How to Care for Goldfish in a Bowl

Keeping a goldfish in a bowl is not ideal. It's a small container and good oxygenation of the water is more difficult in a bowl. However, there are ways you can make bowl living nice and comfortable for your goldfish. This keeps them living long, providing fun and entertainment for you and your family.

Things You'll Need

  • Filter
  • Stones
  • Large bowl
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Soft cloth
  • Small container
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Instructions

    • 1

      Invest in a filter for the bowl. As bowls are harder for goldfish to get the oxygen they need, adding a filter helps lessen this problem. Simple box filters are a cheap investment that greatly improves the quality of your goldfish's life.

    • 2

      Buy a large bowl. Goldfish need around a gallon of water for each inch of goldfish, so buy a bowl that's large enough to accommodate the goldfish you have.

    • 3

      Fill the bowl about 2/3 full, which gives goldfish a good air-to-water ratio.

    • 4

      Keep the water between 60 and 75 degrees, which is the ideal temperature for goldfish.

    • 5

      Place the bowl away from sunlight. This overheats the water and can lead to algae.

    • 6

      Add stones, such as gravel, to the bottom of the bowl, which creates beneficial bacteria. As well, sift these stones about once a week to keep things clean.

    • 7

      Avoid placing live plants inside the bowl, which can bring unwanted germs into the goldfish's living space.

    • 8

      Replace 25 percent of the water in the bowl every four or five days. Don't replace all the water, as this will remove beneficial bacteria.

    • 9

      Place your goldfish in a clean container once a week while you scrub out the bowl, wiping it down with hydrogen peroxide using a soft cloth.