Fish face deadly consequences if not cared for properly

By Allison Kowalski
LIFESTYLES EDITOR

“Fish are friends, not food,” said Bruce, the fish-eating shark in Finding Nemo. College students obviously do not eat pet fish, but fish should be treated with respect and given a decent fishbowl. Many students wake up to find their fish dead in the morning because of mistakes and accidents that can easily be avoided.

Because college students are not allowed to have dogs, cats or birds in dorm rooms, a popular pet to have is a fish. The College at Brockport only allows pet fish in a bowl as students’ companions.

Fish can be a fun accessory to a dorm room because students can personalize them. The color of the fish is selected, the type of bowl, castles and toys can be put on colorful pebbles and finally, the naming of fish. Some students opt for simple names like Fred or Moe while others go wild and name fish Raptor McGillicutty or Shenaynay Horseheads.

However, with classes, gym sessions, studying, work, sleep and mandatory roommate bonding, life can get so hectic for students that they may forget to feed poor Fred or give Raptor fresh water for his bowl.

As a result, many fish are flushed down toilets or buried in the volleyball court in the freshman quad.
However, it is possible to maintain a healthy life for a fish as a busy caregiver. There are simple procedures students can take to make sure Fred does not go belly-up.

First of all, one important thing any living creature needs to survive is an adequate amount of food. Food helps nourish the body and gives energy to move around.Because a fish is constantly in motion, it needs strength to swim and bat its tiny fins. If a fish is rarely fed, it is likely it will not live to see more days.

However, if a fish is overfed, it can explode and blow up from excessive eating. A daily pinch of fish food helps keep a fish strong and mobile.

Like people, fish do better in a clean environment rather than a dirty and bacterial filled one. A decent sized fish bowl is needed, too. A normal person would not want to sleep on bed sheets filled with mud, fungus or crumbs, and a fish does not want to swim in murky, cloudy water. The unclean water contains bacteria and excretion from the fish. The fish does not want to swim or sleep in feces. Once a week, place the fish in a cup, rinse out its bowl and give it fresh water. If there is a snail or crab that has died, remove it immediately. Don’t wait for the snail to become a skeleton before the bowl is cleaned. The fish will thank you for cleaning it, and friends or roommates will no longer avoid your room when the smelly odor is gone.

Spring break is in the horizon and while studying for mid-terms and packing belongings, a student may forget to bring their fish home. Over break, with no food and no clean water, the fish may die. Simple things such as sticking a post-it note saying “Don’t forget to bring home fish or room will reek because of dead fish” can help keep your fish alive.

Sometimes, a fish may be in the way of studying, so students move the fish to different areas of a room so they can spread out their books. Kudos to studying, but it is important to place fish in a secure area, away from hazards. If a fish is placed near an open window and it is 2 degrees out, the fish may soon become a fishcicle. Or a fish might be placed directly under a lamp and it may become a fish filet. Careful placement of fish is necessary if a student does not want it to be frozen or roasted.

It is also important to know how friendly your fish can play. If it is a Beta fish, it is not friendly and will kill other fish and Betas. Sometimes, college students may not know the temperament of a fish and buy two Betas to share the same bowl. Shortly after, a Battle Royale will commence and only the strongest Beta will survive, killing its opponent. So, if two fish are constantly butting heads, it may be prudent to separate them immediately before both are lost.

Remember Brockport students — just because your grades or social life may suffer, does not mean your pet fish has to as well.