Setting up a Fishbowl
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-637 -- More Projects »
Aquarium expert Brian Higgins demonstrates how to put together and maintain a small fishbowl.
- Fishbowls come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so the first thing to decide on is the type of bowl you want. Despite the variety of sizes in which fishbowls come, they're really only made to hold one or two fish.
Make sure the bowl has a wide opening at the top so that the fish have access to plenty of oxygen. Other glass items, such as a decorative pitcher (figure A), can be used as fishbowls as long as the top opening is wide enough.Clean a fishbowl with a mild bleach solution before using it. Rinse thoroughly with de-chlorinator.
- Gravel adds a decorative touch to the bowl, but is not a necessity for keeping your fish happy (figure B).
- If you've chosen a beautiful beta (or Siamese fighting fish) for your new pet, try housing it in a bowl without gravel (figure C). A plain bowl will attract attention to the vibrant colors of the fish.
- If you do use gravel, be sure to rinse it thoroughly in a colander before adding to the bowl.
- Fish do not like chemicals. Make sure the water that will be used to fill the bowl is free from any chemicals such as chlorine. Use a liquid de-chlorinator for tap water, or use distilled water.
- Set up the bowl at least a day before bringing home your fishy new pet. Most chemicals will evaporate from the water if it left sitting for at least 24 hours.
- Replace the water after cleaning the bowl with distilled, chemical-free water.
- Decorate a fish bowl with rubber plants or a little plastic castle.
- Goldfish and betas are the most common bowl fish.
- Don't overfeed the fish. Never feed them more than they can eat in five minutes. Observe their daily dining habits to determine the proper amount of food.
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/09/05/tip637_3c_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/09/05/tip637_3a_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2002/09/05/tip637_3b_e.jpg",350,450))
