Secret Life of Amherst Pets: Guppies

How Two Fish Became My Roommates

This school year was my first time living without a roommate, and it forced me to reach a new level of independence. While I loved having my own space at first, I sometimes felt a quiet loneliness too. When I came back to my dorm with no one to talk to, no one to sit with in silence while doing homework, or to scroll on my phone with, the room felt peaceful, but also a little too empty.

I had thought about getting a pet before, but that seemed like too big a responsibility: Caring for another living thing requires consistency, planning, and commitment. I am not the most spontaneous person, so when I jokingly told my friend at the beginning of the fall semester that I wanted a fish to keep me company, I truly did not expect to follow through. My friend, however, is the complete opposite of me. Instead of letting the idea pass, they immediately suggested we make it happen.

Next thing I knew, at 3 p.m. on a random Tuesday afternoon, and we were on a bus headed to PetSmart.

With that backstory out of the way … meet Tempest and Flame! They are both male guppies. Tempest is a blue guppy with streaks of white and gray running through his scales. His partner in crime, Flame, is an orange guppy with hints of yellow, white, and even blue that show up more strongly depending on the lighting. 

Tempest is a bit of an instigator. He enjoys chasing Flame around the tank or nudging him when Flame is perfectly content doing nothing. He is also the most enthusiastic at mealtimes and always wants the first bite. Flame, on the other hand, prefers to hang closer to the surface of the water and has a much calmer, laid-back energy. Despite their differences, they balance each other well, and watching their dynamic has become one of my favorite parts of dorm life.

A Day in the Life

Their day usually starts at the same time as mine, around 9 a.m. It has become part of my morning routine to open the blinds by their tank, turn on the aquarium light, and sprinkle in breakfast before I even fully wake myself up.

They get visibly excited when I open the brine shrimp food container and start swimming rapidly, like Pavlov’s dog, except, in this case, Pavlov’s fish (or rather, Jayda’s fish). Over time, they have learned to associate my presence, certain times of day, and even the sound of my footsteps with food. It completely changed how I think about fish intelligence and debunked my belief in the “goldfish memory” myth. They remember … they anticipate … they know …

For most of the day, while the sun is out, you can usually find them resting inside their pineapple hut or entertaining each other with games of tag around the tank. Sometimes I’ll catch them hovering side by side, perfectly still, like they’re keeping each other company in their own quiet way.

After my classes and dinner, I make sure to turn off their aquarium light if I haven’t already. Guppies need about 12-14 hours of darkness for proper rest, which is essential for their health and stress levels. While my own sleep schedule is far from perfect, I try my best to keep theirs consistent. Toward the end of the night, Tempest and Flame become much less active. Their fins barely move, and if you’ve never seen fish in this state before, you might think something is wrong. No worries — they’re just transitioning into a restful hover after a full day of activity. Like humans, they have internal biological clocks and need these quieter periods to reset and recharge.

Unexpected Experiences

Did you know you can bring fish on an airplane? I found this idea comical and unbelievable until I actually did it.

This winter break, instead of leaving Tempest and Flame in the care of a trusted friend who lived near campus, I made the executive decision to bring them home with me to Houston, Texas, where I grew up. After packing their tank, food, and all their other essentials, I placed Tempest and Flame into separate fish bags and carefully tucked them into my carry-on backpack. Just like that, they were ready for their journey.

I’m happy to report that both fish successfully made the round trip from Amherst to Houston and back. Who knows, maybe they will be deemed world travelers in the future as I bring them across the globe over time.

Why I Love Them!

Before coming to Amherst, I had owned pet fish before, but they never lived very long because I did not take the time to properly research how to care for them. At home, I still have bunnies and cats (pets that Tempest and Flame recently met during their Houston adventure), so responsibility itself is not new to me. What is different is the kind of care fish require.

While Tempest and Flame are not soft or cuddly, their quiet, low-maintenance companionship is exactly what I need in a college environment where everything feels constantly busy and overwhelming. The to-do list never seems to end, and the days move fast. Watching fish swim, though, feels almost meditative. The way they glide through the water is calming and grounding, especially during long nights of studying.

They give me a sense of routine and responsibility that helps anchor my days. Knowing that other living beings rely on me encourages me to take better care of myself, too. They keep me company when I feel lonely, provide a calming presence when I am stressed, and offer playful distraction when I need a break. In a space that can sometimes feel overwhelming, Tempest and Flame make my dorm feel like home.

If you or a friend has a pet or service animal on campus you would like to highlight, please reach out, as we would love to feature your companion in the next edition of the SLAP (Secret Life of Amherst Pets)!