Aqua Zone

PARENTS! If your children have been insisting that they want a pet and you are hesitating even a little bit, you must purchase Aqua Zone first.

This is an absolutely wonderful way to find out several things before you bring home a pet.

1. Will the kids take care of the pet?

2. Will they lose interest after a while?

3. Will mom and Dad end up taking care of the pet?

4. Does Mom and Dad really want the responsibility of a pet?

5. Will you be stuck with expensive equipment and the entire responsibility when everyone loses interest?

After a few weeks of caring for these virtual fish, I realized I really don't want a pet! And I don't even have any children still at home. I had thought I wanted a pet. However, I realized just how much work a pet really was and decided against it. I now have my virtual aquarium turned off. I am grateful that by experiencing the hassles of taking care of even something as small as fish, that I realized my folly before I investing in all the equipment expense.

Pets take up as much time as children do. They are expensive--vet bills, medicine, shots, food, not to mention the physical liability for your traditional larger pets such as cats and dogs. How about the health risks connected to owning a pet. Iguana carry salmonella, tropical birds carry disease. Even dogs and cats can carry disease.

Then there is the potty training aspect of your pet. Are you prepared to empty the cat litter box or clean up after the dog, because you know the kids won't? Then there are the pet stains, the odors, the cat and dog hair, or the bird seeds slung all over near the cage,(for those who are thinking of having a bird).

Then, what about when company comes over? Will you have to lock your pet away while they are here? What about vacations? Where will it be boarded while you are gone or will you take it with you? Will someone come in to feed it?

Will the child want to miss going to their friend's house because they have to be home to care for their pet first? After raising four children myself and getting stuck with caring for the pets they just had to have.... well...... need I say more?

My advice to parents who are thinking of buying a pet for their children.... buy a virtual pet first! Tell the children that they must take care of their virtual pet for a certain length of time first. If they enjoy the experience and show responsibility and you see that they are ready for the experience of owning a pet, then, by all means, buy a pet. And, if after experiencing all the ups and downs connected to caring for these virtual pets, Mom and Dad decide they will enjoy owning a pet, by all means, buy a pet for the family.

However, if the virtual pet experience is not a good one, Practice this word over and over and over and over...... NO!

As far as the program is concerned, it is pretty realistic. If you aren't careful, you will have dead fish popping up all over the place. You will need to feed them, watch the temperature of the water, add chemicals for pH balance, medicate them, you can even breed them. The action is very realistic and the fish are beautiful to look at. Very relaxing, just like a real aquarium. You can set auto feed settings if you will be away. You have virtual resource books for diagnosing disease and problems, you have available to you, everything you will need to set up your tank. You can even arrange the decorations inside the tank. Believe me, it is just like owning a real aquarium full of expensive tropical fish.

For those who know nothing about caring for fish, this will teach you everything you need to know. For those who just don't have the money to invest in a set up, this will provide you with hours of entertainment. For those who are not quite sure if you want a fish tank or not, this will let you know fast, what it will be like. I recommend this to everyone..... try it before you buy the real thing!