019t really care what you\u2019re saying anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n
Any dog owner can tell you that dogs love to bring dirt and mud inside with them to share with their less than thrilled owners. If you are lucky, you can vacuum up the mess but if you are not, you will have to rent a steamer for about $40 a day or hire someone to come in and clean your carpets. While the prices for this can vary depending on the size of your room, you can generally expect to pay upwards of $100 a room for this service. Fish, on the other hand, are content to confine their messes to their aquariums, resulting only in a partial water change every week at no additional cost to their keepers.<\/span><\/p>\n
Every dog owner knows the various smells associated with their furry friends. Wet dog smell is the easiest to recognize, and the hardest to get rid of from the dog, your furniture, your clothing, and even your car. Fish kept as a hobby do not have a wet fish smell that needs to be sprayed away with a deodorizer.<\/span><\/p>\n
Because of the potential for property damages, many rental properties do not welcome dogs. Those that do require a large security deposit on top of the monthly rental agreement. Small and medium-size Aquariums are welcomed in any property because fish are quiet, clean, and not destructive in any way. There is only one question if your tank crack there might be some damage.<\/span><\/p>\n
I do love dogs, however, and I can see where a dog may have advantages over fish in a few ways, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n
No matter how big your fish is, his bark will not scare away intruders.<\/span><\/p>\n
You can coax him to the top of the tank with a nibble of food, but your fish isn\u2019t going to win any obedience contests.<\/span><\/p>\n
Fish tend to have a hard time navigating stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n
After a long, tiring day, you are better off cuddling a throw pillow than hugging a fish.<\/span><\/p>\n
Dogs will greet you with wagging tails at the door when you come home, even if you\u2019ve just been taking out the trash and have only been gone for five minutes. Fish don\u2019t share this enthusiasm no matter how long you\u2019ve been away.<\/span><\/p>\n
While everyone loves a cold, wet nose and wagging tail, dogs are generally more expensive and more time consuming than a freshwater or saltwater aquarium full of well behaved, brightly colored fish. All<\/span> benefits of keeping the fish tank at home<\/span><\/a> are listed here, check the link.<\/span><\/p>\n
Studies show that watching fish can reduce anxiety and promote emotional wellness.<\/span><\/p>\n
Researchers have proven that an aquarium full of fish can actually lower blood pressure by reducing stress. These same studies show that even after a heart attack, owning fish can promote a longer and healthier life.<\/span><\/p>\n
In 1999, Purdue University released a study showing that Alzheimer\u2019s patients had an increase in appetite and connection with their surroundings along with a decrease in violent or disruptive behavior when they have access to fish in an aquarium. The patients who were able to watch fish in aquariums were overall more alert and content than patients who did not have aquariums around them.<\/span><\/p>\n
While I love all dogs, I have to say the final verdict is for a freshwater or saltwater aquarium full of fish, hands down.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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