You’ve just taken command of the most advanced stealth frigate in the galaxy. The Normandy SR-2 is sleek, expensive, and filled with the brightest minds the Milky Way has to offer. Naturally, the first thing you do when you get some downtime on the Citadel is head over to Zakera Ward and spend your hard-earned credits on a bunch of space goldfish. It’s a classic Shepard move. But if you're like most players, you probably realized pretty quickly that the fish in Mass Effect 2 are basically a death sentence for your wallet—and your conscience—if you don't know exactly how to manage them.
Keeping those little guys alive is surprisingly stressful. You’re out there trying to stop the Collectors from liquefying entire human colonies, but your biggest fear is coming back to your cabin and seeing five orange corpses floating at the top of the tank. It’s a weirdly personal stake in a game about galactic extinction. Honestly, it’s one of those minor mechanics that adds a ton of flavor to the RPG experience, even if it feels like a chore.
The Struggle of the Normandy Aquarium
There are three main types of fish you can buy in the game. You've got your standard Sclari Tetra, the Prejek Paddlefish, and the Illium Skink. They aren't just for decoration; they’re a test of your discipline. Every time you finish a mission or even just a small assignment, you have to remember to feed them. If you forget? Total wipeout. You’re back at the Citadel buying more. It’s a vicious cycle that makes the suicide mission look easy by comparison.
The real kicker is the Prejek Paddlefish. This thing is expensive and, if you manage to keep it alive through the entire game and into the sequel, it actually gives you a benefit in Mass Effect 3. But getting there is the hard part. You can't just feed them once and go clear out a mercenary base. The game logic requires a "feeding action" after every single time you return to the ship from a mission or a hub world. Forget once, and it’s over.
Kelly Chambers: The Unsung Hero of Fish Care
Now, there is a "cheat code" of sorts, and her name is Kelly Chambers. She’s your Yeoman, the person standing right next to the galaxy map who tells you when people want to talk to you. If you play your cards right and flirt with her a bit—don't worry, it doesn't necessarily have to ruin your other romances—she’ll offer to feed your fish for you.
This is a game-changer.
To get Kelly to do this, you have to be nice to her. Talk to her after every major mission. Invite her up to your cabin for dinner. Once that dinner scene happens, she’ll mention that she noticed your aquarium and offers to take over the maintenance. From that point on, your fish in Mass Effect 2 are safe. You can go off and spend twenty hours scanning planets for iridium without a single worry. It’s probably the most practical "loyalty" reward in the entire game.
Why the Prejek Paddlefish is the Only One That Matters
Most of the fish are just there to look pretty. They swim around, they look cool in the lighting of the Captain's Cabin, and they give the room a lived-in feel. But the Prejek Paddlefish is special. In the lore, these things are ancient. If you keep your original paddlefish alive through the end of Mass Effect 2, and then you import that save into Mass Effect 3, you can actually find it again.
In the third game, if you meet Kelly again and she's kept your fish safe, she'll give them back to you. The paddlefish specifically provides a 10% bonus to either weapon damage or power damage (depending on which "intel" you choose) in the Liara's cabin terminal. It’s a long-term investment. Most people just see a fish; a completionist sees a permanent stat buff.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
People always ask if the fish die during the Collector ship invasion. No. The fish don't get kidnapped. The Collectors have no interest in your aquarium. However, if you don't have Kelly to feed them while you're away dealing with the aftermath of the Omega-4 relay, they will absolutely starve. The game doesn't pause the "hunger" timer just because the plot is happening.
- Buying them too early: Don't buy fish until you've at least talked to Kelly a few times. It's a waste of credits.
- The "Invisible" Feed Button: The prompt to feed the fish is on the right side of the tank. It’s easy to miss if you’re just sprinting through the cabin to check your private terminals.
- The ME3 Import: If your fish are dead when you finish ME2, they stay dead in ME3. There's no magical resurrection.
It's funny how a game about choice and consequence applies the same logic to a 5-credit goldfish as it does to the fate of the Krogan race. If you neglect them, they die. If you care for them (or find someone else to do it), you get rewarded. It's simple, brutal, and very Mass Effect.
How to Guarantee Fish Survival
If you're starting a new playthrough, follow this specific path to ensure you aren't flushing credits down the space-toilet.
- Recruit Kelly Chambers (she's automatically there, just talk to her).
- Do NOT buy fish immediately. Wait.
- Complete a few missions and always pick the "kind" or "flirty" dialogue options with Kelly.
- After the Horizon mission, check in with her. Eventually, the option to invite her to dinner appears.
- Have the dinner. It's a cutscene. No big deal.
- Buy the fish after she agrees to feed them.
- Check the tank once just to be sure, then forget about it.
This saves you the headache of remembering to feed them after every single N7 side mission. It also lets you focus on the actual gameplay, like trying to figure out why the Mako was replaced by the Hammerhead (and why the Hammerhead is made of tissue paper).
The fish in Mass Effect 2 might seem like a joke, but they represent the level of detail BioWare put into the world-building. Your cabin is your sanctuary. Having life in it—even if it's just a few pixels swimming in a circle—makes the Normandy feel less like a weapon and more like a home. Just make sure you don't let them turn into floating snacks for the trash compactor.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
To make the most of the aquarium mechanic without the stress, you should prioritize your social standing with your crew over the actual shopping. Go to the Citadel, buy the "Aquarium VI" if you're playing the Legendary Edition (it automates the feeding for you, which was a godsend addition), but if you're on the classic version, Kelly is your only hope.
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Check your tank after every recruitment mission to verify the population. If you see a fish missing, you missed a feeding window. Reloading a save might seem extreme for a pet, but for that 10% bonus in the next game, it’s usually worth it. Focus on the Prejek Paddlefish first and foremost; the others are just window dressing. Keep your tank clean, your Yeoman happy, and your eyes on the Collector base.