r/CarletonU • u/Standard_You_3214 • 3d ago
Question are pet fish allowed?
hi, im planning on going to carleton in september and rooming with a friend. im seeing a lot of ppl say u can have a pet fish, but theyre all like 8 year old posts and videos and whatnot. i cant find any info on it now, do we know if its allowed?
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u/IamTheOne2000 3d ago
Can we pet him and feed him treats?
The answer to your question depends on the answer to mine
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u/AaronC14 3d ago
Graduated a long time ago but I had a newt and nobody cared. I didn't go around broadcasting it though
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u/Ok_Detective_8446 3d ago
probably not but i’m pretty sure RA’s aren’t allowed to do random check ins anymore (unless you’re getting noise complaints or something) and they aren’t allowed to open drawers or lift things up so as long as you hide the fish when if RA comes in and your roommate is okay with it, you can probably get away with it. only problem would be is if it’s a big tank or something, if you can’t put it up or cover it easily then probably not. i wouldn’t risk it with a tank bigger than 10 gallons, just leave the fish at home at that point.
*assuming none of the rules i mentioned haven’t changed since i lived in res*
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u/WHATSTHEYAAAMS 3d ago
I like the idea of just like, putting the fish away in a secret water-filled drawer in your desk until the coast is clear
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u/averagecryptid 3d ago
Here's a link to the official policy: https://carleton.ca/secretariat/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/Domestic-Animals-on-Campus.pdf
And here's guidelines: https://carleton.ca/secretariat/wp-content/uploads/sites/158/Domestic-Animals-on-Campus-Guidelines_final-June-2025.pdf
From what I gather it is technically not allowed, but you mileage may vary on whether it actually becomes a problem or not. I'd also consider the stress of moving on an animal if you have to move it out of the dorms suddenly (or even just when you have to move out at the end of the school year). Fish can be pretty sensitive to that kind of thing and it's hard to safely move a creature that requires certain water. Even water changes are a lot for fish if you don't get the ratio of old and new water right and have it ready at the right temperature. (Some fish are not that sensitive but I don't know which.)
If you're looking to get a pet that can be kept pretty benignly in a dorm without bothering anyone or being noticed, I might look into something hardier. Maybe something that could live in a live terrarium so you could feasibly say you have the tank for plants or something.
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u/VGK_hater_11 3d ago
What does pet fish entail? Is this a beta fish in a 2x1ft tank or a whole aquarium?
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u/Over_Discussion_8246 2d ago
Along as he keeps quite and doesn't disturb anyone especially at night or when you're gone
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u/brookenelson24 2d ago
According to the residence standards and residence agreement, it is not allowed however, the enforceability of that is questionable… the only time anyone can enter your room is facilities if there are facilities concerns, and then obviously Campus Safety if they believe that you and/or your roommate are believed to be in danger… so do with this information what you will
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u/Beautiful_pinkgurl 1d ago
Lived on res up until this April and worked in residence nobody gaf nobody’s gonna come into your space to spy on you or anything. It’ll only be an issue if your roomies complain to us about it then we might have to escalate and read all the residence policy but it’s pretty chill
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u/Calm-Mongoose9249 3d ago
You are not but everyone does it anyways you’ll be completely fine -former RF
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