Taking Care of Fish in a Fish Bowl

Taking Care of Fish in a Fish Bowl. The displaying of fish for decorative purposes dates back to the ancient Egyptians who considered fish sacred. While colorful fish swimming circles in a tiny bowl may be esthetically pleasing, it is not always healthy for the fish. As with any pet, care and planning are a necessary part of owning a fish. Under the right conditions, your fish can live a long life, offering hours of tranquil entertainment.

Things Needed

• Clean container
• Colander
• Clean cloth
• Fish food
• Sturdy surface

Step 1

Clean the fish bowl once a week. Pour the water from the fish bowl, along with the fish into a clean container. Pour the gravel into a colander and rinse with hot water. Do not use soap.

Step 2

Scrub the fish bowl with a clean cloth and hot water; no soap. Add the substrate back into the bottom of the fish bowl. One-inch of substrate is sufficient for a gallon-sized bowl.

Step 3

Refill the fish bowl two-thirds full with lukewarm water. Use a net to scoop your fish and place it into the clean fish bowl.

Step 4

Feed your fish at least once a day. Follow the instructions on the fish food label for allocation amounts. Some fish food manufacturers recommend two smaller feedings over one large feeding.

Step 5

Consider the size of the fish bowl before filling it with additional fish. Although it may seem like a nice gesture to provide your fish with friends, keep in mind that a gallon-sized bowl can only accommodate one 2-inch fish or two guppies, at the most.

Step 6

Set your fish bowl in an area where it will not be subject to tipping, spilling, falling, rocking or potentially breaking. A fish bowl is safest in the center of a large, sturdy table or a wide shelf. While plenty of natural light is important to the health of your fish, avoid direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can quickly heat the water to such a degree that it kills your fish.

Warnings

• Use the dirty water from your fish bowl to feed your plants. Waste matter from the fish is actually full of minerals that plants love.

Warnings

• Fill the fish bowl with bottled water if you have city tap. The chemicals in city tap water are not healthy for your fish.
• Although many people tend to put goldfish in fish bowls, it is not a good practice. Fish bowls stunt the growth of goldfish. Better choices for fish bowls are white clouds, guppies and bettas.

References

• Aquatics Unlimited: The Fish Bowl
• Pet Place: How to Care for Your Fish Bowl