Most college students do feel the need to take care of something; it's an instinct. But even though we find it fun to be a caregiver, most of us don't want to be thrust into motherhood or fatherhood at this time.

Pets can be the answer to fulfill your care-giving needs. Contrary to what most students think, pet experts say there are easy and affordable pets out there that might be suitable for even the poorest and busiest college student. We might not have lots of time or money to devote to a pet, but a lot of students find a way to make having a pet work, and are glad they did.

A variety of different types of pet fish for college students are available at Tropic Waters Pet Center, 2513 East Clairemont Ave., pictured here.

Fish

Pets can be a study break, something to laugh about, or even a fin to cry on. Students who have pets say they are happier because of it. One of the simplest pets and also one of the cheapest are fish. Although Pet Parade in the Oakwood Mall recently closed, Tropic Waters Pet Center, 2513 East Clairemont Ave., also has affordable pets and is close to the university. Fish can run from $.19 and up and it's not hard to learn how to care for these pets. Depending on the type of fish purchased, owners would need either an aquarium or a fish bowl, Tropic Waters owner Jim Reiman said. A fish bowl requires more cleaning but for fewer than $20, it is less expensive than an aquarium. Fish usually need to be fed just once a day. Who doesn't have time to dash a couple flakes of food in the bowl while running out the door? For those who don't have hours a day to devote to a pet, fish may just be the best fit.

One grimy job these pets do require is cleaning their bowl, but you only have to do it as needed, which Reiman said can vary from owner to owner.

Tropic Water's close location to UWEC makes it a prime spot for eager pet owners to buy pets and stock up on supplies.

Gerbils and Hamsters

Some students may be drawn to the bubbly, humming water tanks in the pet store, but others may head to the quieter, yet smellier section of the store. Some people just need a pet they can hold onto without it slipping out of their hands. (Most vets wouldn't recommend petting a fish anyway.) Gerbils and hamsters aren't expensive; although they do require a little more care than fish, not too mention they can give you a little more trouble and a lot more smell. Their cage must be cleaned frequently to keep them healthy and feeding them pellets may take a little bit longer than feeding fish. Also, as a gerbil/hamster owner, you will go through their food much faster than fish food, which means more trips to the pet store and more dough to dish out.

But these furry little friends have a longer life span than fish. Here's a tip: Reiman reminds students not to put a female and male gerbil/hamster in the same box or cage, unless you want to start your very own hamster family - make that a very large hamster family. You've been warned.

Rats! Many college students might cringe at the thought of holding one of these critters, but pet experts say they can be the best kind of pet because it is relatively cheap to care for them.

Rats

Another type of pet most students would never consider is also one most would never go near. Rats might not be the most appealing pet, but they can be one of the cheapest. You would think most people would never want to hold a rat, but Reiman said there are a lot of people out there who are getting and taming rats as pets. That could be because you can buy them for about $5 to $9. Taming isn't hard, all you really have to do is treat the rat as something you don't find disgusting to look at and hold. To tame rats, you simply must show affection toward them. But this means you must have time to devote to the rat-if not, he'll turn into a little brat. Rats become untamed if they do not have any contact with humans for extended periods of time, Reiman said. Also keep in mind the fact that you should probably check with your roommates before bringing this one home, remember that the saying "I smell a rat," didn't just pop up out of nowhere.

Lizards are another pet that can be perfect for college students because they are easy to care for.

Other Pets

Some other small pets that may work well for students, if your roommates can stand it, are tarantulas and maybe even a snake.

If you have some extra cash to spend on a pet but virtually no time, a tarantula, priced at $50, requires very little care, Reiman said. It only needs to be fed once a week. They are kept in an aquarium-type tank that is very affordable. So why would anyone want a tarantula for a pet? Besides the fact they require very little care, a spider tends to draw more attention to itself than some other pets. If you're sick of friends coming over and admiring all the nice things your roommates own, maybe a new feature, such as a tarantula, would draw more people into your part of the house. Snakes can work the same way. Since most people are afraid of them, seeing something up close that they would usually be afraid to get anywhere near fascinates visitors.

Cats and Dogs

All of us know that the last thing a landlord wants to see is a dog or cat on the kitchen floor they just re-tiled. The only pets most tenants are allowed to have are fish, although you can usually sneak hamsters and gerbils in without getting too much flack from your landlord as long as you clean up after them. If you are one of the rare tenants that are allowed to have a dog or cat, experts suggest that you decide if you can really afford one first. You don't want to have to give up a pet you've grown to love because you can't afford it. That's a big reason why students should know what kind of care their pet needs before they get one, said Sheila Wildenberg, a certified vet technician at Northside Pet Hospital in Eau Claire. The hospital sees a lot of cases where students do not have the funds to take care of their pet properly, she said.

It usually happens with cats and dogs, Wildenberg said. Students buy their pet cheap food without the proper nutrients and can't afford to get it vaccinations and spayed or neutered.

But if students think they can swing it money wise, a cat would be better to get than a dog because it requires less attention, Wildenberg said.

If you do want to get a dog or cat, the Humane Society is a good place to start and can even help you decide if you should really get one. Sometimes it helps to have someone else take a look at your situation and put a different perspective on it. In order to adopt a dog or cat from the Humane Society, officials there say you must first go through an application process. This checks to see if your current pets are being cared for properly, such as getting all their needed shots and vaccinations. Humane Society officials will also check whether you own or rent your home. Don't try to sneak a dog or cat into your house if it isn't allowed; the Humane Society will find out if you are allowed to have pets or not by contacting your landlord. Getting a dog or cat from the Humane Society costs anywhere from $40 to $50. This fee simply pays for the dog or cat to be neutered before you receive them.

Now that you know your options, take a trip to the pet store and have a look around. Your new best friend could be waiting for you at an affordable price and ready to come home with you today. You'll be happy you did, especially knowing that it's not going to break into your pocketbook or your social life.