With the Mass Effect Legendary Edition coming out on May 14, many players will either be revisiting Shepard's trilogy or be playing the series for the first time ever. While there are aliens to romance and planets to visit, don't forget about the fish!
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At its heart, Mass Effect is a space adventure RPG. Outside of that though, there are a lot of loving details and goodies for players to find. One of these details is Shepard's pet fish. In the second and third titles of Mass Effect, his or her room has a fish tank. It is up to the player to fill the tank with fish and feed them so that they do not die.
Updated on August 6, 2021, by Allison Stalberg: Saving the galaxy can wait when there are fish to find. An empty tank in Shepard's room is just depressing. There is more to fish than just decoration. They are a part of the universe, and their native habitats range to various planets. This means they are a part of Mass Effect lore. Hardcore fans cannot ignore this fact. It is no wonder that players take the time to get some shopping discounts and constantly go to Shepard's cabin just to feed fish.
Some fish require certain missions to be completed to appear on store shelves while others require Kelly Chambers to survive Mass Effect 2’s suicide mission.
In the second game, Shepard gets an entirely new and improved ship. The captain's quarters is their private room and the left side has a beautiful fish tank. It looks a little depressing with no fish though, so the player may want to purchase some asap.
Illium Skald Fish
According to the game Codex, this fish is native to Illium and can be found in its lakes. having blue bodies with yellow fins, the Illium Skald Fish is quite a sight to behold.
Location: Citadel Souvenirs on the Citadel
Cost: 500 (416 with store discount)
Getting the store discount is easy, Shepard just needs to convince the asari shopkeeper to reinstate their Spectre discount.
Thessian Sunfish
Thessia is the homeworld of the asari, and these fish are natives of that planet.
Location: Citadel Souvenirs on the Citadel (only will appear in-store after Shepard has completed the Horizon mission)
Prejek Paddle Fish
Not much is known about this fish species, but it is special because it is the only pet fish that Shepard can possibly keep in their cabin for both Mass Effect 2 and 3.
Location: Memories of Illium on Illium
Cost: 8,000 (6,666 with store discount)
Caring for the fish
If the fish are not fed between every mission and assignment, they will die. If they die though, players can revisit the shops and just purchase them again. To do that though, they need to make sure they clean out the dead fish from the tank first.
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Players who do not want to bother with feeding the fish do have another option in caring for them. Once every squadmate is on board the Normandy, Shepard can flirt with Kelly Chambers. If flirted with for a while, eventually Shepard and Kelly can have dinner together. Once that happens, there is an option to have Kelly feed the fish instead of Shepard.
The fish were enough of a hit in the second game that they remained in the third. Despite having much more fish to collect, they are actually easier to obtain in Mass Effect 3. All but one are in the same store on the Citadel. The store to buy all the fish is Kanala Exports in the Presidium Commons.
Getting a discount at the store can be a little more difficult, as it depends on the intel Shepard collects while exploring.
Illium Skald Fish
These Illium native fish from Mass Effect 2 can also be a part of the ship in Mass Effect 3.
Location: Kanala Exports
Cost: 1,000 (950 with discount)
Striped Dartfish
These fish come from Kahje, the homeworld of the hanar.
Location: Kanala Exports
Cost: 1,000 (950 with discount)
Thessian Sunfish
Another fish that makes a comeback, as the Thessian Sunfish was available in Mass Effect 2.
Location: Kanala Exports
Cost: 1,000 (950 with discount)
Koi fish
At last, Shepard can get fish native to Earth.
Location: Kanala Exports
Cost: 1,000 (950 with discount)
Belan Jellyfish
Belan is a garden world that is colonized by the hanar. These jellyfish are native that that planet.
Location: Kanala Exports
Cost: 1,000 (950 with discount)
Khar'shan Snapping Eel
This eel is native to the batarian homeworld or Khar'shan.
Location: Kanala Exports
Cost: 10,000 (9,500 with discount)
Prejek Paddle Fish
The Prejek Paddle Fish requires a bit of prep work to unlock, making it comfortably the most arduous fish to own in Mass Effect 3. For Shepard to add this fish to the tank, the player needs to do the following:
- Transfer saved data from Mass Effect 2 to Mass Effect 3
- Kelly Chambers must survive the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2. To save Kelly, Shepard must not delay the Normandy crew's mission when the option presents itself.
- Purchase Prejek Paddle Fish in Mass Effect 2.
If the data is transferred with these conditions, Kelly Chambers will give Shepard their old fish when they meet. Just make sure to meet her in Cargo Hold B in the Citadel Refugee Camp early on.
Just like in the second title, fish must be fed between missions or else they will die.
For players who do not want to constantly be feeding fish, there is an option to automatically feed them. Instead of Kelly from the second game, Shepard and now buy an automated fish feeder called the Aquarium VI. To buy it, go to the Presidium Commons on the Citadel. Find the store called Elkoss Combine Arsenal Supplies. It is more expensive than any fish though, selling for 25,000 credits.
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