Two goldfish in a one gallon fish bowl?

Question

So I have a gold fish, and he lives in a one gallon fish bowl. My friend just won a goldfish at a fair but her parents would'nt let her keep him so I put him in with my fishy, but is it to cramped? Should I find a different home for him? They're both around four inches or so.

Answer 1

You should get a fish tank

Answer 2

Nonononono.  Goldfish NEED atleast 20 gallons per fish.  If you want these fish to be happy and not die a slow painful death in your fish bowl, buy a real tank, with a filter, and space for them to grow.  

Answer 3

Honestly, your 1 gallon bowl is no better than the ones at the fair.  If you truly care about animals, you would do the right thing and get a proper tank, at least 10 gallons with a filter.  Its really inexpensive and the fish would be so much happier.  Please, if you can't get the proper set up, then give the fish to someone who can!

They sell the small tanks because they know people will buy them.  People like small tanks because there very convenient and they sell very well.  And, when the fish dies (because it will soon) they spend more money at the store buying more fish, so the pet store makes more money selling small tanks than they do the right size tank.

Answer 4

Simple answer...if you cant get a tank...and to keep goldfish you are going to need a big tank...bigger than 20 gallons...Call your local Petco and local pet stores in the area.  Some will take your fish and adopt them out.  You wont usually get any money for them, but they will find them a good home.

The Petco in my area, accepts fish to adopt out.  They do not resell fish.  But call and ask, your Petco may do the same thing.  Local petstores may also take them off your hands and they may even give you a store credit...but most dont.  Either way, you are giving them to some one who can take them off your hands.

Some Local pet stores might resell them, but not the chains.

Best of Luck!

Answer 5

20 gallons... would make a tank, wouldn't it? Why do they sell such small bowls and call them "goldfish bowls" if such a place is a horrible area for a fish to live?

i think every person that cares about goldfish asks this question and the answer is simply: money.

for 2 you'd need 40 gallons. Try and get a bigger tank with a smaller surface area, or a big biorb, they are definately not big enough but it's better than a 1 gallon bowl. Rubbermaid containers? heard of them? would your parents allow you to keep your goldfish in there? they are good homes if they're big. Try and get a filter they've even more important with a small home like that. If you really cant do anything you cant keep 2 in a 1 gallon bowl, 1 wouldnt be happy but with 2 they will die or atleast one will...a big bucket? all bad ideas but better than what you have now =] you could try giving them to someone? not a petshop in my opinion, they often hardly take care of the animals then sell them to people who wouldnt treat them right at all, ask around at garden centres if they want any fish for their ponds, do you know anyone with a pond? even a stranger? lol someone if your neighbourhood with a pond might be interested?

good luck =]

Answer 6

20 gallon long with filter, air pump, water conditioner, live plants, lights, etc. is best.  You could maybe get away with a 10 gallon if you go light on the feeding.  But a bowl is awful for 1 goldfish let alone two.  If you move your goldfish into a proper home, they will live about 17 years, but if you keep them in that bowl, they'll live about 17 days! :D

Answer 7

You need to find alternate accommodations for both fish.

http://www.aquariu.ms/goldfishbowl

Answer 8

Bowls are not a good environment for Goldfish because goldfish pollute their water quickly, and need more space to swim. You should assume you need 2 gallons of water volume per inch of goldfish (not including fins). A ten gallon tank, in my opinion, should really be considered the minimum for goldfish.

To answer your question of "Why do they sell such small bowls and call them "goldfish bowls" if such a place is a horrible area for a fish to live?", the answer is basically ignorance. Most petstores either don't know a lot about goldfish or don't care. Or both.

Tanks are actually not that expensive...a ten gallon tank, by itself, is only $10 or so. You can treat it like a goldfish bowl in the short term (just do frequent water changes and stuff) and add to it as you are able. But your fish wont last long in a bowl. A bowl would be too small even for a 1 inch fish. A ten gallon tank still isn't big enough for two four inch fish, but it is certainly better than a bowl.

If you cant keep them you could try looking online for people in your area willing to adopt them.  

Answer 9

wow 2 four inches in a gallon tank is too crowded fish bowl without a filter makes even worst.  If you can afford a bigger tank with filter the better.  

kOi keeper & goldfish keeper