Talk to me about a fish I can keep in a fishbowl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All you have to do to have proper water is either buy the tap water conditioning drops at the pet store or use bottled SPRING water for a betta.

OP here, Thanks for this. Happy to buy bottled water.

This is bad advice, at least if you are unwilling to call the company and find out what is in the water. Bottled water is much less regulated than tap water and can contain a lot of crap including chlorine/choloramine -- it's just not required to be on the label.

I've kept a lot of fish and honestly, the easiest way to do this is to have two small-ish bowls for 1 betta. Betta lives in bowl A. About once a month, clean the bowl as follows: fill bowl B 2/3 full with tap water and add a couple drops of water conditioner to remove the chloramine. Then add about 1/3 of the water from bowl A, to bowl B. Let the whole thing stand for 24 hours, to come up to temperature and settle well. Transfer betta to bowl B, and clean bowl A. Next month, betta moves from bowl B to bowl A using the same process. You could do this with just one bowl by putting the fish in a cup or something while you clean the tank, but that's harder on the fish (more transfers) and you're less likely to actually do the cleaning if there's not a system.

If you can, consider springing for a small heater: bettas can live at room temperature but they are tropical fish and they like it warmer than you probably keep the house. Here's one: https://www.amazon.com/Hydor-7-5w-Heater-Bettas-Bowls/dp/B006JVQ67K

Good luck!

This pp is trying to put op off. Spring water is recommended, regardless of brand, due to lack of chlorine. It's very simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, When I was a kid ( in England if that makes a difference) we had a goldfish in a large fishbowl, When we cleaned the water we would let the new water sit for several hours before putting the fish in, I thought this made the water suitable for them?
I also had a Beta in a large bowl about 15 years ago and it lived a really long time in tap water.

The US has chlorine in the tap water which would kill your pet. You need to let it set so temps equalize.

DW got goldfish for DD. We have them last night and put in the bowl.

THEY ARE DEAD THIS MORNING.

I was worried about the chlorine but she said growing up in California they had goldfish and just put in tap water.

I read about sitting it out and knew that would help the temp, but would sitting the water overnight not evaporate the chlorine???

Isn’t spring water chlorinated? Pet store wasn’t helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, When I was a kid ( in England if that makes a difference) we had a goldfish in a large fishbowl, When we cleaned the water we would let the new water sit for several hours before putting the fish in, I thought this made the water suitable for them?
I also had a Beta in a large bowl about 15 years ago and it lived a really long time in tap water.

The US has chlorine in the tap water which would kill your pet. You need to let it set so temps equalize.

DW got goldfish for DD. We have them last night and put in the bowl.

THEY ARE DEAD THIS MORNING.

I was worried about the chlorine but she said growing up in California they had goldfish and just put in tap water.

I read about sitting it out and knew that would help the temp, but would sitting the water overnight not evaporate the chlorine???

Isn’t spring water chlorinated? Pet store wasn’t helpful.

We live in Arlington, looks like in 2000 disinfectant changed from chlorine (which would evaporate if you let it sit out) to chloramine which must be neutralized or filteee out.

https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Water-Utilities/Water/Water-Quality-Treatment#:~:text=Unlike%20chlorine%2C%20which%20breaks%20up,may%20take%20weeks%20to%20disappear.

[Anonymous]

I had a thriving 40-gallon Angel fish aquarium for many years.

There is a ton of bad advice in this thread.

OP, please go to a small aquarium shop (not a big chain like Petsmart) to talk to the owner. There are plenty of them around. You’ll just have to do a little research.

Yes, Bettas can live in a small unfiltered bowl, but it’s not ideal for longevity. Absolutely do NOT keep a goldfish in an unfiltered bowl.

You should get the smallest bowl that will support a decent filter and follow the advice of the fish store expert.

[NP]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a thriving 40-gallon Angel fish aquarium for many years.

There is a ton of bad advice in this thread.

OP, please go to a small aquarium shop (not a big chain like Petsmart) to talk to the owner. There are plenty of them around. You’ll just have to do a little research.

Yes, Bettas can live in a small unfiltered bowl, but it’s not ideal for longevity. Absolutely do NOT keep a goldfish in an unfiltered bowl.

You should get the smallest bowl that will support a decent filter and follow the advice of the fish store expert.

[NP]

Sure this sounds good eventually, but for today how can we keep goldfish alive in a fishbowl for a week and then we’ll upgrade their home

[Anonymous]

Beta fish water needs to changed all the time, they don't just live in a swill it's more work than you think having a beta. They like a warm bowl too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a thriving 40-gallon Angel fish aquarium for many years.

There is a ton of bad advice in this thread.

OP, please go to a small aquarium shop (not a big chain like Petsmart) to talk to the owner. There are plenty of them around. You’ll just have to do a little research.

Yes, Bettas can live in a small unfiltered bowl, but it’s not ideal for longevity. Absolutely do NOT keep a goldfish in an unfiltered bowl.

You should get the smallest bowl that will support a decent filter and follow the advice of the fish store expert.

