Some people may love the idea of keeping a betta in a small bowl, much like the old goldfish in a bowl routine, but nowadays, this is rarely recommended.
Modern advice emphasizes the importance of a filtered aquarium to provide a fair and healthy environment for fish. Placing a betta in a simple bowl can even be considered animal cruelty due to the misconception that these hardy fish only need a small amount of water.
Our articles on the best betta tanks or guides to set up a suitable habitat can help rectify this mistake. Bettas may be hardy fish that can survive in tough conditions, but they deserve an enjoyable, comfortable space to live happily for the long term.
Do Betta Fish Really Thrive in a Bowl?
A bowl is no place for a pet fish. For a betta, you’ll need a small aquarium, preferably a 10-gallon tank. A good filter is essential to trap debris and provide a surface where beneficial bacteria can grow, creating a healthier environment for your fish.
The Ideal Tank Size for Betta Fish
Betta fish require at least a 5-gallon tank, though a 10-gallon tank with a filter and heater is ideal. Using live plants for decoration is also recommended, as plastic plants can potentially hurt or damage their delicate fins. Providing the right tank size and environment ensures your betta thrives comfortably.
Why Bowls May Not Be Suitable for Betta Fish?
A bowl might seem like a convenient option, but it needs to be big—at least 20 litres—and equipped with a filter to support your betta’s needs. The spherical nature of bowls makes installing a filter difficult, as most non-built-in filters rely on smooth surfaces and suction cups to remain sturdy.
Similarly, attaching an aquarium heater is problematic without a flat wall, and unless your room maintains a consistently suitable temperature, this setup is inadequate. Without these essentials, a bowl fails to meet the necessary conditions for a healthy and comfortable environment for your betta.
How’s it different to keeping a goldfish in a bowl?
Keeping a betta in a bowl is not like keeping a goldfish in one, and even for goldfish, bowls without a filter are no longer recommended. A filter is essential to maintain clean water, which helps keep the fish healthy, as smaller water volumes lead to rapid declines in water quality and increase the risk of illness.
Bettas are also intelligent fish that need more than just a bowl and water—they thrive with plants, decorations, and stimulation, which make them much happier. Adding an aquarium light, like LED, supports live plants and creates a more enriching habitat. While it’s possible to add these to a bowl, a square or rectangular tank makes this setup much easier and more effective for your betta’s well-being.
Common Problems with Keeping Bettas in Bowls
Keeping bettas in a bowl comes with a lot of challenges, mainly due to the lack of space and poor water quality. Bowls are too small for bettas to swim and explore comfortably, which can lead to stress and serious health problems.
Water Quality Challenges:
- Ammonia and nitrite buildup happens quickly in bowls because there’s not enough water to dilute waste, and frequent water changes are tough to manage consistently.
- Most bowls don’t have room for proper filters, so the water gets dirty fast, increasing the risk of disease.
- Temperature swings are common in small bowls, and these sudden changes can harm your betta’s health.
A bowl just can’t provide the stable and healthy environment a betta needs to live a happy, comfortable life. A proper tank with enough space and filtration makes all the difference.
Alternatives to Bowls for Betta Fish Housing
While betta fish are often thought of as bowl dwellers, they actually thrive much better in larger tanks or aquariums. A 5-gallon tank or bigger gives them the space they need and helps maintain better water quality, creating a healthier and happier home.
Better Options for Bettas:
- Aquariums: A 5-gallon tank with a filter and heater is perfect for providing the right environment for your betta.
- Planted tanks: Adding live plants not only makes the tank look more natural and appealing but also gives your betta places to hide and explore.
- Specialized betta tanks: Some tanks are designed specifically for bettas, with features like built-in filters and decorative touches that make them a great choice.
I understand the challenges, but I still want to learn how to properly care for a betta in a bowl
If you still choose to keep your betta in a bowl for any reason, here are essential tips you should never overlook:
How to Care for a Betta in a Bowl
- Fish bowl or fish-safe container: Choose a bowl that is at least one gallon in size, though bigger is better to provide more swimming space and stability in temperature and water quality.
- One fish per bowl: Bettas thrive alone, and a single-fish setup is best for a bowl environment.
