Best fish bowls to buy (Updated 2021)

If you are a new fish owner or a parent looking to get your child his or her first pet, chances are you would be looking to get a fish bowl. After all, televisions and cartoons have depicted them as the best beginner aquariums for years. This is not necessarily the case in the real world. You need a careful evaluation before picking a fish bowl and not every cheap glass or plastic bowl can provide a thriving ecosystem for the fish.

In this article, we will look at some of the best fish bowls available in the market. Our focus would be on the “real”, high-quality 1+ gallon fish bowls which can act as a suitable habitat for pet fish. Anything smaller is just too small for most fish. We will also look at some of the major factors to keep in mind before picking the best fish bowl and also share some tips and tricks for proper maintenance of these types of fish aquariums.

If you are looking for some additional small fish tank options, check out our articles on the best betta fish tanks and best wall-mounted fish tanks.

Best fish bowls list

Picture	Product	Size
	biOrb Halo Fish Bowl	S: 4.0 gal. M: 8.0 gal. L: 16.0 gal.	Check Price
	Anchor Hocking Fish Bowl	2.0 gal.	Check Price
	Koller Products BettaTank Fish Bowl	2.0 gal. Other sizes.	Check Price
	biOrb Classic Fish Bowl Aquarium	S: 4.0 gal. M: 8.0 gal. L: 16.0 gal.	Check Price Chewy Price
	Tetra Waterfall Globe Aquarium Kit	1.8 gal.	Check Price Chewy Price
	WGV Bowl Glass Vase Fish Bowl	2.0 gal.	Check Price
	BioBubble Pets WonderBubble Fish Bowl	1.5 - 2.0 gal.	Check Price
	GloFish Waterfall Globe Fish Bowl	1.8 gal.	Check Price
	EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem	S: 4” dia. M: 5.25” dia. L: 6.5” dia. XL: 9” dia.	Check Price

Best fish for fish bowls

Which are the best fish for fish bowls – this is one of the most commonly asked questions associated with these types of aquariums and other small fish tanks.

The primary limitations with small-capacity fish bowls are:

• Size and Capacity: The most appropriate size of the fish tank or bowl is governed by the one-inch-per-gallon axiom – every 1-inch (2.5 cm) of fish can thrive in 1-gallon (3.8 L) of water. So, a 2-inch betta needs at least a 2-gallon fish bowl.
• Filtration and heating: Most standard fish bowls do not have a provision for filtration or heating. This can be a major challenge for fish bowl fish such as goldfish, which produce a lot of waste and betta, which need a specific tropical temperature range (70+ degree Fahrenheit) to thrive. We have tried to circumvent these limitations by listing most fish bowls that have at least a bio-filtration system.
• Opening: Most standard fish bowls are open on the top. So, if you overfill them with water, an enthusiastic fish can try to jump out. You would need to keep this in mind before picking the best fish for your fish bowl.
• Lighting and decoration: The lighting arrangements and plants/decorations for the fish bowl can also be something of a challenge with small fish bowls.

Keeping these things in mind, some of the best fish for fish bowls are:

• Guppies: The most fish bowl friendly fish in our opinion.
• Bettas: A single betta can flourish in a 1.8-2-gallon fish bowl, depending upon its size. You would, however, need to ensure proper temperature (74-80-degree Fahrenheit) in the fish bowl.
• Goldfish: Despite all the folklore, most experts and aquarists believe that goldfish are not the best fish for fish bowls. They produce a lot of waste and can grow to a large size. You can keep a goldfish in a 4-gallon or bigger bowl with a commitment to change 25-50% of water every 3-4 days.
• Small Barbs
• White Cloud Minnows
• Paradise Fish
• Endler’s Livebearers
• Zebra Danios
• Salt and Pepper Corydoras

In addition to the fish breeds listed above, you can keep certain types of small Shrimps and Sea Monkeys in a small fish bowl. Alternatively, you can use the fish bowl to simply create an aquatic plant ecosystem or a sea-bed décor without the fish.

Which are the best fish bowls to buy?

biOrb Halo Fish Bowl – Editor’s pick for the best fish bowl

Material: Acrylic fish bowl with an ABS plastic stand.
Size: Small: 12″ x 12″ x 14″ – 4-gallons ; Medium: 15.7″ x 15.7″ x 18″ – 8-gallons ; Large: 19.7″ x 19.7″ x 22″ – 16- gallons
Price: $$$ to $$$$ depending upon the size.
Features:

• Best-selling, “true” fish bowl aquarium with a high-quality acrylic fish bowl.
• Features a five-stage biological filtration system that runs on a low voltage power supply.
• Available with both standard lighting or MCR lighting with a remote. The LED lighting runs on auto-timer with a 24-hour cycle that adjusts automatically.
• All-inclusive kit that includes the aquarium, 12V transformer, air pump, air stone, ceramic media, filter, LED lighting, 5ml water conditioner and 5 ml bacteria.
• Available in three sizes and two colors – black and silver. More options available directly from the manufacturer.
• Backed by a 2-year warranty on the fish bowl and base and one year on lighting and air pump.

Detail Review:

The biOrb (started as part of UK-based Reef One Limited – now OASE GmBH) has been an established name in the field of the superior quality fish tanks, bowls and aquariums and the biOrb Halo Fish Bowl is a newly-designed, more elegant looking model of the best-selling biOrb Classic fish tank.

Like its Classic counterpart, the biOrb is a “real” fish bowl and is made with high-quality acrylic. The acrylic used in making the fish bowl is top-grade, about 10-times stronger than standard glass bowl and half as light. It also gives a better, brighter view when compared to the glass fish bowls. The Halo is available in three popular sizes – 4 gallons, 8 gallons and 16 gallons and is about 1-2 inches taller than the biOrb Classic fish bowl.

