How to Make Fish Survive in a Glass Bowl

A fish bowl is an alternative to a fish tank if your space is limited. However, it is best to purchase the largest bowl you can afford or accommodate for the comfort of the fish. Smaller fish bowls require more frequent care. This is because fish waste and decaying food will reach toxic levels faster in a small volume of water. Regardless of the size of the bowl, ensure that the water level in the bowl is just beneath the widest part of the bowl to enable an easier exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish bowl
  • Water filtration system
  • Fish food
  • Fish net
  • Holding bowl
  • Paper towel
  • Clean bucket
  • Water conditioner
  • Water
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Instructions

  1. Care for Fish

    • 1

      Add a filtration system to the fish bowl. Filters aerate the water, which will prevent a buildup of nitrogen-based toxins that could eventually kill the fish. Select a filter that will fit into the bowl, such as a sponge filter or an under gravel filter.

    • 2

      Feed the fish once or twice a day, giving it only the amount of food that it can finish in one minute, because overfeeding your fish could lead to its death. Ensure that the fish food contains vitamins, minerals, 12 percent protein and less than 5 percent of fat. A World of Fish suggests balancing your pet's diet with foods such as tubifex worms, brine shrimp and blood worms.

    • 3

      Keep the water in the fish bowl as clean as possible. Fish waste and uneaten food build up in the water over time and could affect the health of the fish. Remove at least 50 percent of the water once a week and replace it with conditioned water, and clean the bowl once a month.

    Clean the Fish Bowl

    • 4

      Pour about 25 percent of the water from the fish bowl into another bowl. Scoop the fish out of the fish bowl with a net and place it gently in this holding bowl.

    • 5

      Pour enough bottled drinking water to fill the fish bowl into a clean bucket. Pour an appropriate amount of water conditioner into the water and mix it in to remove chlorine from the water. Refer to the manufacturer's directions for best results.

    • 6

      Stir the gravel in the fish bowl to release dirt and waste and pour the water out. Rinse the gravel and the sides of the bowl with clean water until they are clear of debris. If debris remains in the bowl, pour the gravel into a separate container and scrub the inside of the fish bowl clean with a paper towel. Rinse the gravel clean and return it to the bowl.

    • 7

      Fill the bowl with the conditioned water. According to First Tank Guide, dechlorinators work instantly, so you can pour the conditioned water into the fish bowl as soon as one minute after you mix it.

    • 8

      Scoop your fish up with the net and return it to the clean fish bowl. Pour the water in the temporary holding bowl gently into the fish bowl.