Everyone knows that pets reduce stress, so why don't you have one yet? Maybe you want a dog, but you're a college student living in an apartment and you're on a budget. Maybe your apartment has a no-cat rule, or you're just allergic? Or perhaps you just don't think you have the time or money to take care of a pet. Don't despair, there are plenty of animal friends that are the perfect fit for the college lifestyle:
Rats, Mice, and Hamsters
Soft and sweet, rodents are just tiny dogs that squeak instead of bark! Easy to care for, all these pets need is a roomy cage (do your research to find the best size) and plenty of toys, which you can make yourself from common household objects. Especially if you're going to school or working full time, it's best to keep at least two rodents—they're intelligent, social animals. Rats are particularly smart; they can even learn tricks!
Parakeets
Certified bird mom here, and I can say with the utmost confidence that parakeets, more specifically budgies, would be right at home in an apartment. But Amy, you say, birds are so loud! They would annoy my roommates and neighbors! Wrongo bongo—while their larger cousins might be squawkers, budgies are nothing but sweet little chirpers. And if for some reason you need to study or take a nap, and you just can't do it with those sweet little peeps in the background—budgies have an easy off-switch. Toss a sheet over their cage, and I guarantee they'll hush. The sheet is meant to be used at night so the birds can sleep, but throwing it up for an hour during the day wouldn't hurt if you needed peace and quiet. Similar to rodents, two is the magic number, unless you have the time to give your one budgie the social interaction it needs to be happy.
Hermit Crabs
These little buggers make great, easy to care for pals. Another social animal, two hermits are better than one. They need a warm, humid enclosure (getting the humidity just right can be a bit tricky), sand, and saltwater (marine salt only!) but once they're all set up they're very low maintenance pets. They love to climb and play in the sand, and customizable shells give them unique personalities!
Lizards
Similar to hermit crabs, set up is the hardest part of caring for your scaley friends. They too need a warm tank, which can be pricey, but once that's taken care of maintenance is a snap. I'm talking small reptiles here—leopard geckos and anoles, not large reptiles like pythons and iguanas. Keep in mind that feeding a reptile isn't like feeding a dog—you can't pour food into a bowl. They eat live insects, like crickets, so if that makes you squeamish, a pet reptile may not be for you.
The Not-So Apartment Friendly:
It's usually not hard to tell what pets just aren't suited for close quarters; most large dogs, for example, just don't thrive on the fifth floor. But there's a common misconception that a certain aquatic friend is the best apartment pet when in reality it's the last place they should live.
Goldfish
I've lost count of how many goldfish I've won from fairs growing up. We put them in a round bowl, feed them once or twice a day, and that's that. But the sad reality is goldfish are higher maintenance pets than most people think. That puny common goldfish swimming laps in a bowl is actually supposed to reach up to 18 inches in length—it's just plain unhealthy to keep them in a cramped bowl. Most tanks aren't even big enough—goldfish should really be kept in ponds, like koi fish. So fill your apartments with all the betas and tetras you want, but steer clear of pet goldfish, for their sake.
