I don't want to be THAT roommate...

[BGalloway]

So my school has the ten gallon tank rule, basically if it fits in a ten gallon tank you're OK. Technically they mean only fish, but nobody really follows that. My RA, the student leader I guess, was cool with my gecko, and the maintenance guy thought he was the cutest thing, and the Resident Director ignored me when I walked by with the cricket cage. So, long story short, nobody really cares if its quiet and hypoallergenic.

Anyway, in the beginning there was the gecko. Then my roommate liked the gecko. So she wanted a tortoise, her friend back home has one and told her everything she needs to know. However, to start up a Russian tortoise supposedly takes $400, I don't know, I didn't look into it.

So if she can't have a tortoise she wants...a bunny. She can get one for free, and upon hearing of her plans I said "Oh how cute. I will call him bun-bun.". But then we get into logistics, getting and keeping the bunny will be a space issue and to top it off my boyfriend, who lives right across the hall form us in the dorm is...DEATHLY ALLERGIC.

He's had bad bunny experiences before, rash, runny nose, throat closing, watery eyes, and that was from being in the same HOUSE as a rabbit. He refuses to come into the room if we get a rabbit. I don't want to lose him over a rabbit.

And to make it even more fun, my roommate is also deathly allergic to bunnies! But she is heavily medicated because otherwise working at the barn and around animals, we're animal science majors if you haven't guessed, would kill her.

I'm just writing this because we talked about it and now she's steamed and I feel like crud for making her upset. Just wanted to vent.

 

[BettaDragon]

I don't think you're in the wrong here. An animal should only brought into a dorm if both people agree with it. Really if it's gonna be a problem it shouldn't be there in such a small space.

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

How in the world can you keep at bunny in a ten gallon tank? i WOULD be that roommate. you have to talk some logic into her. Imagine an animal that is already high strung being in a space that is 2 maybe 3 times it's own size. Not to mention the fact that they stink. Try to talk her into like a pygmy cham or something like that. LOL. Not really the beginner cham but it's small.

A dorm room is pretty much a glorified prison cell except that it might be alittle bigger and your "yard" time is alot longer. Don't let her feelings get in the way of you standing up for what you believe in. Logic and reason should win the argument.

 

[BGalloway]

The rabbit wouldn't be in a ten gallon tank, he'd be in an appropriately sized cage. I'm pretty certain at this point there will be no bunny though because her boyfriend sided with me and my boyfriend and said "think about it from their perspective", she hasn't said there will be no bunny, but I'm not giving in. She can always get one later.

I don't think a chameleon would work, the reason she wants a pet is because the gecko is so friendly. I'd always heard chams were 'pretty to look at but hands off' reptiles.

And I didn't mention, the bunny would be just a little one when she got it, but it would be a norwegian and they get HUGE, yet another point against it .

 

[Alliemac]

Without even taking allergies into consideration a pet like a bunny, dog or cat need a HOME in my opinion. Being trapped in a small dorm room isn't the best for them to thrive and it certainly won't be pleasant for you guys either. I've always found bunnies have a strong smell although I've never owned one. But I do have cats and I wouldn't want to be in a small room with another person, significant others visiting and a litter box.

 

[SLY]

And don't worry about her being pissed at you. Dorm life sucks, but everyone gets over the pissiness.

 

[BGalloway]

It is settled, she got a beta fish, and I got to educate a store employee about (not) keeping leopard geckos on sand and play with an adorable Kenyan Sand Boa. So everyone's happy