What about visitors kids and your tanks??

[cainchristy]

Hey all. Happy 4th of July. Hope everyone is having a blast!

I have a quick question...WE are having a pretty big get together tonight, and there will be lots of kids here. First off, don't get me wrong...I love kids, I have 2 great little ones of my own. They are 3 and 7. They never touch the tank, slap the tank, get in the tank, or play with toys Near my tank.

After having that said....some of the children coming tonight are how do you say nicely???? Ill behaved. What are some things you guys do to prevent children from slapping your tank, sticking their hands in, or anything else like that?? Short of roping it off, I don't know how to nicely do anything about it.

I'm up for suggestions. Thanks!

 

[ssdalton]

I too have had this problem in the past - they always want to see Nemo,etc,etc. I usually tell them they'll scare Nemo and he won't come out to see them. But this only works for a few minutes - then they start slapping it again to get his attention....


Shaun

 

[yoda]

I keep a 5g bucket full of old razorblades and busted glass. Usually before I have kids over, I'll sprinkle a 4' radius around the tank, and tell them to watch out for it. Then, shop-vac it up and save it for next time...

 

[Mariner]

Nice Yoda, really nice.:lol:
I've actually had more problems with teenagers than with little kids, but I've found that either can be dangerous near a tank.
Like most things with kids, you've got to let them know clearly and firmly what the rules are. If something bad does happen, try to remember that a relationship with a human being is more important than a relationship with fish and corals.
JMO, FWIW,
Mariner

 

[wpecoul]

Taser the little b*stards.

 

[cainchristy]

Man, I am exhausted! The worste kids I was referring to are 3 year old twin boys......at one point one of the house guests came and got me, he was standing on the couch, with a bowl, and was trying to fit it up under the canopy, to put "nemo" in. I was miserable, wouldn't hardly leave the room. I didn't even get to watch the fireworks!

I did get on to them the last time they came, and it didn't do any good. This time, I finally looked at the mom and said "Yeah, be careful with that, it's expensive." Well, NO DUH! These seem to be the only ones I have problems with, and I know I made the mom nervous, but they just kept on.

Thanks for the tips. I'm just soooo proud this night it over! Yoda, your tip was at least a good laugh after the night I've had....Thanks!

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I am kind of late to respond to this, but I wonder, if "putting fishes to bed" works with small children.

After presenting your beautiful tank to your friends, relatives and their children, you tell the children that fishes have to go to bed early because they stayed up too late last night, let them say "night, night" to fish, and simply turn the light off on your tank. Without your tank brightly lit, kids normally lose their interest pretty quickly.

Tomoko

 

[8BALL_99]

I just get down to Eyelevel with them and say Our tanks are just like our TVs.. They are just for watching not Touching...

If that doesn't work next time go with Yoda's method

Will

 

[cainchristy]

Thanks for all the tips. I'll try a combination of all of them next time, short of the razor blades

I usually don't have a problem with this, but like I said, this is the second time these 2 kids have done me this way. I'm usually pretty laid back, but that is the ONE thing, I don't like kids messing with. I love it when they look, but when they start slapping at it, with toys in their hands, or actually trying to get IN the tank, I get a little edgey...

 

[H@rry]

I understand Mariner's comment about relationships with humans: BUT : if the human is not interested in disciplining their children, I might just be willing to sacrifice that particular relationship!

 

[andyjd]

They get politely (sp?) but firmly told they can look but not touch.