What can I have in a 1 gallon fish bowl?

Question

I know that fish living in fish bowls are almost always mistreated. I have 4 fish tanks running in our house but would like a bowl, as a "decorative" piece. It would be a 1 gallon fish bowl without filtration (but I would clean it every 2-3 days as needed) and a heater would be used in the winter (summer it stays around 75). It would have the normal gravel and plants. I'm thinking a betta would be the only thing or a small guppy or two. If the betta wouldn't be happy I wouldn't get it (or anything else). Is there some breed of minnow that stays like an inch or smaller that I could have in this setup and still be happy? I don't want a fish that's life span would be shorten or be unhappy in this small of tank. So is there anything I could have in here, and please don't say goldfish! Thanks

Answer 1

I really think that you would enjoy the guppy's. I have had guppy's and they are really nice to look at and you can have several males in together and they will be okay. And I do know of some small bubblers that you can get for a one gallon tank. (Mind you they are not very strong.)  

Answer 2

betta and 1 gallon is fine probly better then the cups there living in at the pet shop

Answer 3

you should get a female betta they are great. get a live plant that the roots are in the water . i had that and they like to hide in it. its pretty cool, also they look nice.

Answer 4

Well, glad to hear you have a heater. 1 gallon is the bare minimum for a betta, I do not think minnows would be happy in a small tank...or guppies. A betta is your only choice, OR 2 african dwarf frogs. You will have to do a fishless cycle if you get the frogs. You can not get both! Ot you could get shrimp, but bettas or dwarf frogs would be my first choice. Dwarf frogs can not handle ammonia so you need to cycle the tank b4 getting the frogs, a betta can handle a cycle, but do better if put in an already cycled tank. With either species you will need to use the heater in the winter. about 80F is a good temp. Good luck, and some ppl are so closed minded! A betta can live in a 1 gallon tank...y not a bowl? They are just different shapes! There is also a great debate on weather a betta needs filtration, here is the debate-http://www.ultimatebettas.com/index.php?...

Filtration is really up to you, but in a 2+ gallon tank/bowl you can use one of those disposable filters that you can hide behind the fake plants. Just hook'em up to an air pump and you are ready to go! Keep in mind, no matter what you choose, you need a LID! Both species are notorious for ending up dead on the floor the next morning, that is why you need a lid, so they do not jump out! The dwarf frogs eat frozen bloodworms and other frozen meaty foods, like brineshrimp, mysis shrimp and black worms!  Good luck, and if you want both, you need at least 2 gallons!

If you can get a larger bowl at say 2+ gallons you can have a betta AND 2 african dwarf frogs!!

Answer 5

I would never recommend anything under 2 gallons for a betta, despite popular opinion about proper fish care these days. A single guppy would do fine in that environment though, I don't have much experience with minnows, but I'd imagine them do fine in such a setup.