What is My First Pet?

My First Pet is a complete pet care companion app designed for first-time pet owners. It offers free breed guides, nutrition plans, emergency information, training tips, and behaviour guidance, with premium AI-powered tools for advanced pet care.

Is My First Pet free to use?

Yes, My First Pet is free forever with breed guides, pet tips, emergency info, FAQ, and myth-busting articles. A premium plan from £3.99/month unlocks the AI pet care guide, nutrition guide, behaviour decoder, training tips, seasonal advice, and the full kids zone.

What pets does My First Pet support?

My First Pet supports dogs, cats, fish, small mammals (like rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters), and birds — with species-specific nutrition guides, care tips, and toxic food warnings.

Does My First Pet include a toxic foods guide?

Yes. The nutrition guide includes species-specific toxic food lists with risk descriptions and emergency action steps for dogs, cats, small mammals, and birds.

Can I track my pet's daily care with My First Pet?

Yes. You can create pet profiles, track daily care tasks like feeding and walks, and receive smart email reminders to stay on top of your pet's routine.

What is My First Pet?

Master pet care with My First Pet, featuring 100+ knowledge articles, daily task reminders, and expert behaviour decoding to nurture your companion.

Fish Care Guide

Everything a first-time fish keeper needs to know — from setting up a tank to daily care, feeding, and common mistakes to avoid.

2–6 wks

Tank cycling

20–25%

Weekly water change

24–27°C

Tropical temp

1–2×/day

Feeding

Setting Up Your Tank

Tank Size

Bigger is always better. A good starter tank is 40–60 litres for small tropical fish like guppies or tetras. Avoid tiny bowls — they're hard to keep clean and stable.

Filter

A filter keeps the water clean by removing waste and harmful chemicals. Leave it running 24/7 — it also grows good bacteria that keep your fish healthy.

Heater (for tropical fish)

Most tropical fish need water between 24–27°C. A small aquarium heater with a built-in thermostat keeps the temperature steady.

Lighting

A simple LED light is fine. Keep it on for 8–10 hours a day — too much light causes algae growth.

Substrate & Decor

Use aquarium gravel or sand (rinse well before adding). Add plants, caves, or ornaments so fish have places to hide and explore.

Water Conditioner

Tap water contains chlorine which is harmful to fish. Always add a water conditioner before filling the tank.

The Most Important Thing: Cycling

Before adding fish, your tank needs to "cycle" — this means growing good bacteria that make the water safe. Here's how it works in simple terms:

Fish produce waste which turns into ammonia (toxic).

Good bacteria in the filter convert ammonia into nitrite (also toxic).

Other bacteria convert nitrite into nitrate (much less harmful).

You remove nitrate by doing regular partial water changes.

This process takes 2–6 weeks — let the tank run before adding fish.

💡 Pro tip: You can buy a bottle of "live bacteria" starter to speed up cycling, but always test the water before adding fish.

Feeding Your Fish

How Much

Feed only what your fish can eat in 1–2 minutes. A tiny pinch is usually enough. Overfeeding is the #1 cause of water problems.

How Often

Once or twice a day is perfect for most fish. Skip a feeding once a week — it's good for their digestion.

What to Feed

Quality flake or pellet food as the main diet. Supplement with frozen or freeze-dried treats like bloodworms or brine shrimp occasionally.

Remove Leftovers

Scoop out uneaten food after a few minutes — it rots and pollutes the water.

Tank Maintenance

Change 20–25% of the water every 1–2 weeks using a siphon or gravel cleaner.
Always treat new tap water with conditioner before adding it to the tank.
Top up water that has evaporated — but a full water change is never needed.
Rinse the filter sponge in old tank water (not tap water) every few weeks to keep good bacteria alive.
Check the temperature daily — sudden drops mean your heater may need replacing.
Test the water weekly with simple test strips for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

Great Fish for Beginners

Guppies

Colourful, hardy, and easy to breed. Great for beginners.

Tetras

Small schooling fish — keep them in groups of 6 or more.

Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)

Beautiful and low-maintenance — but keep males alone.

Corydoras Catfish

Bottom-dwelling cleaners that help tidy up leftover food.

Goldfish

Classic and hardy, but they need large tanks (60+ litres) and produce a lot of waste.

Things to Do

Cycle your tank for at least 2 weeks before adding any fish.
Add fish gradually — start with 2–3 hardy fish, then add more over several weeks.
Float new fish in their bag for 15–20 minutes to match the water temperature.
Keep a regular weekly water change routine.
Quarantine new fish in a separate tank for a week before introducing them.
Research each species before buying — some fish don't get along.

Things to Avoid

Don't overfeed — it's the most common mistake new fish keepers make.
Don't do a full water change — it removes the good bacteria your fish need.
Don't clean the filter under tap water — chlorine kills the beneficial bacteria.
Don't keep betta males together — they will fight.
Don't place the tank in direct sunlight — it causes algae and temperature swings.
Don't add too many fish at once — it overloads the filter and causes ammonia spikes.

When Something's Wrong

If fish are gasping at the surface, hiding more than usual, or the water looks cloudy or smells bad, do a 30% water change immediately and test the water. These are signs of poor water quality, which can be fatal quickly.