“People are at home more,” he said. “It is an easy way to get into pet ownership. They don’t need to be walked and you can leave fish alone.”
He said the cost of setting up a tank started at about £50, with the fish “a couple of pounds” on top of that. But as with any hobby, the sky is the limit, with the retailer selling extras such as £60 ornaments shaped like the Acropolis.“Fish-keeping is a hobby that requires a degree of involvement from easy through to very sophisticated,” Pritchard said. “It is very rewarding. A fish tank is an incredibly peaceful thing to have in your home.”Owning a pet fish may also be one of the few options open to those living in rented accommodation, suggested Dick Mills, of the Federation of British Aquatic Societies. Some landlords “really don’t want cats and dogs but don’t mind fish tanks,” he said. “I mean, the worst that can happen is that it leaks.”Use a Food Dispensing Toy for Fast Eaters. If your dog eats too fast use a food dispensing toy (we love the Kong Wobbler & Bob a Lot), or place a few tennis balls in their bowl to slow their eating. Not only does this keep them from eating too quick, it gives them a nice mental workout.
Fish-keeping is a practical choice but also provides a mental workout as owners must grapple with maths, physics and biology to keep their fish alive – and that’s before you get into what type of fish you are going to own.
“Is it going to be cold water, warm water or tropical marine fish?” said Mills. “You have got so much to choose from. It’s the best living picture you can hang on your wall.”
The shift to working from home has benefited Pets at Home , which has 451 stores and was classed as an essential retailer by the government, as working-from-home Britons lavished attention on existing pets or embraced ownership for the first time.
Membership of its Puppy and Kitten Club – where cat and dog owners receive expert advice and exclusive offers – is up 25% on this time last year. This week the company said sales at established stores were up nearly 8% in the three months to 8 October.Need Help Getting Your Dogs Urine Sample? Use a Ladle & Container. If you need to collect a urine sample check out this awesome $2 solution (a ladle & small containers) that makes it easy.