bootle

hi,

I have a 1.5 gallon fish bowl. Is there any way I can keep two fish in it? If yes, which ones? If I can keep only one, can any of you suggest what would be the best, given that I live in India?

My other question is regarding water temperature. I live in New Delhi, India where summer temperatures range from 38-44 C, whilst in winter, temperatures range from 10-5 C.

Would I then need a temperature regulator?

Thanks,
Bootle (reading Gerald Durrell at the moment, hence the name !)

EmpPleco

The only fish that I can think of that would be relatively happy in a 1.5 gallon is 1 betta. And even with that you would need to clean it regularly and have some kind of aquarium thermometer and heater to keep the temp consistent at around 80 degrees. But however, I still think Betta's do need more room that a 1.5 gallon bowl, so I would consider this a temporary home for any fish you decide to get.

Jon

you could always get a goldifish or a white cloud moutain minnow... they both can take a variety of temps

white cloud = 7-21 degrees C
goldfish = 5-27 degrees C

atmmachine816

1.5 is too small for really anything and yes you would need a thermometer for anything you keep in there unless your room will stay the same temperture year round because even goldfish cant stand large temperature changes and most goldfish get too big the minows get fairly large also so i woudnt think you could keep them in there you could keep an african dwarf frog or ghost shrimp or maybe some other shrimp

Jon

there are goldfish that are kept in small bowls all the time... if your room doesnt fluctuate tooooo much white clouds and goldfish are fine because there temp range is huge

atmmachine816

but not more than one

vin

Hmmm.....I kept a betta in a 1.5 gallon bowl for 6 years.......All I did was change the water regularly and feed it blood worms and floating pellets. No heater, just a bit of decorative stone on the bottom and a little sand castle........The thing was happy as a clam. Made so many bubble nests it looked like a bottle of alka seltzer spilled into the bowl........

fish_r_friend

i wouldnt put any thing in a 1.5 gallon fish bowl b/c the evetualy will out grow it I suggest geting somthing a little biger like a 5 or ten gallon tank

newbie101

definitely get a bigger tank...but in the bowl you could put 3 or so ghost shrimp. They are very cool, and small too. DON'T put goldfish in it though!!!

EmpPleco

I wouldn't really put any african dwarf frogs in there tho, they like a lot of room, require temp pretty consistent at about 80, and they are pretty big waste producers

chickadee

Oh NO!* Please do not put a betta in a 1.5 gallon anything!* Also bettas are Tropical Fish and need a constant temperature of 76 - 80 degrees unless they are being medicated for some reason.* Then the temperature should be raised to 82 - 85 degrees depending on the condition being treated and the medication used.* Bettas also should have room to swim.* The old wive's tale (pet store owners) about bettas being able to live in a quart of water is cruelty.*

I don't know of any fish that would do well in an unheated, unfiltered 1.5 gallon bowl.* There are filtration sets for that size bowl, but I have not seen a heater that is effective for anything less than a 3 gallon (and that with great care).

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but this is a true pet peeve of mine.* It seems that every time someone wants to just have a fish to stick somewhere, they pick on the betta.* They are lovely fish but they have requirements just like the other Tropical Fish and why they are treated like a coldwater variety I have not the slightest clue.* As you have all probably figured out, this type of thing puts me on my soapbox, so I will climb down now I've said my piece.

Just please treat Bettas like the beautiful, Tropical fish they are and not like they are able to handle whatever is dealt their way.

Rose

EmpPleco

LOL and Rose would know more than most people !! Good advice Rose

Butterfly

Goldfish are cool water fish but the need at least 20gallons of water for the first one and add ten gallons for each one after that so no the 1.5 Gallon isn't big enough. White Cloud Mountain Minnows are cool water fish also but are not happy aloneand they need alot of swimming room. I don't know of anything the 1.5 Gallon can be used for except as Emma suggested a couple of ghost shrimp. Hope that helps and Welcome to FishLore
Carol

vin

ROSE!! It is certainly good advice but.....

I guess I had a 'special' betta.........As I had said, mine lived 6 years in that bowl......happy as a pig in a poke.....

Butterfly

Vin maybe your Betta just had an extra extra good owner that took extra extra good care of him. But it's not the norm that this happens. glad yours ws happy and healthy.
this is still not the recommended size tank for a betta
carol

vin

LOL! Maybe you're right! But please understand that I was not recommending, just providing an example that it has been done......with dedication, of course.

chickadee

I am sure you were very dedicated, or your betta would not have lived for that long in those conditions. He profited from your care, I am positive and it is proof that you loved your fish. But at the same time, it cannot be said that the conditions are acceptable just because they worked once. Perhaps someone not as capable or knowledgeable about the care of fish as you were will take this as an okay to do it themselves and put their poor fish in a dreadful situation. My hope is that every fish be given the best of all situations as much as possible. If I tell anyone else that less than that is okay then I feel bad if something happens to their fish. I am not trying to single anyone out to upset them.

Does that help tone my comments down a bit. Nothing is directed at anyone specifically, just the situation involved.

Rose

EmpPleco

I definately agree. Mine is in a 10 gallon, and I definately wouldn't have it any smaller he just seems so happy having all that room to swim around. And with the temp consistent at 80. That's way I said in the second post: If you do put a Betta in a 1.5, consider it a VERY temporary home.. And as that for any fish, they would be much happier in a larger habitat