What Do You All Think About Goldfish Bowls?

[Luke_e]

Yea, i knew what they were, just wondered why some are so expensive.

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

Can't see why they haven't been banned- but sadly they haven't.

They haven't been banned because no one cares about toturing fish. They're too busy passing unconstitutional legislation banning pit-bulls. They'll never be banned because lfs make too much mney off of them. Have you seen the price of a bowl? Your typical glass one gallon bowl - 10.99, 2 gallon - 14.99, and thats cheap compared to some other places. How much does it cost to make that bowl and get it to the store? Probably less than 2 dollars. The worst part is, everday I hear people say "thats too expensive" Which totally pisses me off because these are the same people who will spend hundreds of dollars next door on a new wardrobe, even though they don't have jobs.

I hear a lot of grumbling about how its the lfs' fault that bowls are sold, or that bad informaiton is given. While it is wrong for an lfs to make money by misleading customers, it is just wrong, if not more, for the customer not to take responsibility for themselves and their purchases. This is the age of consumerism, where its ok to buy anything just because you want it. If something should go wrong it absolutely is not the consumer's fault. Everyone thinks that the government is their babysitter and that they're not responsible for anything. Well I'm sick of it. Gold fish bowls will never be banned because people keep buying them.

 

[Ethos]

Better BioOrb Link
Bio Orb
And if I'm not mistaken, 30L is about 7.9275 US Gallons.
It's not ok for goldfish, but would be fine for a small Liverbearer, or a betta.
Whatever you would put in a regular 5G, you could put in a bio orb.

 

[WILDER]

They are a death trap homes for goldfish and should of already been banned.

 

[Weaver]

I totally agree that they should be banned and that its ridiculous for parents to argue that tanks are too expensive and then head off to spend x amount on the latest whatever for their little darling
However the only thing I can say in their favour is that if it wasnt for my first goldfish Barney in his little bowl i wouldnt be keeping fish today so maybe some good does come from something bad

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

Wtf is this biorb? I'm glad I've never seen anyone who as purchased such a peice of crap. They actually promote the fish as part of a peice of furniture as opposed to a live animal. And they actually said that you don't have to clean the water, because theres a filter in it. If biorb has actually invented a miracle bowl of self sustaining pristine water, someone please clear that up for me.

 

[fish_keeper2]

whats the point of the bio orbs in the first place..........either way i hate them and bowls. too small, get dirty too easily, only suitable for bettas, ugly......etc

 

[rachelbatchelor]

So we are all of the same sort of opinion?

I havent really got an opinion about biorbs as i dont really know much about them, i will follow the links and have a look.

 

[jkrekord]

i think keeping goldfish in them tiny little plastic bowls is a cruel an barbaric practise little kids think they can just get one of them stupid bowls add water and a goldfish will be fine its disgusting an sick

 

[Fella]

Whoever said "no one cares about torturing fish" is spot on. As fish aren't reactive like birds, and you can't cuddle them like cats or dogs, no one will ever introduce legislation that would condemn the sale of goldfish bowls. There are so many loopholes in the world of fishkeeping that allow the LFS to earn a bundle of money at the expense of the fishes quality of life. This ranges from the sale of bowls, to the sale of pangsius catfish (ID sharks). I've stopped shopping in what was my favorite store as I noticed they were selling ID sharks as of last week, and it's totally irresponsible. As a shop that employs only part time schoolkids, how can they be expected to know the full requirements of that fish, and all other 60 or 70 species that are on sale?

I know this won't be a popular view, but I would be willing for the price of fish to go up in exchange for the cost of knowledgable staff. I don't think this is unreasonable, or unfair. I have no problem with paying £1 more for a fish if it meant that pound went straight onto the knowledgable member of staffs wages. Of course, I'm not alking out the good reputable LFS, I'm talking about the major chains that cause so many dull threads in here...

And as for goldfish bowls, they should be banned. I can't understand why they haven't been, and I can't understand why manufacturers are allowed to sell them with a picture of 3 or 4 fish in them, when thats clearly not appropriate.

 

[Lynz781]

I hate the damn things but must to my surprise I've known people that have managed to keep goldfish in bowls for a long long time. I don't think people are going to stop keeping fish this way.

 

[catxx]

i would and have kept a betta in a glass goldfish bowl (he's been since upgraded to a 5gal tank).

its only been in the last few years that i've realised how long goldfish really live and their requirements. (i've only been fishkeeping for about 3 months!)

i can remember when i was about 14 a friend had 2 goldfish in one of those hideous plastic bowls in her kitchen, the water was so green you could barely see the fish! at the time i did think it wasn't quite right but i never really did anything about it.

there isn't anything any government will ever do about this
"they're just fish" after all.
silly government people.

 

[kat and james]

in my first year as a student i missed my pets so much that i actually went out and bought myself a goldfish (loki) and a bowl (really knew nothing much about the hobby then) but i used to clean out the bowl twice a week religiously, and used water that i had kept in buckets and pans all around the flat so as to get rid of the chlorine in the water, loki was very happy and healthy. i eventually bought him a bigger tank and he thrived!
but on the most part i don't think that ppl look after their fish very well when they are kept in bowls.. and ppl definatly have NO IDEAS about how difficult keeping fish really is!!

 

[lljdma06]

I use 2g "goldfish" bowls for my bettas. With a room temperature of 78, frequent water changes, live plants, and varied diets, they do great. So a large bowl has it's purpose. Many of my bettas have very long fins that would just get torn up in a tank with current. I kept my two goldfish in a 45g tank for 5 years and only lost them to a hurricane.


I would never keep a goldfish in a bowl. Mine looked so lovely and happy in their tank.

To disagree with you, kat and james, I don't think fish-keeping is difficult at all. What fish-keeping ultimately boils down to is patience. If one never make a decision on impulse, he/she will always succeed, and keeping fish becomes very simple. It means taking the time and having the patience to research fully and know exactly what one is going to do at any given time. Though, I will admit, lugging around 5g buckets for waterchanges is not difficult, but a "challenge".

I just want to make it clear that I'm just reacting to your statement "ppl definitely have no ideas about how difficult keeping fish really is!" This is in no way a reflection on you. Ok? I just don't want to insult anyone, but you made a statement that invited a comment on my part. I'm glad Loki is thriving, it makes me miss my General Tsaio and Ping. They were lost when Katrina hit South FL, cutting power for 4 days.

 

[Fella]

I think fishkeeping is as easy as you make it. If you do research and think logically, after a few weeks or months everything falls into place and you can work out why certain things are how they are etc. As a beginner I was totally overwhelmed by things like the nitrogen cycle, and stocking, and filtration. Now it all seems like a bit of a breeze, but I can't forget how hard it was when I started.