Goldfish are freshwater fish mostly found in lakes, rivers, and ponds where they have enough space to swim freely. But how would your fish react when you place them in a bowl? Will your goldfish be able to survive in a bowl? Let us discuss this below:
In general, one small goldfish can live in a well-maintained and oxygenated bowl. The water temperature of a goldfish bowl should be between 22-26 degrees Celsius. However, experts suggest keeping your goldfish in a well-maintained filtered tank than a bowl to provide them a healthy life.
Let us dive into the article to learn more about a goldfish bowl. In addition, we would also discuss the water requirements of your goldfish.
Contents
Goldfish water requirements?
| Types of Goldfish | Water Temperature ( In Fahrenheit) | Water Temperature ( In Celsius) |
|---|---|---|
| Common Goldfish | 68-74°F | 20-23.3°C |
| Comet Goldfish | 60-70°F | 15.56-21.11°C |
| Fantail Goldfish | 68-74°F | 18-22°C |
| Shubunkin Goldfish | 60-70°F | 15.56-21.11°C |
| Sarasa Goldfish | 36-90°F | 2.2-32°C |
Also read: What Is The Ideal Water Temperature For Goldfish?
Why can’t your goldfish live in a bowl?
You can place one small goldfish in a well-maintained and oxygenated bowl. But it would be advisable not to keep your goldfish in a bowl as it will not survive for long in a bowl.
In addition, a bowl has no filtration system and has significantly little space for goldfish to swim, affecting your fish’s growth.
Therefore, a goldfish must be kept in a tank that has a proper filtration system so that your goldfish can live a healthy life.
Many pet stores keep goldfish in a bowl, making people believe that goldfish can survive in it. But, unfortunately, your goldfish will not survive for a long period in a bowl.
Your goldfish can also suffer from stress if placed in a bowl, as it provides very little space to swim. We want you to know that goldfish require a well-maintained tank to live a healthy life.
Also read: How Many Goldfish Can You Keep In A 10-Gallon Tank?
Is it cruel to keep your goldfish in a bowl?
It is not cruel to keep your goldfish in a bowl if it is well-maintained. However, you must provide good quality water in the bowl by ensuring regular water changes.
Your goldfish bowl should be well-oxygenated to give a healthy life to your goldfish. You must not keep more than one goldfish in a bowl, as adding more fish will make the bowl overpopulate, leaving no space for your fish to swim.
We would not advise keeping your goldfish in a bowl as it provides little room to swim. A well-filtered tank will be a better option for a goldfish and easier to maintain than a bowl.
In a tank, your goldfish will get enough space to swim, which will make your fish playful. Whereas in a bowl, your goldfish can suffer from stress due to lack of room in the tank.
In addition, you can add 2-3 goldfish in a tank but not more than one in a bowl.
So your goldfish will be happier and more playful in a tank than in a bowl. We strongly recommend keeping your goldfish in a well-filtered tank rather than a bowl to provide your fish with a healthy life.
How long can your goldfish survive in a bowl?
If the bowl is maintained correctly, your goldfish might survive up to 1-2 years in a bowl. You must ensure regular water changes, and there must be sufficient oxygen exchange.
You should add live plants in your bowl to provide enough oxygen to your goldfish.
However, placing your goldfish in a well-filtered tank would be advisable to provide them with a healthy life. It is because your goldfish will have enough space to swim in a tank than a bowl.
Your goldfish can also suffer from stress if placed in a bowl, as it provides very little room to swim.
In addition, your goldfish might suffer from a lack of oxygen in a bowl because of poor water conditions, further leading to the passing away of your fish.
What do goldfish require in their tank?
Your goldfish require the following things in their tank:
Good Quality Water
You must provide good quality water to your goldfish. The water in your goldfish tank should be free from chlorine-based disinfectants and other heavy metals.
We would also want you to know that contaminated water can cause a drop in the oxygen level in your goldfish tank, which might cause severe damage to your fish.
In addition, the water temperature of your goldfish tank should be between 22-26 degrees Celsius.
Also read: Can Goldfish Survive In Dirty Water?
Water Filter
Your goldfish tank must contain a well-maintained filtration system as it is required to maintain the quality of water in your goldfish tank.
A water filter helps to increase the oxygen and also treats the tank’s impurities. However, we want you to know that your goldfish can suffer from insufficient oxygen and pass away within 12-24 hours without a water filter.
Consider adding a Fluval High-Performance water filter to your goldfish tank, as it helps maintain the tank’s water quality by eliminating harmful chemicals.
You can buy it from Amazon Fluval High-Performance Aquarium Filter.
Also read: Do Goldfish Need Filters?
Water heater( Optional)
Goldfish are cold-hardy fish that does not usually require a heater in their tank. The water temperature of your goldfish tank should be between 22-26 degrees Celsius.
Add a heater to your goldfish tank if the temperature drops below 21 degrees Celsius. In addition, we would like you to know that if the temperature drops below 60 °F, your goldfish might stop eating its meal and turn lethargic.
If their tank temperature goes too high, they can turn sluggish.Â
| Aquarium Size | Recommended Heater |
|---|---|
| 5 Gallon | 25W (FREESEA 25W Heater) |
| 10 Gallon | 50W (Fluval M50 Submersible Heater) |
| 20 Gallon | 100W (Fluval M100 Submersible Heater) |
| 25 Gallon | 125W (EHEIM 125W Heater) |
| 40 Gallon | 200W (Fluval M200 Submersible Heater) |
| 50 Gallon | 250W (EHEIM 250W Heater) |
| 65 Gallon | 2X200W (Fluval M200 Submersible Heater) |
| 75 Gallon | 2x300W (Fluval E300 Advanced Electronic Heater) |
Air pump (Optional)
Your goldfish do not need an air pump in their tank if the tank is well-oxygenated and has sufficient surface movements that convert to oxygen.
We want you to know that goldfish use their gills to intake oxygen from the water, so it might be difficult for your goldfish to breathe if your tank is not planted or has an air pump.
An air pump adds good bubbles and creates stones in the tank water. The bubbles then rise to the tank’s surface and help improve the living condition of fish, plants, and other living creatures in your tank.
In addition, an air pump helps to provide enough oxygen so that your goldfish can stay healthy. Therefore, adding an air pump to your goldfish tank will be advisable to offer them a healthy life.Â
We advise you to use Tetra Whisper Air Pump as it is silent and easy to use.
You can buy this on Amazon Tetra Whisper Air Pump.
These were some important things your goldfish requires in their tank.
Also read: Can Goldfish Live Without An Air Pump?
Conclusion:
- You can keep one small goldfish in a well-maintained and oxygenated bowl.
- Your goldfish can suffer from stress due to a lack of space in a bowl.
- It will be advisable to keep your goldfish in a well-filtered tank than a bowl to provide them a healthy life.
- Your goldfish tank should contain good-quality water free from chlorine and other heavy metals.
- Your goldfish will be happier and more playful in a tank than in a bowl.
Related Question:
How many goldfish can you place in a 10-gallon tank?
You can keep 2-3 small goldfish in a ten-gallon tank. However, we recommend you shift your fish to a larger tank as they grow to 2.5 inches. In addition, we would want you to know that experts suggest having one-gallon water per inch of fish.
Can goldfish live in warm water?
Your goldfish can live in warm water as it helps to increase your fish metabolism and makes them active. However, it would be advisable not to keep them in too hot water as it can lead to severe health issues in your goldfish.
Therefore, we would want you to know that the water temperature in your goldfish tank should be between 22-26 degrees celsius.
Reference: NCBI, ResearchGate