The kids want a goldfish. Just a fish in a goldfish bowl, not an aquarium. Are there any prospective problems that you can think of. Also, being that I know nothing about fish, can the fish be alone all weekend?
2007-01-10 05:52:58 · 13 answers · asked by Melissa 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Goldfish are not designed for small areas: a rule of thumb is 10 gallons for every goldfish to give adequate room to grow and enough water volume for their needs. Also, while they are cold water fish, they do need filtration; in order to avoid filtration the water would need to be changed continuously. In any small tank you would need to be really religious about changing the water in the tank (40% each week), as such a small water volume gets fouled quickly.
A better bet would be to get a 2.5 gallon tank with a filter and put either a betta (who can live for short periods in those tiny bowls but cannot thrive and won't live long) or some gold cloud minnows (maybe 4).
As far as how long they can left alone, most fish can be left alone for 2-4 days without food as long as there is filtration. Very small fish (guppies, neon tetras, etc) can't go much more than 2 days without food.
And speaking of guppies, if you do put them in your small filtered tank, only put males in. Otherwise 1 female guppy will drop babies every 4 weeks...
2007-01-10 06:07:24 · answer #1 · answered by jeffedl 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't get a goldfish if you're going to use a fish bowl. They produce a lot of waste and are actually not suited to living in a bowl. You would have to clean it all the time. They also need aeration of the water. It would be better to get an aquarium with a filter and aerator if you insist on having a goldfish.
Betta fish (Siamese fighting fish) can live ALONE in a fish bowl provided you get a big enough bowl and are willing to clean the bowl about once per week. The bowl should be no less than one gallon in volume. Anything less than this requires changing the water more than once a week, which can be stressful to the fish. Betta can live in bowls because they get oxygen from the air in addition to from the water (unlike most fish). You can only have one fish per bowl because they're not called fighting fish for nothing. Males (most commonly found in pet stores) will bite each others' fins in establishing dominance. I would also get an ammonia test kit to test for waste levels in the water. You can't tell by just looking or smelling the water if it's ready to be changed. Once a week is about right, but ammonia testing is most accurate.
I have had my betta for almost a year now. He can live for a weekend without food (like if I'm out of town), but it's best to keep them on a daily feeding schedule.
Personally I don't think it's a great idea for a daycare or a school to get fish. Who will watch the fish on holidays or extended breaks? These are animals, not decoration. Also, can the children be trusted not to stick junk in the bowl or tip it over? If you insist on getting a betta fish, see the references below.
2007-01-10 14:17:13 · answer #2 · answered by true tiger 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
One thing is, goldfish can't live in goldfish bowls, its cruel to them! They produce a lot of waste, and should have at least 10 gallons per inch of fish!No fish is happy in a bowl! You would be better off getting a 2.5 gallon w/ heater and box filter. You could put some pretty gravel, plants, and a small hideout in there. I personally would put in 3 male guppies and 2 or 3 ghost shrimp.It would make the fish a lot happier, and be a lot more pleasant to look at. You could probably get all of this Walmart for under $40, but dont get the fish or shrimp there, they will die quickly. Instead get them at a fish store where they know what a guppy is. Or you could choose the following:
-a male or female betta (eat special betta food)
or- 3 male guppies (eat tropical fish food)
or -3 white cloud mountain minnows (eat tropical fish food)
or-3 female guppies (eat tropical fish food)
Plus if you DONT choose the male betta
-2 or 3 ghost shrimp ( eat left over food on bottom)
or- 2 african dwarf frogs (eat freeze dried bloodworms)
If you do choose the male betta I would just get 2 or 3 ghost shrimp.
Please Dont Make A Fish Suffer in A Fish Bowl!!!!!
Thanks !!!!! :)
Good Luck!!!!!
2007-01-10 20:28:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's fine as long as you keep the bowl out of reach so they can just look at the fish. You will probably need to clean the bowl about once a week or so. I would consider getting a betta fish because they don't muck up a bowl so fast. The fish will be fine over the weekend as long as you feed it soon before you leave and as soon as you get back. Good luck!
2007-01-10 14:49:30 · answer #4 · answered by ajax 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Goldfish are too big for a bowl, they really need a lot of space, and they are huge waste producers. If you want to stay small, I'd suggest a 5 gallon aquarium with a male betta and a african dwarf frog, OR 4-5 neons, OR a couple of guppies.
2007-01-10 15:03:09 · answer #5 · answered by brandi91082 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes a goldfish would be a good pet for a classroom. you just need to feed them once daily as much as they will eat in any one minute and yes they will be fine at the weekends.
goldfish dont live long in a round bowl. they need at least 10 gals of water per fish.
if you get a tank with filters it will help keep the tank clean
my nephew as a pet goldfish in there classroom and the kids like to watch them.
http://www.kindplanet.org/goldfishcare.html
2007-01-10 14:22:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not the best idea. If the fish were to die, you as the teacher have a lot of explaining to do. We had a fish die and my 4 yr old cryed for 2 days. Fish need to eat daily so someone will need to be there to feed him. I wish you good luck on any decison you make.
2007-01-10 16:09:11 · answer #7 · answered by jeep pa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This would be fine as long as the children could not reach it to tip it over or do anything like that. I have a goldfish and he once went 4 days without food. You can also buy automatic goldfish feeders at almost any pet store. Goldfish are easy to take care of. All you really have to do is clean their bowl once in a while and they're fine. Goldfish are hearty and the children would probably love to watch it. Just be sure to not put the bowl in direct sunlight or in front of a heater.
2007-01-10 14:02:26 · answer #8 · answered by ptwooton 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
To me, Gold fish are the nastiest fish there is. They will muck up a fish tank fast. You will find yourself constantly cleaning the bowl. Before you purchase one I would go to a local pet store and talk to them about a different kind of fish.
2007-01-10 13:58:23 · answer #9 · answered by to_sassy4_u 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
regardless to what they say about golsfish being nasty there not. i have several of them in a large tank. as far as you wanting to keep it in a bowl id say dont get one. golfish grow to be a large fish. they need lots of room and good filtration. yea goldfish are messy but as long as you have good filtration and keep up on water changes they will bring you yrs of enjoyment! so my advice would be to get a betta. those like bowls. good luck i hope this info helps!
2007-01-10 14:53:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