April is National Pet Month, and promoting responsible pet ownership is something we wholeheartedly support. Maidenhead Aquatics advocates for responsible fishkeeping all year round and one of our initiatives aimed at school children, Fishkeeper Fry has just closed for 2025.

The Fishkeeper Fry Programme has been running for 7 years at Maidenhead Aquatics, giving over 20,000 children between the ages of 5-10 years old access to not only the joys of fishkeeping but also the responsibility and ability to care for their own fish. This free interactive education programme was developed by our team at Maidenhead Aquatics to help develop the next generation of responsible fishkeepers,  teaching children how to care for fish and get the most out of the hobby.

Aimed at 7-8-year-olds, Fishkeeper Fry is an engaging, 8-week classroom-based initiative that gives children hands-on experience in setting up and maintaining an aquarium. Using a series of online instructional films, interactive worksheets, and expert-led lessons, the programme introduces key topics such as water chemistry, fish care, and the nitrogen cycle, all while supporting the National Curriculum.

To ensure every child gets the full experience, participating schools receive their very own free aquarium, equipment, and even a selection of fish to care for throughout the programme. With the support of our knowledgeable team at Maidenhead Aquatics stores, teachers can confidently guide their pupils through the process, helping them develop a deep understanding of aquatic life and how to care for fish responsibly.

With the Easter holidays approaching, why not consider getting an aquarium for your young fishkeepers and use the short videos from our course to help to learn about setting up and caring for fish?

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fishkeeper-fry-lessons

Each lesson comes with worksheets that align with the topics covered, giving your child a structured way to learn. However, sometimes it's great to think outside the box and get creative, just like the students above did! Their schools went beyond our materials and challenged them to design their own 3D aquariums using everyday items. Why not encourage your young fishkeeper to do something similar? Share their creation on social media and tag us so we can celebrate their amazing work!

Now you may be wondering, where do I start? What equipment do I need?  Well that is simple, here is all the equipment that we provide the schools with when they participate in the programme, this may be a good starting point for you and your young fishkeepers.

Fishkeeper Fry at home items

Explore our diverse selection of aquarium substrates, from vibrant and natural gravels to bold or delicate sands. Create the perfect home for your fish by adding plants—whether real or artificial—along with ornaments to provide shelter and cosy hiding spots.

Now that you have your tank set up and all the equipment you need, you can start thinking of adding some fish. Here are the fish that participating schools add to their aquarium throughout the programme.

5 Cherry Shrimp

4 Platies (3 female and 1 male)

2 Zebra Nerite Snails 

2 Corydoras

6 Neon, Glowlight, or Black Neon Tetras 

3 Dwarf-Sucking Catfish

Here is some inspiration from Aquariums some of our participating schools created with their students in the Fishkeeper Fry programme this year.