Goldfish? or betta?

Question

my daughter got a golfish at the fair yesterday. but, i read they are very messy. we have a 1 gallon bowl. i am now thinking, maybe she should just get a betta. if we do get a betta, can we put him in the golfish bowl? not with the other golfish though. like, would we have to change the water again even though the goldfish has only been in there for a day?

Answer 1

You are right, the betta is a far better choice for a 1 gallon bowl than a goldfish. The goldfish will die in fairly short order kept under such conditions in almost every case.

I would suggest you change the water when you get the betta because there will be some ammonia already in the old water as well as the possibility of diseases that the goldfish may have been carrying.

As a regular routine, it will be best to change 100% of the water in the bowl every week, or more often if it appears cloudy. Even better, would be to change 50% of the water twice a week as this would keep the bowl much more stable. Here's a link with some additional information on caring for a betta in a bowl environment.

http://www.bettatalk.com/jarred_bettas.htm

and some general betta care information, please note the links on the left side of the page:
http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_care.htm

Hope that helps!

MM

Answer 2

I would definetly suggest a Betta. A goldfish will not thrive in a bowl, they are more messy and will quickly outgrow the tank. If you plan on keeping the Goldfish, I would suggest at least a 3 gallon tank with filter. They really dont need a heater, they are cold water fishes. If you do choose to get a betta, I feel that a one gallon tank is fine. It is cheap and easy to get a 1 gallon tank with a lid...betta's jump. The only real problem with a 1 gallon tank is that they dont make heaters for tanks that small, and betta's need water between 70-81 degrees. I recently got a betta, and it is in a 1 gallon tank. He seems fine, even made a bubble nest. But based on reading what other people have said, I feel kind of sorry for him and i'm saving to get a 2.5 gallon tank as soon as possible. Oh...if you get a 1 gallon tank...change water once a week. Any more than that will stress the fish. Only if the Amonia levels test high, or the water looks cloudy would I suggest cleaning any more often.

Answer 3

One gallon bowl is going to be too small for a goldfish but fine for a betta. Goldfish aren't messy, no more than a betta. That goldfish should be in at least 5 gallons and half the water changed every week. The biggest problem with water quality in fish tanks is over feeding. Only feed once a day and what the fish can eat in about two minutes. Flake food is the worst as it will break apart and scatter as it sinks and before the fish can eat it all. Feed pellets as they stay together allowing the fish to find and consume it all.

Answer 4

Don't put anything in a bowl. Bowls are most definitely not proper homes for ANY fish, and ESPECIALLY not goldfish.

I would get a tank that is at LEAST ten gallons, and move the goldfish to that as soon as possible.

If you keep it in the bowl, you are only going to watch it slowly die.

EDIT: I neglected to say this... If the "bowl" you're talking out is actually a tank with a filter, aeration, etc, by all means, put a betta in it. If not, yeah, the betta can live in the bowl, but would be better off in a gallon TANK, with the filter and aeration, and stuff.

Answer 5

no, no,no and no
Throw out that damn bowl, it's not a good home for any fish
For your goldfish get at least a 10 gallon tank, if you would keep it in the bowl, it will die a cruel death, and a goldfish is not messy as everybody says, you just have to keep your tank clean, weekly partial waterchanges of 25% with a gravel siphon will keep any tank clean and healthy

If you want to get a betta, you still need at least a 2.5 gallon heated and filtered tank
They will be much happier and healthier in there
In a 1 gallon bowl they will maybe live up to a year or 2, put kept in a tank with proper care they can live up to 7 years


Hope that helps
Good luck


EB

Answer 6

What are you gonna do with the goldfish?

A betta is OK in a 1 gallon tank. It will need 50% water changes every other day.

Stick with the goldfish for now. Get the 10 gallon I mentioned in your other question, and wait to see if it lives. If not, THEN get the betta

Answer 7

Hi No Name, Goldfish & Bettas should never be mixed so you will definately need two tanks. Your Goldfish will need a large, lidded, filtered tank really soon, he will die in a bowl-the first link tells you why, the second link tells you all you need to know about keeping him happy-hopefully for many years, I know next to nothing about Bettas so I'll leave his care advice to those that know!

Answer 8

Goldfish can be lively and full of personality. I have had one before, loved him....BUT....
they are very smelly and you have to clean their bowl every 2 days sometimes. PEE U.
I have 3 bettas now. Very clean, perky, and hearty appetites. Low maintenence, able to fast one day per week. Also the stores have a thing you can put into their bowls if you go away for a week, gives off little bits of food at a time. Also, bettas like goldfish size bowl, not those small jars some people use. I like bettas better!

Answer 9

Goldfish produce ick out of stress. Ick will KILL any fish that lives in infested water. You need to get a jug of good water from the store in a big gallon jug, (ya know, the machines where you bring your own jug and fill it up for a quarter). Set up the bowl, fill it up, and drop in the beta. You should get a sucker fish to keep the bowl clean, and they are cheap and really pretty cool.

And it doesn't need 50% water changes every other day. If you have pure clean water it is not a healthy environment for the fish. They need the bacteria to create a habitat.

Answer 10

Betta, Goldfish are messy and require large tanks,