Do Fish Spoil in Animal Crossing? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is no, fish do not spoil in Animal Crossing. Unlike real life, where fish are perishable and require immediate refrigeration or preservation, the fish you catch in the Animal Crossing universe are exempt from the laws of decomposition. This applies across all games in the series, including the most recent Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Whether you’re storing them in your pockets, displaying them in your home, or leaving them scattered on the ground, your finned friends will remain in pristine condition indefinitely.
Why Don’t Fish Spoil in Animal Crossing?
The lack of spoilage is a deliberate design choice by the developers. It’s a gameplay mechanic that allows players to collect, trade, and display fish without the added burden of time constraints or complicated storage requirements. Instead of focusing on resource management tied to decay, the game emphasizes exploration, collection, and creativity. Think of the fish in the game as more like trophies or collectibles than actual food items. This is also true for bugs. They, too, are immune to spoilage.
This convenient feature lets you freely:
- Store fish in your pockets for as long as you like without worrying about them going bad.
- Display fish in tanks or on your island without the risk of attracting flies or smelling up your virtual space.
- Delay selling them until you find the best buyer, be that Nook’s Cranny, CJ, or another player.
- Use them for crafting recipes, knowing that they’ll still be fresh when you finally decide to cook.
Essentially, the absence of spoilage contributes significantly to the relaxing and pressure-free nature of the Animal Crossing experience.
What Happens When You “Store” Fish?
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, “storing” fish generally refers to keeping them in your inventory, also known as your “pockets”. You can access your pockets by pressing the X button. When you catch a fish, it automatically goes into your pockets. There, they will stay fresh indefinitely until you decide what to do with them, whether it is to sell, display or donate them.
Another form of storing in Animal Crossing is placing fish on the ground. The game will automatically place fish in little tanks (or larger pools for bigger fish like sharks) on the ground in the overworld. Fish on the ground do not spoil and remain viable as long as you do not remove them.
You can also craft the stacked fish container item. This is an inventory storage item you can obtain through crafting by combining 3 fish containers. Lazy villagers can teach you this recipe.
Displaying Fish
Once you obtain a fish, you can choose to display it. When displaying fish outside, they are kept in small tanks or ponds. When displaying fish indoors, you can choose to place them in an aquarium, keeping them fresh and as a permanent part of your decoration. Regardless of where you choose to display your fish, they will not spoil. They remain pristine in their virtual tanks.
FAQs: Fish in Animal Crossing
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further explore the topic of fish in Animal Crossing:
1. Can you put fish in your dresser in Animal Crossing?
No, you cannot store fish in your dresser. Fish can only be held in your pockets, placed on the overworld, or displayed in an aquarium.
2. Can you leave fish outside in Animal Crossing?
Yes, you can leave fish outside. When you drop a fish from your inventory, the game will automatically put it in a suitable container, either a small tank or a larger pool, depending on the size of the catch. Leaving fish outside on the ground will not cause them to spoil.
3. What is the rarest fish in Animal Crossing?
The Coelacanth is often considered one of the rarest fish in the Animal Crossing series. It can be caught in the ocean when it’s raining. It sells for 15,000 Bells. Other very rare fish include the Stringfish, the Golden Trout, and the Dorado.
4. What should you do with the fish you catch?
You have several options for your caught fish: You can sell them for Bells at Nook’s Cranny or to CJ, donate them to the museum, display them as décor, or use them as ingredients in cooking recipes.
5. How do you store fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
You store fish in your pockets (inventory). They will also be stored automatically when you place them in your house as decoration or on the ground outside. Fish can also be stored in crafted fish containers.
6. Why do fish sometimes disappear in Animal Crossing?
Fish will disappear if you do not reel them in fast enough when they bite. The fish will nibble multiple times before biting. If you do not catch the fish quickly enough, the fish will swim away. The fish will also disappear if you reel in before the “kerplunk” sound when the bobber goes under.
7. How do you not lose fish in Animal Crossing?
Press the A button as soon as you hear a “kerplunk” sound when the bobber goes under the water. Make sure to react quickly or you will lose the fish.
8. Can you cook fish in Animal Crossing?
Yes, you can cook fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You will need a cooking recipe and the necessary ingredients. Cooking fish is a great way to create new food items, but it is not the most efficient use of the fish as selling them to CJ will often yield more bells.
9. Is it good to sell fish in Animal Crossing?
Yes, selling fish is a great way to earn Bells. However, you should first donate any new species to the museum before selling them to fill out your collection. Also, you can wait for CJ to visit to sell at 1.5x the normal price.
10. What is the lowest selling fish in Animal Crossing?
The tadpole sells for the lowest price in Animal Crossing: New Horizons at just 100 Bells.
11. What is the best fish to sell in Animal Crossing?
The top-selling fish in New Horizons are the Stringfish, Dorado, Barreleye, Coelacanth, Golden Trout, and the Great White Shark. All these fish sell for 15,000 Bells each.
12. Can you give a shark to another player in Animal Crossing?
No, you cannot give fish, including sharks, or any other items held in your inventory, directly to other players. Players can only leave items on the ground in the game for other players to pick up. However, fish placed in tanks cannot be picked up by other players.
13. What is the biggest fish in Animal Crossing?
The Coelacanth casts the largest shadow in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, making it one of the biggest fish in the game.
14. Who should you sell fish to in Animal Crossing?
You can sell fish at Nook’s Cranny for standard prices. However, you will earn significantly more if you sell your fish to CJ (1.5 times the normal price) when he visits your island.
15. Is it better to sell fish to CJ or cook with them?
Generally, selling fish to CJ yields more Bells than using them in cooking recipes. It is more efficient to sell fish for bells and only cook them if you want to obtain certain cooking recipes or for use in certain room decorations.
Conclusion
In summary, the absence of spoilage for fish (and bugs) in Animal Crossing is a core part of the game’s design, emphasizing relaxation and collection over strict resource management. This system allows players to engage with the game’s fishing mechanics and collect fish without any concerns about them spoiling. Whether you choose to sell, display, or donate your catch, you can be assured they will remain in perfect condition for as long as you need them. This design choice contributes significantly to the enjoyable and carefree atmosphere that defines the Animal Crossing experience.