It might help us help you if you can describe exactly what it is you want to achieve here. They are totally reliant on us for their health and wellbeing, and that means taking on a commitment to give them suitable conditions to live in. You must understand that these are living creatures, that we've decided bring into our homes. That's why fishkeepers use dechlorinators when they do water changes, so there is no trace of chlorine in the water. You should definitely never use lake or river water for fish you have no idea what diseases or parasites might be in there which could make your fish extremely sick, or even kill them.Ĭhlorine is extremely bad for fish it paralyses their gills so they can't breathe. And what happens if you're ill, or want to go on holiday? What will your fish do then? If you were to do daily water changes, then yes, you could keep fish without a filter, but you'd still need to heat the water. I can understand the appeal of bowls I actually keep a small unfiltered, unheated fish bowl myself but just with a few aquatic plants and some small snails, no fish! Even wild fish that live in, what appear to us, to be stagnant ponds, have fresh water coming in, through rain and drainage.Īnother point that's often not mentioned about bowls is that, when filled with water, you get significant distortion, so some parts of the tank become highly magnified (which can be good if you're keeping tiny fish or shrimps ), but other parts 'disappear' and can't be seen at all. This means that oxygenation (which can just be through a filter that moves the water around it doesn't have to be an air stone) is even more important in bowl shaped tanks.įish need moving water, and water changes to live happily in captivity. A terrarium is a wonderful way to upcycle that old fish bowl and turn it into something new and useful once again. Oxygen dissolves into the water at the surface so even a properly filtered bowl shaped tank can have less fish in it than a rectangular tank. One of the major problems with bowl shaped tanks is lack of surface area, compared to a standard rectangular shaped tank. You also have much more fish choice in a larger tank the fish species that can be kept in very small tanks is very limited. Tiny 'nano' tanks and bowls can work, but need a lot more experience to make keep healthy. A standard rectangular tank, of around 60 to 100l (roughly 10 or 20 gallons) is much more stable and forgiving for new fishkeepers to learn with. Second, because of its shape, it can focus the sun’s rays, which in turn can even lead to a fire.ĭoes this mean that having glass bowls does not have any sense at all? No, although they are not suitable as a ‘house’ for fish, they can be filled with plants and used as a decoration.I agree with Jeremy. To this we should add two more facts: first, the ball is very delicate, which means that it can be damaged during care activities. Its shape makes it impossible to install technical equipment, which means that it is difficult to provide optimal living conditions for the inhabitants. The problems with keeping fish in the ball do not end there. In addition, the round shape somehow forces the fish to swim in circles, and this in turn can affect their mood and behaviour.Īnother thing is that the round glass surface acts as a lens, which is disadvantageous for both the fish and the aquarist because it causes distortion of the view. What is more, this shape of the tank makes the ratio of water surface to water volume unfavourable, which in practice makes it difficult for oxygen to dissolve. How do the curved walls of such an “aquarium” affect the fish? The lack of flat glass literally makes it impossible to find a quiet spot, which is a desirable place for timid species. Most often customers buy small spheres with a capacity of 5-13 litres, which are claustrophobic even for less demanding species. And yet, a round aquarium is no place for living creatures unless it has 45 litres. It would seem that a fish in a glass bowl is a classic, and since this view is so deeply rooted in human consciousness, it cannot be wrong. What’s so disturbing about it? Although it may seem visually appealing, in reality it doesn’t really contribute to the well-being of its inhabitants. A glass bowl with a fish is a sad sight, which can be seen not only in many films, but also in homes.
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