Keeping a Japanese fish bowl, vase or similar?

Question

There used to be (still is?) a Japanese shop in Leeds that sold highly aesthetic glass ornaments with very small fish in them. They used some kind of weed to create a living ecosystem, so there was no artificial aeration etc. Does anyone know anything about these kind of aquariums and how to set up and maintain one?

I can see it is going to be very difficult to choose a best answer. You have all confirmed my fears and reason for not buying one when I first saw them, that they basically aren't good for the fish. Maggie, I particularly liked the link you gave me. I do like the idea of a bigger nature (plant) aquarium, I like the notion of the attention to detail required. Very interesting. I've learned something new.

Answer 1

You are most likely thinking of some variation on the betta vase death trap. (Betta Splendens are from Thailand.) Bettas are beautiful hardy fish which can breath air from the surface of the water. This leads people to do various things like put them in small containers with a plant and not change the water. Anyone who claims they can sell you a self maintaining ecosystem for a fish is lying, or mistaken. (Well a pond can easily sustain about one fish per 100 gallon given a well established ecosystem.) A betta can live in an ornamental vase or other container if it's fed, and it get regular water changes.

The problem is most betta novelty contains these will not work for more than about 3 weeks. A healthy betta often can survive for about 3 weeks without food. (Note that more than a week of fasting will likely shave years off the betta's short 3-5 year life span.) In fact the lack of food actually helps prevent the fish from dying of ammonia poisoning. (Fish +food = ammonia) The plant is just a joke. Bettas are carnivores. Plus any 1st year bio major will note that you need at plants massing 10-20 times the weight of an animal to process it's waste, and provide food, and oxygen.

Bettas need to be kept in a bowl, or tank. Ideally of at least 2.5 gallons with the water changed once a week. Smaller containers will work, but require water changes twice a week. The bettas needs a food with insect/worm/shrimp/fish as it's main component. Lastly the betta need access to fresh air at the surface of the water. (Betta in fact have non working gills, and can drown.)

Answer 2

I know what you mean, and they are pretty. But the key is "ornaments". Fish are alive and by allowing the to struggle to survive in this enviroment, its just irresonicible. If you want to have a tank that is small and pretty like this, there are a few alternatives.
You can keep a betta, a few guppies (male or female, not both), a few mollies, or a few swordtails.
I recommend getting a tank that is anywhere from 1 to 10 gallons. For a small "ornamental" type tank, I'd get either a 2.5 or a 5 gallon.
Betta- All you need is gravel (pretty glass beads are availible at the petstore or local craft store, this is pretty, but i would put regular gravel underneth). Put the tank in a stable place, put in the gravel (rinse it first), add the water (neutral temp. and dechlorinated), add the decor. Let the tank sit for about two days so that your sure the tank is stable. Add betta. Because theres no filter, water changes should be done weekly.
www.nippyfish.net/
Guppies, Mollies, Swordtails, Tetras (Other small fish)-
You will need a small filter (power or undergravel) and a heater. Ask at the petstore, they'll help you. Gravel (pretty glass beads are availible at the petstore or local craft store, this is pretty, but i would put regular gravel underneth). Put the tank in a stable place, put in the gravel (rinse it first), add the water (neutral temp. and dechlorinated), add the decor. Let the tank sit for about two days so that your sure the tank is stable. Depending on your tank size you can add a combination of small fish.
Guppy, Molly, and Platy Info.
http://www.myfishtank.net/reviews/showcat.php/cat/8
Tetra Info.
http://www.myfishtank.net/reviews/showcat.php/cat/3
Swordtail Info.
http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Swordtail.htm

You can also add other creatures like snails, ghost shrimp, or an african dwarf frog or two.

Answer 3

hahaha okay
Usually the fish dont last that long..
Korea has something like that
they put tiny brown or blue fish in a vase and cover it with a bamboo plant.. something the fish will live off of just the algae that grows in the vase and other times they will die..
the whole purpose for those aquariums is decoration..
im not to sure on how the japanese do it but sounds similar
But honestly maintaing those is hard. ive gone through a billion of them over half of the time the plant eventually devours the fish..

Answer 4

they are plant tank.. for this kind of tank, you need ADA black sand, lights, plant such as moss..

here is the step .. http://www.vectrapoint.com/main/manual/bms1.html

but honorsly, small plant tank is hard for beginner, you can try a bigger tank 1st..

Answer 5

Don't get one - they are bad for the fish - but they do look very pretty.