College fish
Every week we pick a theme to explore in more depth, and this week that theme is eco-friendly pets. To read all our posts related to this theme, click here.
Many post-secondary students find themselves craving a pet of their own, only a few months into their first semester. I know that I did, as I missed my family cat dearly. I ended up saving a calico from the humane society with the money from my first Christmas away.
Still, most dorms don't allow cats or dogs, and the expense and time investment can often be too much for a busy student. Pet fish are cheaper and more environmentally friendly, although they do require a bit of maintenance. Like plants, some of them are easy to care for, but you'll still need to learn a thing or two.
With this in mind, I've prepared a quick list of some of the fish that you are less likely to kill while studying, partying, and otherwise being occupied.
Many post-secondary students find themselves craving a pet of their own, only a few months into their first semester. I know that I did, as I missed my family cat dearly. I ended up saving a calico from the humane society with the money from my first Christmas away.Still, most dorms don't allow cats or dogs, and the expense and time investment can often be too much for a busy student. Pet fish are cheaper and more environmentally friendly, although they do require a bit of maintenance. Like plants, some of them are easy to care for, but you'll still need to learn a thing or two.
With this in mind, I've prepared a quick list of some of the fish that you are less likely to kill while studying, partying, and otherwise being occupied.
- Goldfish get along well with other fish, so you won't run into the problem that many first-time buyers do. In other words, you won't buy eight fish, only to notice some of them disappearing, and others getting fat. They partially self-clean their tanks, as they'll eat off the bottom if you haven't fed them recently.
- Male betta fish will attack/eat most other fish, so if you really want one, either get him his own tank, or ask a clerk what fish he'll get along with. Females on the other hand, although less prettily colored, are much more apt to play nicely. They don't require a lot of room, but upgrading them from a tiny plastic cup is recommended.
- Neon tetras are tiny, don't need much room, and play well with others. They also come in some pretty interesting colors.
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