The average person spends about £15 a month on fresh water fish; in other words, they spend about £180 a year on fish. That’s a lot of money for an animal that most people consider to be a nuisance at the best of times!
Inevitably, questions will arise about how much fish really costs. Is it worth it? How do I know how much fish I’m really paying for? Can you really value a fish based on its price per kilo? How could that even work? Let’s have a look.
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What Is A Fish Worth?
Well, that is a good question. To start with, let’s look at what a fish is actually worth and how much you should pay for one. It’s pretty hard to put a price on a creature that you share a planet with. Suffering from anthropomorphism, where have you gone, Douglas Adams?
A goldfish, if you ask me, is absolutely priceless. You’ll never get the same experience out of an expensive bottle of wine or a pack of cigarettes (and, I don’t think, even those come with fish in them).
The price of a goldfish varies based on a number of factors. The first of which is, of course, its weight. The average goldfish weighs about two pounds and costs about £2.50 to buy. Don’t expect to get much for an old or sickly one. They normally have a very short lifespan, and therefore, are not considered to be very economically viable. Think breeding pairs, mainly because they are very social animals that need companionship.
How much does a chicken cost per year? A good chicken will keep you fed for a couple of weeks, and its price varies based on breed and size. Generally speaking, a large egg-laying chicken will set you back about £50 to £60 per year.
What Are The Risks Involved In Keeping A Fish?
Anyone who keeps fish as a hobby or as a way of life is likely to run into trouble at some point. The major risk relates to the health of the fish itself. If you look after your pet fish well and give it the proper nutrition, the risks are relatively modest. However, it is still a risky business, and it’s not for the faint-hearted!
Any fish you keep, for whatever reason, needs the proper care and attention to stay alive. This includes cleaning the tank regularly, checking for harmful algae or other bacteria, and providing enough light. It’s also important to feed your fish correctly; again, this depends on the size and type of fish you have. Small fish normally require smaller food quantities than larger ones. This is because smaller fish have a higher metabolism rate, and therefore, need more energy to grow. The final risk relates to the environment. If you do happen to overpopulate your tank, you’re going to cause all sorts of problems for the surrounding area. In particular, larger fish are known to eat smaller fish, birds, and other animals. You might also encounter a problem with algae if you don’t clean out the tank on a regular basis. In short, if you want to keep fish as a pet, you need to prepare yourself to take the necessary measures to ensure its well-being. Fortunately, these measures are relatively straightforward and can be carried out by anyone with a little bit of experience. It’s just a case of common sense and proper care, which is all anyone can ask for.
How Many Carbs Does A Goldfish Have?
Let’s have a look at the nutritional information for a goldfish (the most economical and common type of freshwater fish).
A goldfish has about 15 grams of carbohydrates per day, which breaks down to about 4.5 grams per gram. This makes it a low-carbohydrate food, which is good for people with diabetes. In other words, a 1-pound goldfish has about the same amount of carbs as a small chocolate chip cookie!
The body of a goldfish is made up of about 50% water, so its actual mass is about 1/10th of its weight. This also means that a goldfish has about 150 calories per day, on average. It’s a fairly low-calorie fish, which most people find appealing because of its small size. If you do happen to overeat it, then you’ll end up causing yourself some health problems, as with any food. It’s best to eat only what you need and not to strain yourself by overeating. Remember, small meals often produce bigger appetites, which can lead to obesity. On the positive side, a goldfish rarely gets sick, as humans do, and therefore requires little or no medical attention. They are normally a contented and peaceful animal and do not cause as much damage to other living creatures as their massive size would lead you to believe!
Is It Worth It To Freeze Or Refreeze Fish?
Fish can, and often are, frozen successfully for long periods of time. In fact, some people rely on frozen fish as a way of life – either because they don’t have the time to regularly prepare live food, or because it’s simply easier to defrost frozen fish (most freezers are equipped with an ice maker!).
As for the cost of freezing fish, that varies. Smaller fish, like trout and bass, are the most expensive to freeze due to their high price per kilo (a pound of trout normally costs about £22, for example). Larger fish, like salmon and steelhead, are cheaper per kilo to freeze because thawing them is a lengthy process (thawing time normally ranges from three to six months). The key thing to bear in mind is that, as the fish becomes more expensive to buy and prepare, its value drops significantly. This essentially means that you’re getting less value for your money, when you compare fresh and frozen fish.
To conclude, the price of a goldfish increases based on a number of factors. The first is its weight; a 1-pound goldfish is actually worth about £3. For whatever reason, people value goldfish more than other similar-sized fish. The second factor is the amount of time you have to spend preparing it. Thirdly, the price jumps up based on where you are located. Finally, fresh fish is always more expensive than frozen. That’s not because the fish is any better, it’s just because of the extra cost of buying and preparing it. All in all, it’s a popular but expensive pet to feed!