Every college student feels lonely some times when they go off to college. In my experience, getting an animal can help fill that void of leaving home. Although some animals can be harder than others, there are some that are simple for college students to care for with their busy schedules. I have put together a list of animals that work well in college dorm rooms. However, keep in mind if you're considering getting a pet, you should plan to care for it to the best of your ability. Please do not purchase a pet if you do not plan to take care of it!
1. Betta Fish
The first on our list is the Betta Fish! Betta fish are very easy to take care of because they are very difficult to kill. I personally have a betta fish. His name is Gerald and he is my child. Betta fish only require a small bowl/tank (1 Gallon or more) and a small container of food. When getting a betta, if you do not get a filter for the tank, which is not required, you do have to change out their water weekly to keep your fish from getting sick.
When buying a betta, if you get a male, males can be very aggressive toward any other fish, especially other male bettas, so these are definitely fish that need to be alone! There are certain fish, like neon tetras and guppies, that can be in a tank with a male betta, but you still take the chance of the betta biting off tails of the other fish. Overall, bettas can be very cheap and easy to take care of as long as you understand that there is a possibility of them living 3-5 years!
2. South American Horned Frog (Pacman Frogs)
I have considered getting one of these and the reptile shop owner told me these are the betta fishes of frogs. These frogs live about 6-10 years in captivity, so know that you'll have this for that long! Pacman frogs, their name coming from the fact that they resemble the famous character in the game. Almost half of a pacman's body is their mouth. They will eat anything that moves in front of them. They mostly eat crickets so their food is relatively inexpensive. When they get bigger they can small mice.
If you are wanting something you can hold and play with everyday, however, these are not for you. These frogs breathe through their skin and any oils or bacteria on our hands can make them very sick if we touch and hold them all the time.
They are sold at the size of a quarter but will grow to 4-7 inches in length, however, some can get bigger. This means that pacman frogs need a habitat that is, at minimum, a 10 gallon tank. They need a lot of humidity and heat. They also need lots of soil to dig into. For more information about them and their habitat, click here!
3. Hedgehogs
If you are looking for a pet to play with everyday, hedgehogs are the animal for you! While slightly expensive ($70-$250), these little guys will live 2-5 years. Hedghogs need a minimum of 4 square feet to live in, but bigger is preferable. More information about their enclosures can be found here.They like to burrow under things so accommodating to this is preferable.
These animals require human interaction. They will bond with you the more you interact with them. Each hedgehog has its own personality, so being patient will really help with bonding. These are curious creatures so they like to explore. They can eat fruits and vegetables as well as certain cat foods. If you plan to purchase one, keep in mind that they will live for years, so plan that far ahead!
4. Ball Pythons
Ball Pythons, if you like snakes, make great pets. These, like hedgehogs, can be very expensive at first when you buy them. However, they are very easy to maintain. BUT, these guys can live up to 30 years. So if you get one, you are in it for life with them. They eat mice primarily, and preferably live mice, but if you don't want to watch a mouse die, you can get frozen mice also. Ball pythons can also get to be 5 feet long depending on the breed and sex, so you'll probably need a decent size tank for your ball python.
These animals are also easy to get out and handle. So if you are wanting an animal to get out and play with, this is your animal!
5. Rock
Rocks make great pets if you absolutely cannot keep an animal alive. You can get them out whenever you want and they will always love you.
If you do decide to get any of these animals, always consult a professional on proper care for your animal and always do your research. I recommend supporting local pet stores rather than big corporations like petland, petco, and pet smart just because I have never had a good experience working with them. Also please please please do not get an animal you are not willing to care for its entire life. We share this planet. Be kind to others sharing it with us.
