1. Picking out the perfect fish is NOT easy. Do you want a goldfish? Or maybe a betta fish? Or maybe something more ~exotic~?
2. Getting your fish home without killing it is quite the challenge. You have to make sure the bag doesn't leak OR tip over.
3. It's never easy, but you HAVE to make sure the decorations in the tank are absolutely perfect. After all, this is your fish's home and you're basically the interior designer, an aquatic Martha Stewart, if you will.
4. You also NEED to pick out the absolute best name for your fish. The more creative, the better. "Finn" just WON'T do.
5. You definitely talk to your fish like it can understand you. At times, you even think it might be listening. Spoiler alert: It's not.
6. You've also become weirdly emotionally attached to your fish like it's a member of your family. In a way, it is.
7. You know your fish has a personality, and notice when it behaves a certain way. Like maybe Mr. Fishy swims in circles a lot. Or it gets really excited to be fed!
8. Feeding your fish is actually the best because you get to see your pet hunting and ~in action.~
9. Even though the fish food smells as awful as it looks.
10. Cleaning the fish tank is a labor of love. A disgusting, green, wet, smelly labor of love.
11. You usually have a friend watch your beloved fish when you're on vacation, but you're scared they will mess up your aquarium in any number of ways.
12. Deep down, you always have dreamed of owning a saltwater aquarium so you can have your own little Finding Nemo in your bedroom.
13. You would ALWAYS rather have a really cool fish than a dog or a cat, because duh, fish are fintastic.
14. And you definitely have been made fun of for not having a bigger pet, as if cats and dogs are somehow cooler than fish.
15. Like would you rather have a pet that smells weird, poops everywhere, and makes a ton of noise? NOPE NOPE NOPE.
16. When your fish dies, you are moved to tears, because you now have to say goodbye to a good friend.
17. But you've gotten pretty good at saying goodbye, because you've seen many finned friends come and go.
18. It may seem crass, but you've mastered the art of flushing your dead fish down your toilet. It made you sad, but you got over it fast.
19. Because at the end of the day, you knew you were headed right back to the pet store to get a new fish.
