Too small gold fish bowl??

Question

I just want to know if a bowl that can contain 2.5 gallons of water, which is 12" with and 7" height is considered to be a too small bowl for one goldfish (or perhaps two small ones) or a Betta ?

I am getting different opinions on this.


Thanks!

Answer 1

No fish can be safe in a bowl. There is a common misconception that goldfish and betta fish live in stagnant puddles in the wild, and are fine in tiny bowls. This isn't the case.
Many goldfish will grow to be longer than your tank is!
Even the smaller goldfish, fancies, grow to 6-8 inches long. In addition to being big, heavy fish, they are poop machines! I'm sure you'll notice that your goldfish is always hungry and always pooping. Even with proper feeding practices, goldfish expell high amounts of waste, which is essentially toxic ammonia. Without enough water and proper filtration to dillute / degrade it, it just sits in the bowl and builds up, killing the fish.
You can get away with keeping one fancy goldfish in a 10 gallon tank, but 20 gallons is recommended. Other goldfish like commons and comets need to live in ponds.
The proof is in the puddin'. I don't recommend experimenting with fish lives, but if you put a goldfish in a bowl, and put another goldfish in a real tank, you will see in a few months that what I'm saying here is true. You've probably also heard that goldfish don't live long? Well, they do. But not in bowls. The goldfish in the bowl won't live more than a few months. The one in the tank might just outlive you. Well, not really, but they can easily live over 15 years if properly cared for.

Same story with bettas. They are smaller, so they don't need 20 gallons each, but they need more than a little cup. Bettas are from thailand, where the water is 80F. So, first of all, you can't heat a little bowl enough for a betta. Second, they don' tlive in stagnant puddles; they live in wide, shallow, warm pools of water. 5 gallons would be fine for a betta, with heat and filtration. Again, proof is in the pudding. Put a betta in a small, unheated bowl, and he'll live for 3 months. Put him in a nice, clean, warm, filtered tank, and he'll live for 4 years or more.


The misinformation comes from the petstores. Petstores are full of BS (pardon my french). Look at it from their point of view: not everyone wants to get a whole tank with filter, heater, yadda yadda. If 10 people want a fish, maybe 1 will be dedicated enough to buy all that stuff. But the other 9 will be more than happy to buy a goldfish bowl, and then they get "sucked in" to buying fancy gravel, a little plastic plant, water conditioner, food (all of which are necessary, of course), maybe a snail, etc. 9 people spending 50$ on a goldfish bowl is way better than only 1 person spending 100$ on a regular tank and the other 9 going home empty handed.
And then, all these goldfish die in a few months! So the 9 people come back to the petstore, and the petstore says "oh! that must have been a sick goldfish! here, buy another goldfish or get 2, in case! and buy these medications in case your fish gets sick! and get this air bubbler for oxygen! and get this rid-algae!", as opposed to the 1 person who bought the real tank, well, his tank is doing great and he's probably moved on to fish clubs, fish breeders, specialized fish stores, etc.


Edit: Yes, bettas have a modified "lung" that they can use to breathe air from the surface. This does not mean that they can live in tiny, cold bowls. Just because they have the ability to do something, it does not mean it is ideal for them to use that ability. For example, you as a human can shiver when it's too cold. Does that mean it's fine for you to always be in 0F weather? Their "lung" is an adaptation, just like shivering is for us, to help them cope with their environment. It is how many bettas can survive deplorable conditions for a long time. Does that mean they are thriving? No, of course not. Like any other fish, they need filtration and clean water, and proper temperatures.

Also, the idea that fish won't outgrow their container is completely false. The only reason a fish would not outgrow a bowl is a) stunting and b) death. When a fish is kept in a tiny tank, it cannot absord the hormones it needs from the water to grow. It is also overall and unhealthy fish, and it will die long before it could grow the bowl.

Answer 2

No fish should live in this bowl, especially not goldfish, which get up to a foot long in some instances...fish continuously grow during their whole lives, and will not only grow to the size of the container you have them in. That is a totally untrue and invalid statement, and so is the fact that bettas dont breathe underwater. My betta's rarely, if ever come to the surface for air, because they are kept in large tanks (30 gal, and up) with pristine water conditions, properly heated for their needs as a TROPICAL fish. BAN FISH BOWLS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

The concept of a goldfish bowl is a misconception. Gold fish breathe oxygen through the water using their scales. Gold fish can grow large, but will only grow as large as the container they are in. Some people do have luck with keeping gold fish in a bowl, but it must be regulary maintanced. Probably a fresh change of water each week. If you put a bubblestone in the bowl it would help. (bubble stone attached to an air pump)

A Betta would be great. Despite what one post on here says. Betta are known as Lung Fish. They actually get oxygen from the air and not water. They will stick their mouth out of the water, and inhale a tiny bubble of air. Then they slowly "breathe" that air as it resides in them. Feed your Betta daily. Clean the Bowl weekly. You will have the best luck with a Betta!

Answer 4

No bowl is big enough for a goldfish. Goldfish get 12+ inches long and easily require at least 50 gallons per fish.

This bowl could house a betta, but IMO bettas really do need a heater and a filter.

I hate to say it but I wish they'd stop selling fish bowls.

Answer 5

You should allow one gallon of water perfish per inch of fish.
Example: If you had one 3-inch fish and two 1-inch fish, you should have at least 5 gallons of water, preferably 6 gallons.

But, if you have just 1 fish in a 2.5 gallon tank, though, the fish should be okay...

Answer 6

Putting any fish in a bowl is cruel. You need a 5gal tank with a filter and a heater if it's tropical. All fish need aeration and filtration.

Answer 7

It's definitely good enough for a betta. I think it would be okay for a goldfish if you have a bubbler set up in it.

Answer 8

that is big enough for a betta
one goldfish should be alright for that bowl

Answer 9

I heard that one fish needs 1gal. and to keep it alive, you need to clean frequently and feed em.

Answer 10

i would say 1 goldfish per gallon as long as they are about an inch long