Do you have an idea of keeping fish in a bowl but wondering whether that is a good idea? Don’t be bothered anymore. The article you just stumbled has everything about keeping fish in a bowl. That assures you that some fish breeds may be kept in a bowl.
Don’t be worried if whether they will survive and thrive or not because they will if the necessary conditions and requirements are provided to them. The fishbowl is versatile to keep, and you can place it in whichever corner of your room, be it by your bed on the nightstand or even on the office table.
You should, however, know that fishbowls are hard to maintain and that as an aquarist, you will need to have significant knowledge and expertise to be successful. Fishbowls require constant water changes without filters. Some fish produce a large amount of organic waste, and this will get mixed up with the water, thus the need for constant water changes.
What Aquatic Fish can Live in a Bowl?
Since fish bowls do not have sufficient filtration, it is challenging to sustain a stable environment in it. But if you are careful with the environment and conditions, then you can rear the following fish in a bowl.
Betta Fish
Bettas are available in various brilliant hues and are aquatic residents in a bowl. The bettas are unique and fun to watch. They have a sedentary life that makes them suitable to live in small places. Naturally, the Bettas are adapted to slow-moving streams, rice paddies, and ponds. Bettas can only live in a fishbowl if the environment is suitable at all times. It is your duty as an aquarist to ensure that. To rear the Betta fish in a bowl, you have to fill the bowl with water from an already existing fish tank.
Tap water may be used if it is free from chlorine. One Betta should be placed in a 2-gallon bowl. Most Bettas are known to grow to a maximum length of two inches. After you have filled the bowl with the water, you will have to equip the fishbowl with gravel. The aspect is where the Betta’s waste will be settling. The bottom gravel will also allow bacteria to grow. Since fluctuations in water parameters are harmful to bettas, you should not replace all the water in the fishbowl during water exchange. The water changes are crucial in maintaining the health condition of the betta and should thus be done weekly.
Replace a small percentage of the previous water with fresh water. Remove the water with a cup. To remove toxic chemicals from the freshwater, you should first treat it before replacing it with aged water. Overfeeding of the betta in a bowl is not advised. It is dangerous to the species as the leftovers may pollute the water. So, feed the Betta fish once a day. To boost the health of your betta fish, add small amounts of aquarium salts in the fishbowl. The water should range between 75 to 82° F.
Sparkling Gourami
If you need an original fishbowl, Sparkling Gourami will be a perfect option for you. These species of fish are tiny fish with unique color patterns. To avoid stressing your sparkling gourami, you should keep them in groups. The fish can also survive in fishbowls that are poorly oxygenated. This is because they have a lung-like organ. A dark substrate will be ideal in the fishbowl as it contrasts with gourami’s body. To spruce up your fishbowl, add some plants and decorations. They will also offer hiding spots to the sparkling gourami. A Ph ranging between 6 to 8 and a temperature of 7.5 to 80.5 will be ideal for your sparkling gourami.
Endler Guppies
The Endler guppies are suitable for small containers since they grow to a maximum length of only 1.4 inches. You may need to keep three or more Endler guppies in a nano tank since they are schooling fish. Because the guppy is seen on the water’s upper layer, be sure to add floating plants or some leaves. The guppy offers a wide range of colors that will make your fishbowl vibrant. Since the Endler guppy is a quick breeder and you may need to keep more than one, it is advisable to get only the males of Endler guppies.
The male guppies are relatively prettier and brighter than their female counterparts. The Endler guppies require low maintenance, this will be ideal to keep in the fishbowl. They can also survive up to one week without food. A room temperature of about 18 degrees Celsius is suitable for the guppy to survive and thrive. The Endler guppy requires a Ph range of 6.7 to 8.5. The temperature should consist of the parameters of 72 to 78° F. The guppies may not survive in a non-heated bowl when the temperature of the water drops below 60° F.
Zebra Danios
The Zebra Danios is very hardy and can survive in a fishbowl without a filter. This species of fish is perfect for beginners. They have a silvery/gold coloration with five blue stripes and grows to a maximum length of two inches. The resilient and adaptive Zebra Danios requires low maintenance. The breed of fish is also unique. It gets along very well with the species of their kind. You will need several of them in your fishbowl as they are schooling fish. A 5-gallon bowl will be ideal in hosting Zebra Danios.
One Zebra Danio ought to be housed in two gallons of water. They feed on general fish food flakes and are not picky eaters. To prevent fluctuation in the water temperature, your bowl must have an appropriate heating system (this is not a must). The fishbowl should be lit to enhance the activities of the fish. You won’t require a heater if you have a large bowl. A Ph of 6.5 to 7.2 and a temperature between 65 to 77° F are recommended when keeping Zebra Danios in the bowl. Zebra Danios prefer dense substrates. You will therefore need to add sand substrate to the bowl. To boost the oxygen levels of the fish in the bowl, add plants like amazon swords and java fern.
Ember Tetras
The Ember tetra has a fun personality and will complement any beginner fishbowl. The fish is famous for the fiery red tetra on their bodies. They grow to a maximum length of 0.8 inches. The ember tetra swims in slow-moving swamps and rivers in the wild. The ember tetra will do very well in the almost-still water of the fishbowl. To enhance the activities of the fish and the beauty of the bowl, add floating plants like hornworts. Java fern and java moss species will also be a crucial inclusion. This species of fish is quite sensitive to changes in temperature, acidity, and lighting. So, make sure you provide suitable conditions for ember tetra so that it can survive and thrive in the bowl. The fishbowl occupied with ember tetras requires water renewal. Overfeeding of this species of fish is dangerous and should thus be avoided.
Paradise Fish
Paradise fish prefers small aquariums, which makes them an excellent choice for a fishbowl. With paradise fish, the heater is not needed as the breed prefers to stay in colder temperatures. The fish is ideal for people who want to start with something generic and beginners too. They can adapt to a variety of conditions as they are adaptive and resilient. The fish are also attractive to watch in the bowl. They have a variety of colors. Unlike many other schooling fish, paradise fish likes to keep by itself. So, it is crucial to keep one paradise fish per bowl. They may not be picky eaters, but high protein food is essential for their optimum health. The fish is also easy to care for in an aquarium.
Goldfish
Goldfish is one of the species commonly associated with fish bowls and a primary option offered to beginners. The bowl is a limited environment and, therefore, doesn’t provide the necessary conditions for the growth of goldfish. Their life expectancy decreases dramatically when kept in a fishbowl. The goldfish grows to a massive size of over 12 inches though the bowl may hinder this. They require low maintenance and are easy to care for in a bowl. On the downside, the goldfish produce a lot of waste, which makes you change the water repeatedly.
Final Thoughts
Fish are sensitive and fragile creatures that require the appropriate conditions to grow and live to the full extent of their expectancy. Fish kept in a fishbowl requires a special dedication by the owner to provide all the requirements the fish may need. Since you are now aware of the types of fish that can live in a bowl, click on the 10 Best Saltwater Fish For Beginners and the 10 Best Freshwater Fish For Beginners and get to know if any of the mentioned fish in those articles can be kept in a bowl.