[NP]

Sure this sounds good eventually, but for today how can we keep goldfish alive in a fishbowl for a week and then we’ll upgrade their home

Change the water every day or every other day. Goldfish don’t do well in unfiltered bowls, so you’ll need to make sure you keep the water extremely fresh.

Join a fish-focused group to become educated. (Search for a fish-focused subreddit as an option.)

[PP]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a thriving 40-gallon Angel fish aquarium for many years.

There is a ton of bad advice in this thread.

OP, please go to a small aquarium shop (not a big chain like Petsmart) to talk to the owner. There are plenty of them around. You’ll just have to do a little research.

Yes, Bettas can live in a small unfiltered bowl, but it’s not ideal for longevity. Absolutely do NOT keep a goldfish in an unfiltered bowl.

You should get the smallest bowl that will support a decent filter and follow the advice of the fish store expert.

[NP]

Sure this sounds good eventually, but for today how can we keep goldfish alive in a fishbowl for a week and then we’ll upgrade their home

Change the water every day or every other day. Goldfish don’t do well in unfiltered bowls, so you’ll need to make sure you keep the water extremely fresh.

Join a fish-focused group to become educated. (Search for a fish-focused subreddit as an option.)

[PP]

Like empty the bowl and refill it, or can I scoop out a pitcher and pour in replacement a few times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, When I was a kid ( in England if that makes a difference) we had a goldfish in a large fishbowl, When we cleaned the water we would let the new water sit for several hours before putting the fish in, I thought this made the water suitable for them?
I also had a Beta in a large bowl about 15 years ago and it lived a really long time in tap water.

The US has chlorine in the tap water which would kill your pet. You need to let it set so temps equalize.

DW got goldfish for DD. We have them last night and put in the bowl.

THEY ARE DEAD THIS MORNING.

I was worried about the chlorine but she said growing up in California they had goldfish and just put in tap water.

I read about sitting it out and knew that would help the temp, but would sitting the water overnight not evaporate the chlorine???

Isn’t spring water chlorinated? Pet store wasn’t helpful.

Why would u revive a 6 year old thread about goldfish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, When I was a kid ( in England if that makes a difference) we had a goldfish in a large fishbowl, When we cleaned the water we would let the new water sit for several hours before putting the fish in, I thought this made the water suitable for them?
I also had a Beta in a large bowl about 15 years ago and it lived a really long time in tap water.

The US has chlorine in the tap water which would kill your pet. You need to let it set so temps equalize.

DW got goldfish for DD. We have them last night and put in the bowl.

THEY ARE DEAD THIS MORNING.

I was worried about the chlorine but she said growing up in California they had goldfish and just put in tap water.

I read about sitting it out and knew that would help the temp, but would sitting the water overnight not evaporate the chlorine???

Isn’t spring water chlorinated? Pet store wasn’t helpful.

Why would u revive a 6 year old thread about goldfish.

The topic was germane, and I was extending it with my own experience

It’s better to have one thread in a given topic, and now we see recs for beta in a small bowl, the larger acq for actual goldfish, and realizing that chlorine has changed in water since we were kids so letting water sit out is insufficient to condition the water.

[Anonymous]

Just get a fish aquarium app or screensaver and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

How on earth can anyone be comfortable with a fish living in a bowl??? Watching this poor fish every day in this completely unadapted environment would make me depressed. Is it even allowed? Aren't there any minimal standards for keeping a living fish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How on earth can anyone be comfortable with a fish living in a bowl??? Watching this poor fish every day in this completely unadapted environment would make me depressed. Is it even allowed? Aren't there any minimal standards for keeping a living fish?

These are feeder goldfish. Their normal life is 500 crammed into a 20 gallon tank in petco, where they die or are taken away in a plastic bag to feed a large fish or reptile.

A quiet bowl with a few neighbors may be a limited existence but probably a bit better than the other lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, When I was a kid ( in England if that makes a difference) we had a goldfish in a large fishbowl, When we cleaned the water we would let the new water sit for several hours before putting the fish in, I thought this made the water suitable for them?
I also had a Beta in a large bowl about 15 years ago and it lived a really long time in tap water.

The US has chlorine in the tap water which would kill your pet. You need to let it set so temps equalize.

DW got goldfish for DD. We have them last night and put in the bowl.

THEY ARE DEAD THIS MORNING.

I was worried about the chlorine but she said growing up in California they had goldfish and just put in tap water.

I read about sitting it out and knew that would help the temp, but would sitting the water overnight not evaporate the chlorine???

Isn’t spring water chlorinated? Pet store wasn’t helpful.

Why would u revive a 6 year old thread about goldfish.

+1. OPs fish died 6 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is my only option a Beta fish?

DD wants a fish and I am not into dealing with an aquarium, heat pumps, etc etc. I just want a basic fish bowl that I can put tap water in and be done.

What's the appeal of a fish? To me, it seems like the equivalent of a pet rock but, lots more work. The only thing I think they offer is calmness as they swim around but, they can't know you really or give you affection.

What's the point?