You love your pets, but there are things you might be doing that could kill them! The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids tells you how not to kill (and how to take the best care of) your goldfish, turtle, hamster, and/or parakeet.
How to Kill a Goldfish
(and other pets, if you’re not careful)
Goldfish
How do you kill a goldfish? Keep it in a very small bowl.
Goldfish need space to flex their fins. Make sure that the tank is the right size for your fish (or fishes). Allow 6 to 8 gallons of water for each adult fish. Change it regularly and use a filtration system. Keep the tank away from cold drafts and direct sunlight.
Turtle
How do you kill a turtle? Keep it in a dry location with very little humidity.
Turtles need water. If the environment is too dry, your turtle may develop illnesses. Use a spray bottle to mist your turtle daily. Place a shallow dish with water inside the aquarium so that your turtle can take a dip whenever it wants. Make sure that the pool has fresh water daily.
Hamster
How do you kill a hamster? Give it a bath every day.
Never bathe your hamster unless it has a toxic substance—such as paint or varnish—in its fur that will make it sick if it licks it off. Bathing your hamster destroys the natural oils that are present in its fur and protect it from cold.
Parakeet
How do you kill a parakeet? Give it only seeds to eat.
For a long and healthy life, your bird needs a combination of different foods in addition to seeds. Feed your parakeet daily with fresh fruit such as apples, grapes, and strawberries and/or fresh vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, green beans, spinach, and sprouted seeds. (Do not feed your bird avocado or chocolate; both are poisonous to parakeets.)
