The Puffer Forum

It's not that betta's and goldfish are ok in a little bowl, it's the fact that they are much easier to take care of. They are a good starter fish for someone that does not know anything about keeping fish. I personally kept my betta for years in a 10 gallon tank. For someone just starting out, getting a 10 gallon would be less expensive than any larger tank. Especially if you won the fish playing a game and want to do the right thing to keep it. Unlike winning a puffer that needs min. 30 gallons and eventually full marine conditions to live a long healthy life. Sorry if you misunderstood or if I didn't explain where I was going with it. Example: My niece won a goldfish at the fair when she was 10. At that time her mother bought her a 10 gallon starter kit and she has now had the same fish for 3 years. She now knows what it takes to keep one fish healthy. She also does her own water changes and is now keeping live plants with her fish. Last month after saving her own money she purchased a 44 gallon tank and is now working on an outdoor pond. The point of my story is: no they are not ok for a small bowl but yes they are good starter fish.