Keeping Goldfish in a Fishbowl
Even though SierraFish & Pets DOES NOT recommend goldfish in a bowl her are some tips on howyou may have success. We recommendgoldfish in a larger tank with lots of filtration as they are VERY DIRTY. We suggest 1-2 per 10gallon for best chance ofsuccess. If you already have a bowl we wouldsuggest a Betta fish instead.
Tips on KeepingGoldfish in a Bowl
A very important fact to remember whencaring for goldfish, is that it is not a good idea to keep them with tropicalfish. For one, they don’t eat the same foods. Secondly, goldfish like colderwaters than tropical fish. In addition, goldfish can be threatened by tropicalfish. The long flowing fins and the slow motion of the goldfish make themirresistible targets to many fast fin nipping tropical fish. The stress can bevery traumatic.
Starting Right
For best results, you should start byfilling your goldfish bowl with “aged” or “conditioned water” found in existingaquariums. Typically, goldfish come from waters that are alkaline and slightlyhard. Tap water is suitable for them,but it should be “conditioned” to rid it of chlorine or chloramine prior topouring it into the bowl. This will prevent damage to the gills of thegoldfish. You will then need the right, healthy goldfish. As a general rule, you should not keep morethan two (2) inches of fish per gallon of water. For example, a 2-gallon fishbowl should not house more than two, 2-inch long goldfish.
Feeding
It is very important to understand thatgoldfish do not tolerate tropical fish food well. Goldfish do not have astomach. Food is absorbed as it travels through their intestines , so it musthave a high alkaline content. Tropical fish food is too acidic for theirdigestive system. It is true that goldfish will eat tropical fish food, butthey will reap very little nutritional benefit from it. Over time, feedingtropical fish food to goldfish will seriously affect their health andlongevity. You must feed a designated Goldfish Food for best results.
Be very careful with your feedings.Overfeeding, especially in a small goldfish bowl, will cause the water tobecome cloudy and smelly from the accumulation of decayed food. This waterwill, in time, become harmful to the fish. When feeding, remember that less isbest. A safe recommendation is to feed 2 to 4 pieces of flake or pellet foodevery other day.
Cleaning YourGoldfish Bowl
Since a goldfish bowl generally does nothave a filtration system, you must be very careful when cleaning the bowl.Every 5 to 7 days, the fish keeper will need to pour the top 2/3 of the bowlwater into a clean (uncontaminated) plastic or glass container. Then, carefullytransfer the goldfish, using a net, into this holding container while the restof the bowl is cleaned.
The remaining fish bowl watershould be discarded. Once the bowl is empty, it can be rinsed out with freshtap water. Never use glass cleaner, or any other chemical to clean the bowl, asthese, even in trace amounts are toxic to the goldfish.
Once the fish bowl has been rinsed,1/3 of the bowl can be filled with fresh tap water. Remember, the water must beconditioned to remove chlorine and chloramine. The water should be at roomtemperature or cooler. Goldfish are cold water fish, and prefer watertemperature in the low 60’s. Carefully, pour both the goldfish and the oldwater back into the fish bowl. It is best to only fill the bowl 3/4 full. Thisallows for a larger water surface area, providing your fish with more oxygen.Your fish will breathe easier.