- De-chlorinated freshwater: Use bottled drinking water or treated tap water with an aquarium conditioner. Avoid distilled/reverse osmosis water, as it needs to be buffered and re-mineralized.
- Betta food: Provide a staple dry food specifically made for bettas, such as Absolutely Fish Naturals pellets, and supplement with variety as needed.
- Aquarium gravel or substrate: Use gravel, glass marbles, or other materials free from paints, dyes, or chemicals that could contaminate the water.
- Decorations: Bettas enjoy exploring, so include live plants or soft artificial plants made from fabric or soft silicone. Ensure all decorations are free of sharp edges to protect your betta’s delicate fins.
Other useful supplies include a suitable aquarium heater, a fish-catching net, a tank light, a gravel vacuum siphon, freeze-dried treats, and an algae cleaning sponge.
By gathering these essentials, you can create a safe and stimulating environment where your betta can live comfortably.
Setting Up Your Bowl
- Choose a location: Place the bowl in a well-lit room on a flat, sturdy surface that can handle its weight and occasional splashes. Avoid windows, vents, and other areas prone to temperature fluctuations, and keep it out of reach of small children and pets.
- Rinse thoroughly: Wash the bowl, gravel, and decorations with plain water to remove any dirt or dust.
- Arrange the bowl: Add the gravel and decorations, and position your heater if you’re using one. Ensure the heater is only plugged in when it’s fully submerged.
- Fill with water: Use room-temperature water, and if it’s tap water, add an appropriate dose of water conditioner. Pour the water gently, using your hand or an object to avoid disturbing the gravel and decor.
- Acclimate your fish: Follow the Absolutely Fish Freshwater Acclimation Guide to introduce your betta to its new environment safely.
By following these steps, you’ll create a stable, comfortable home for your betta!
Cleaning the Bowl
If your bowl gets a lot of light, algae may grow on the decorations and glass. Use a dedicated sponge to gently scrub the algae, preferably before a water change, so the algae gets discarded with the dirty water. For smaller bowls, clean thoroughly and replace all the water weekly, including rinsing debris from the gravel.
Larger bowls can be maintained with partial water changes and siphon-vacuuming between less frequent deep cleans. Always use de-chlorinated water to refill evaporated water, and never use soap for cleaning.
Feeding
Feed your betta about 3-5 pellets at a time, and remove any uneaten food to prevent it from dirtying the water. Once-per-day feeding is ideal to avoid excess waste that can quickly pollute the tank.
While betta pellets should be the primary food source, occasionally swapping them out for freeze-dried treats like bloodworms provides added nutrients and keeps your betta engaged.
Bettas are resilient and can handle occasional missed feedings, so don’t worry if you skip a day. For extended absences, arrange for someone to care for your fish, feeding it at least every few days if daily feeding isn’t possible.
FAQs
Do bettas like bowls or tanks?
Betta fish should not live in bowls. Instead, they thrive in a 5-gallon glass or plastic tank or larger. A tank of this size allows them to display normal activity and reduces the buildup of toxins, creating a healthier and more natural environment for your betta.
What type of fish can I put in a fish bowl?
Some excellent choices include paradise fish, guppies, platy variatus, white clouds, small danios (like zebra danios), golden China barbs, bloodfin tetras, cave tetras, and salt-and-pepper cory cats.
Can betta fish live in a bowl without oxygen?
No, betta fish cannot live in a bowl without dissolved oxygen, even though they can breathe air at the surface. While their ability to breathe air allows them to tolerate smaller spaces, keeping them in a bowl without proper filtration and aeration is not recommended and is considered poor care practice.
Can betta fish live in a bowl without a filter?
While a betta fish can technically survive in a bowl without a filter, it is highly discouraged as it severely impacts their health and well-being. Without filtration, water quality quickly deteriorates, leading to a buildup of waste and toxins that can shorten the fish’s lifespan.
Final Thoughts: Shall we suggest a suitable tank one final time?
Using a bowl for your betta makes it challenging to create a proper environment and care routine that benefits both you and your fish. Opting for a pre-built tank or assembling a suitable one yourself is a far better option. It’s easier to maintain in the long run and provides a much more comfortable and healthy space for your betta.
