What kind of fish can you keep in a fish bowl?

Answer 1

You can keep the following in a fish bowl or fish tank without any air pump, bubbler or filter:

1. Siamese Fighting Fish also known as Betta Splendens. Keep only one in a tank due to its aggressive nature. It harasses any tankmate to death. It possesses a labyrinth organ which allows it to breathe air directly from the water surface. It actually prefers still water and doesn't like the wavy movements created by an air pump or filter.

2. Dwarf Gourami, Blue Gourami, or any member of the Gourami family. Like the Fighting Fish, the gourami has a labyrinth organ so no need for air pump and filter. It becomes semi-aggressive if placed in a small tank so better keep just one in your bowl.

3. Bronze Corydoras, Leopard Corydoras, Skunk Botia, or any small member of the Catfish family. They're all bottom feeders, constantly staying at the bottom and scraping your gravel for left-over food and algae. They possess oxygen-storing bellies which allows them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters even for many years. You can keep 1-2 in your bowl. These fish are peaceful community fish (except for the Skunk Botia which must stay in a species-exclusive tank or a cichlid tank). No need for air pump and filter.

4. Paradise Fish. Keep only one given its pugnacious character and cannibalistic tendencies. It has labyrinth organ so no need for air pump and filter.

Some sectors suggest the goldfish. However, given their high ammonia content, growing size, and cold temperature requirements, you'd better keep them in a pond or an aquarium of at least 10 gallon capacity. Goldfish thrive best in a large swimming environment. Once placed in small tanks or bowls, they pollute a lot, get sick often, and die quickly.

Answer 2

Goldfish live 20+ years, the oldest being 48 years old, but they are POND fish, not BOWL fish. Bowls have a short life span, not goldfish. You can't keep ANY fish alive for more than a few days, maybe weeks if you're lucky in a bowl without a filter. A filter does more than just clean the tank, it harvests beneficial bacteria. With a bowl, you will constantly be stressing the fish by putting him in a sterile environment which is not healthy. Fish also produce ammonia and they need a larger body of water to dilute it or they will be subjected to ammonia poisoning, which burns them to death. Ammonia can spike in a matter of hours, so no amount of water changes will prevent the inevitable fish death. You can get a single ghost shrimp possibly, or a snail, but no fish will live long in a bowl. Bettas can live 7-10 years, but will die in a matter of weeks or months in a bowl. If you want a fish, you're going to need an actual tank. PetSmart has 10 gallon tanks for only 15 bucks. All fish need filters to harvest beneficial bacteria as well. Water changes are NOT a supplement for having a functional filter. Sorry. If you want to replace your fish every few days or weeks, then put a fish in a bowl and watch its gills burn off from ammonia poisoning. Bowls are for soup, not living creatures. Sorry.

Answer 3

considering you can't keep a filter in a bowl NO FISH are very healthy in bowls.

to keep the water healthy you would need to change the water basically every 3 days if it's 1 gallon. everyday if it's less than a gallon. this is fine in theory and does work, however, bacteria grows in the aquarium that is good for the fish and is needed. every time you do a full water change which is needed in bowls you get rid of the bacteria, which help keep your fish healthy and is why you need to cycle tanks before you put fish in them. so while you can keep a fish alive in a bowl it will not be happy or healthy.

goldfish are a no to bowls. they produce way too much ammonia and need really good filters and at least 20gallons when they are full grown. goldfish can get as big as a foot if in the proper tank.

if you insist on putting a fish in a bowl even though it is CRUELTY bettas are really the only fish suited for bowls. someone listed a bunch above me, but those are all schooling fish and will be upset all the time if kept alone. since bettas are solitary fish they are the only fish even close to being suited for a bowl. however, all the fish listed above including bettas are TROPICAL fish and need temps of around 75-85F. without a filter the average temp of a fishbowl is around 65F. this is WAY TOO COLD.

I highly suggest getting a 1-5gallon TANK instead if space is an issue. this way you can still get a filter and heater and you'll be providing a proper home for your fish. if space isn't an issue consider getting a 10gallon tank (you can get a 10gallon tank without a hood for about $10) and a heater and filter. then you can get a few fish like:

4 or 5 female bettas
or 1 male betta with a lot of room to himself (he'd be very happy, the love space, despite common beliefs)
or 1 male betta and 2 or 3 corydoras
or a school of tetras, danios or other small tropical schooling fish

and a mystery snail is a nice addition to any of these options and even a 1-5gallon tnak with a filter and heater.

Answer 4

good fish to keep in a bowl is the Betta (beta). They breath air from the surface, so you don't need to worry about them running out of oxygen in the water like with other fish (including Goldfish {not really recommended anymore}).
Also, this fish comes in a variety of very beautiful colours to choose from and are very graceful lovely fish.
You'll find them in most pet stores in very small bowls ( getting a larger one is a good idea). Just one per bowl as they will fight.

Answer 5

Beta is the best kind of fish suitable for fish bowl

Answer 6

The onlt fish that should really be in a bowl is a Beta. Goldfish create a lot of waste, they don't usually survive long in a bowl. A beta's natural environment is in small amounts of water, therefore a bowl is best

Answer 7

DONT PUT A CATFISH IN A BOWL!!! that person meant pleco... wich u dont want either.. little cleaners would work... catfish take more oxygen than most other fish so you need a bubbler or filter to have them... stick with betta or goldfish

Answer 8

none will do their best in a bowl, but a betta can survive a long time in a bowl

Answer 9

Bettas are the best bet and not goldfish. Goldfish need alot of room to swim in and its unfair to keep them in a bowl.

Answer 10

Fighter, Cat fish-small size spices.