I want a fish

[niente_]

I'm a student living in a rented house and we're allowed pets. I was originally thinking a hamster, but everyone's talked me out of having one because they're noisy at night and are messy. So I thought about a fish.

I wanna make sure it lives as long as possible? Anyone got any tips on what fish (probably a goldfish), what it needs, how to make it live as long as poss etc. Or could I get two so it won't be lonely? I've heard horrible stories about animals eating each other, which I don't want to happen! I'll be really sad if/when it (or they) dies.

Thanks

[Tara.]

Don't over feed it! At my old job our toddler class had a pet fish and we kept losing them because we fed it too much. Once a day is plenty.

[iHEAVENn]

Fish are soooo boring.
That being said, we have 4 fish downstairs in a giant tank. They suck haha.
You can't over feed them, water has to be cleaned, filters have to be changed, they pick on each other, and they don't really do anything but swim around.

[ALLorNOTHINGforCHRIST]

Do not overfeed them. You need to make sure that the water is cleaned(this usually means taking the fish out).

As for getting two that depends on the type of fish. Some fish may be more likely to not get along with other fish (sometimes it is of the same gender). What you need to do is talk to a professional at wherever you buy the fish, as they can give you that information.

[VampirePrincess]

Goldfish are fine in the same tank together - I kept three in the same tank when I was younger and I never had any problems. Basic rules of fish: if they're in the same tank at the store, they can be in the same tank at your home If they're not in the same tank, there's a reason.

Make sure to keep the water fresh, the filters clean, all that wonderful stuff. Choosing your tank wisely can help with that - it's easier to get a tank with a kit than buy and set everything up yourself.

And as everyone else has said, don't overfeed them. They'll eat whatever you put in that tank, but if they eat too much they'll die. Carefully regulate how much food they get per day.