How to Care for a Fish in a Dorm Room

Nothing makes dorm life more like home than a pet. Since many colleges do not allow Fido and other furry creatures on campus, students are left with fish as the only pet option open to them. Yet fish are not not something to buy just to forget about the next day. Make sure you know the type of care that goes into keeping a fish before purchasing one.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish bowl or tank
  • Air pump
  • Fish net
  • Plastic plant or decoration
  • Alternative container
  • Water conditioning drops
  • Fish food
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Check the rules of your college dorm to make sure fish are allowed as pets. This may not be discussed on orientation day but a resident assistant is the ideal person to ask if you do not see any specific information in your move-in documents.

    • 2

      Ask your roommate if he would mind you having a pet fish. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but you will be sharing the room with this person for the year. It's best not to start off on the wrong foot.

    • 3

      Create a fish area if there is enough room. You want to make sure the fish bowl or tank will be on a sturdy piece of furniture, with a surface larger than the container. It must be kept out of direct sunlight, away from air conditioning or heaters and out of the path of heavy foot traffic.

    Caring for Your Fish

    • 4

      Purchase either goldfish or a single betta fish. Goldfish will need an air pump for oxygen while betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, must be kept alone as they are aggressive toward other fish, even of the same species.

    • 5

      Keep the water at room temperature and change it weekly with fresh water. A medium-sized bowl is preferable to a 10- or 20-gallon tank as it is easier to change in a dorm setting. Treat the replacement water with water conditioning drops and let it sit in a separate container for a minimum of 24 hours.

    • 6

      Use a fishing net to retrieve the goldfish or betta and deposit your fish in the alternative container, making sure the temperature is similar to the old water. Remove the plastic plant or decoration and clean by hand.

    • 7

      Dump the old water and clean the bowl with warm water only. Never use soap. Slowly and gently pour the water, and the fish, from the alternative container back into the original bowl.

    • 8

      Feed your fish according to the directions on the food label, usually once or twice daily. Goldfish may have specialized flakes for coloring. Betta fish, as carnivores, will require food pellets with other fish, such a shrimp, in the ingredient list.