Cool animal for a college apartment?

[rudukai13]

Fish were ruled out by my brother because as a five year old he had a fish tank that he didn't clean and it started to stink, so now he's convinced that every fish tank everywhere will eventually start to stink as well.

 

[Natalie]

Dammit My brother is shooting down every idea that isn't a dog. Says he wants a "normal" animal and anything other than a dog isn't normal. Idiot.

Is he willing to walk a dog outside every 4-6 hours, every day, for the next 10-12 years? This means no crashing on someone's couch after a party, or going to an all-day concert on a whim, or any of that fun college stuff that I miss doing.

Is he ready to spend the money on quality food, veterinary bills, and flea and heartworm preventatives-- which can easily total $500 a year for even the smallest dog?

If not then he needs to consider some of your ideas. Dogs are not a good choice for the vast majority of college students. That's why so many of them get dumped out onto the streets and shelters at the end of the semester.

 

[rudukai13]

That's what I've been trying to tell him the whole time.

 

[Bhack91]

So sounds like your talking to the wrong people, you need to talk to your brother because some of his reasoning is making me wonder if he really is going to college. Fish tanks will not smell if cared for properly, where as any other animal probably will smell a lot more even with proper routine care.

 

[rudukai13]

Got him to agree to letting me keep something in my bedroom of the apartment, and if it has no offensive odor after a period of time that it can be moved to the main living area. That opens up quite a bit more possibilities. Still no reptiles - or at least no snakes. I wouldn't mind doing something that would thrive in a nicely built, planted naturalistic type vivarium, so that it could almost be seen as a piece of art in the living room. Might make it easier for him to accept it being there.

 

[Specialk314]

hedgehogs are awesome and definitely a chick magnet, lol. if you want a really B.A. pet check out Flemish Giant Rabbits

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I know you said "no reptiles" but I seriously haven't met anyone that didn't think crested geckos were cute/cool and this includes the ladies. Plus they don't take up a lot of space, are easy to handle and keep.

 

[rudukai13]

Crested geckos are near the top of the list. My only concern is being able to keep them cool enough in Arizona temps...

 

[Yellow_Perch]

Im gonna say a amphibian fits most out of the types (i.e. reptiles, birds, etc.)..try out a red eyed tree frog common and readily available, quite simple to..

 

[rudukai13]

Actually, I looked it up and the crested gecko temperature range appears to be between 70 and 80 degrees, which is exactly the range we keep our house at year round. Cresties are looking better and better...