(Photo: Marcel Christ)

The Best Bet
Why? Fish are the ultimate low-maintenance pet. No walking in the rain, no brushing out hair, no litter-box changing. They’re also the only pet that doubles as home décor—especially if you order an aquarium from a custom shop like Williamsburg-based Aquatic Creations (718-302-9080 or aquaticcreationsinc.com), which will build, install, and maintain a tank in virtually any shape and size. In the $2,000, 26-gallon bow-tank model shown here, everything is alive, from the rocks and coral reef to the cardinal, angel, rabbit, box, and clown (yes, that’s Nemo) fish.