Can You Keep Fish in the Fish Bowl?
The answer is YES, CAN!
It can only be used for certain types of fish which are known to be strong and resistant in all water conditions. But for long-term maintenance, let alone rearing, you should think again about keeping fish in a fish bowl!
Many people think that keeping fish in a fish bowl is easy and requires minimal maintenance. In fact, it actually shows the opposite, it is more difficult to care for and the fish die easily.
Indeed, as room decoration accessories, fish bowls containing fish look attractive and do not take up space, unlike an aquarium that is up to one meter deep. But, just for decoration, don’t put weak fish in it!
Here are some considerations for not keeping fish in a fish bowl.
Unstable Water Parameter
Due to the small size and minimal water volume, the water parameters in the fish bowl become more unstable, unlike in wider media. In the short term, the water parameters can still hold on, but for a long time, the water becomes more prone to swinging, which causes stress to the fish. Actually it is possible to maintain the ideal water parameters in the fish bowl, it just needs extra filtration. The problem is, what kind of filter can be used for fish bowls?
Lack of Oxygen Level
Another bad idea in keeping fish in a fish bowl is the lack of oxygen levels. That’s because the surface area is narrow, so gas exchange is also minimal. In addition, many cases of fish suffocate and even die, because oxygen cannot diffuse into the water quickly. If you are forced to keep fish in a fish bowl, then you are obliged to use an aerator as additional oxygen. Although some fish can live without the help of an aerator, try to keep them in a fishbowl, use it!
The Difficulty of Filtering Water
As discussed in the first point, since the average fish bowl size is small, what kind of filter machine can fit into it? Most filtration machines sold in the market are rather large. Even if the machine can fit into the fish bowl, it will take up too much space, right? In fact, with a small volume of water, it requires very good filtration to maintain water quality.
One of the reasons why the small volume of water requires good filtration, is the problem of fish feces. Feces that accumulate in the water over time become ammonia which is bad for fish health . Not to mention the remnants of food that fall, these nutrients will dissolve in water and are just as bad for your ornamental fish . Unlike the media that can hold a lot of water. The larger the volume, the less polluting the water quality, except in the long term and excessive. That’s why good filtration is so important for small aquariums.
Not the Ideal Living Media
Yups, because the size is too small, so for some fish the fish bowl is not an ideal home . Fish are living things that also need space to move freely. If space requirements are not met, it is likely that the fish will be stressed, susceptible to disease and their growth will be very slow. You need to know, stressed fish are likely to jump out of the fish bowl!
Maybe for some aquatic plants , a fish bowl can be a pretty ideal place. Some fish, such as betta and pleco species, may still survive because they are known for their extraordinary adaptation. In conclusion, can fish be kept in a fish bowl? The answer is yes, but it’s the worst option! As noted above, there are many disadvantages to fish if they are kept in too narrow a medium. If you say you can live, it’s possible that fish can survive, but for how long? Are they comfortable? Can it grow to its full potential?