I’m looking for a new pet?

GoldFish
Link:
https://pets.thenest.com/average-life-span-goldfish-proper-care-7100.html

When the thing dies, you still have to deal with its funeral/disposal.
You would be better off giving a longer lived pet up for adoption.
But for the pet, it would be better if you just got a pet rock, if you are so shallow that you only want to deal with one that does not take any work and is gone after 5 years.

You will have responsibilities enough. A pet in a dorm room? It’s been done, usually against standing rules. You should check this out. Personally, were I assessing your eligibility for college, I would consider the lack of judgment implicit in such an announcement.

Having a small pet in a dorm room is possible if your college or university allows. I actually kept a fancy rat in my dorm throughout my college years! For a low maintenance pet, you might want to stick with fish for starters. Turtles have a long life-span, hamsters and other furry creatures may bite. Therefore, I would say fish. (Looking at the other comments. They weren’t trying to help you… Only criticize you for even thinking about a pet.) If you believe you can manage it, go ahead honey! :)

A guinea pig or a chinchilla or hamsters?

You might not want to get a pet if you are hoping it will die before you get your diploma. Not exactly responsible pet ownership.

From hamsters to octopuses, mice and rats, here are 11 animals with a 5 year or less life expectancy.

Animals

An ant farm.

The one thing neglected thus far by enthusiasts is the requirement for amenable dorm mates.

Maybe you could volunteer at an animal shelter while you are in college instead of getting a pet.

Get a roomie that’s willing to wear a leash and collar: low maintenance, and the relationship probably won’t last past your graduation or your arrest.

I think choosing a pet with a short life expectancy is wise.

Many people take on a pet requiring more care than they can handle.
However, a parrot, which can live as long as ninety years, can be a good study partner. If you repeat facts enough to the bird that it learns to say them, it would be a sure bet you will remember them at test time. :-0

Rodents would be great, but every single one poops a lot. You would have to be replacing stinky wood chips every day.
I got my daughter a hamster when she was little, and it was very entertaining, BUT… it learned how to open it’s cage. The good side of that was, it told on itself. Everytime it escaped, it came straight to me to be congratulated.

You could get a chameleon.
Hermit crabs are pretty neat, but they grow, and you have to keep buying bigger shells for them.
I try to keep a praying mantis each summer. They live just a few months. But, I live where box elder bugs rule the warm months, and in droves search for a place to winter. A mantis keeps them from making themselves at home.

Fish are regular maintenance. If you have a great budget, an aquarium with filter and other necessities is less work than a thirty cent fish in a standard bowl. The sound of the filter hum is great white noise, but that same sound can knock you out during late study sessions.

I recommend a rubber duck. You can bring it gifts, make little outfits for it, and eventually get it a mate.
You can find rubber ducks on eBay in all kinds of sizes, styles, and colors. They range in size from ping pong ball to basketball.
You can construct a small apartment for it.

Whatever you decide, I applaud your forward thinking regarding your need for low maintenance. When choosing a pet, knowing one’s limitations is top priority.

Here are other things to consider
Roommate has allergies?
Pesticides used in dorms
Spring break, will you need a babysitter?

Here you go, this should be perfect for a college student in a dorm.

https://www.ebay.com/p/Tamagotchi-Connection-Electronic-Pets-Toys-Surprise-Egg-Finger-Pocket-Kids-Gift/3007921290?iid=292351021232&chn=ps

I have a bunch of those! They are fun.

A beta fish is worth considering. An other option is a plant, such as a Venus Flytrap.

^Yes! A plant may be just the thing. I don’t have a green thumb at all, but some acquaintances gave me some kind of weird palm/cactus thing 12 years ago, and it’s still alive, and I’ve grown kind of attached to it. And also there is the tamagotchi option, as another poster suggested.

Whenever people tell me the advantages of cats vs. dogs, I always think, “why don’t you just get a plant?” Because all the advantages that cats have over dogs, as dependent lifeforms, plants have over cats.

(Do as I say, not as I do: don’t drink and post.)

The downside of a cat or dog is that they are expensive. This is coming from someone who has owned both. Dogs offer companionship, yet are needy. I can’t imagine a dog or a cat thriving well in a dorm room. Have you checked to see what is allowed?

@Pied_Pfeffer I think cats and dogs were eliminated already in the small pet and life span details.

(And – good to see you!)