Designed by the English artist Samuel Baker, what makes the biOrb Halo different from the biOrb Classic are the hidden waterline and seamless view the Halo provides – it has a specially-designed lid with a magnetic catch that can hide the waterline when the aquarium is filled to its top. Another improvement is in the base/stand design which is anti-slip and designed to hide the airline and all the supply wires.

The other features of the biOrb are essentially the same as those in the Classic – it comes with a low-power 12V transformer that powers the filtration and lighting system. The filtration used in biOrb aquariums is really top-of-the-line with five stages – biological, mechanical, chemical, water stabilization and oxygenation. The filter is low maintenance and can last for up to 4 weeks accompanied by a 1/3rd water change.

The Halo comes with two types of lighting – the standard LED lighting and the MCR (Multi-color Remote Controlled) LED lighting with sixteen pre-set colors and brightness control also built in. Needless to say, we prefer the MCR lighting.

Like the other biOrb fish habitats, the biOrb Halo comes with an all-inclusive kit to get you started on an aquarium in no time- the package includes the aquarium, 12V transformer, air pump, air stone, 1 pound ceramic media, filter, LED lighting, 5ml water conditioner and 5 ml bacteria.

The biOrb Halo comes in two colors – black and white. More color and size options are available directly from the manufacturer. The biOrb Halo is backed by a 2-year warranty on the fish bowl and base and one year on light and air pump.

Anchor Hocking Fish Bowl – Editor’s pick for the best glass fish bowl

Material: Glass bowl with a drum shape and flat bottom
Size: 10.5″ x 7″ x 11″ ; 2 gallons
Price: $
Features:

• A classic drum-shaped fish bowl with a heavy-duty glass construction. Made in Canada or the US.
• Heavy glass construction with a dual-side view. Flat bottom means that you do not need a stand.
• A simple glass bowl that does not come with any fish tank accessories.
• Backed by a 5-year limited warranty on the bowl.
• Also available in 1-gallon fish bowl capacity.

Detail Review:

Anchor Hocking is a popular glassware manufacturer and the Anchor Hocking fish bowl is one of their standard glass bowls that work well as a fish habitat. These fish bowls are marketed in the US by Koller Products or directly sold by the manufacturer.

The Anchor Hocking fish bowl is a classic drum-shaped fish bowl with a heavy-duty glass construction. At over 6 lbs. it is one of the heavier glass fish bowls and not the low-quality, fragile stuff. The glass is clear and scratch-proof and built to last for years. At 10.5″ x 7″ x 11″, the 2-gallon fish bowl provides ample playground to a betta or a couple of minnows. A 6.5-inch opening gives enough space to put in a Poly-resin cover with a filter.

The Anchor Hocking fish bowl is just a plain, standard glassware and does not come with any accessories. So, you would have to purchase the filter, pump, lighting and other accessories separately.

The Anchor Hocking fish bowl is competitively priced under 15 dollars. It is also available in a 1-gallon fish bowl capacity. Like other standard Anchor Hocking glass products, this fish bowl is backed by a 5-year warranty on the material.

Koller Products BettaTank Fish Bowl – Editor’s pick for the best plastic fish bowl

Material: Plastic globe
Size: 9.5” x 9.5” x 9” ; 2.0 gallons
Price: $
Features:

• Budget fish bowl with a lightweight, crystal clear plastic body and flat bottom.
• One-piece, leakproof construction for better strength and durability.
• Includes only the bowl. Does not come with any fish habitat accessories. A 1.6-gallon Koller BettaTank Fish Bowl is also available with cover, lighting and stand. The manufacturer also offers fish bowls larger and smaller sizes.
• Competitively priced at under 15 dollars.
• Backed by a 90-day replacement warranty.

Detail Review:

If you are looking for a budget, beginner fish bowl to gift to a teenager or beginner, then you can look at the Koller Products BettaTank Fish Bowl as one of the options. Koller is an established name in the field of budget fish tanks and accessories and this fish bowl is no exception.

This frill-free plastic fish bowl offers a lightweight, crystal-clear fish bowl that offers the view of a glass fish bowl despite its plastic construction. The fish bowl has a seamless, single-piece construction that provides better durability. The flat bottom means that you do not need a stand, though you can improvise and get one for better stability.

The fish bowl has a diameter of 9.5″ and is about 9″ high. The bowl can not only be used as a fish tank, but also as a decorative centerpiece with marbles or sea-bed. With proper maintenance and regular cleaning, the fish bowl can last for well over a year or two.

The fish bowl is competitively priced at under 15 dollars but does not come with any fish tank accessories. If you so wish, you can check out the costlier 1.6-gallon Koller BettaTank Fish Bowl which is available with the bowl-cover, lighting and bowl-stand. You can even get a 1-gallon Koller fish bowl if you are looking for anything smaller.

Additional fish bowl options

biOrb Classic Fish Bowl Aquarium

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Material: Acrylic fish bowl with plastic stand.
Size: Small: 11.8″ x 11.8″ x 12.6″ – 4-gallons ; Medium: 15.7″ x 15.7″ x 16.5″ – 8-gallons ; Large: 19.7″ x 19.7″ x 20.4″ – 16- gallons
Price: $$$ to $$$$ depending upon the size.
Features:

• Best-selling, “true” fish bowl aquarium with a high-quality acrylic fish bowl.
• Features a five-stage biological filtration system that runs on a low voltage power supply.
• The LED lighting runs on auto-timer with a 24-hour cycle that adjusts automatically. Available in two options – with or without the remote.
• All-inclusive kit that includes the aquarium, 12V transformer, air pump, air stone, ceramic media, filter, LED lighting, 5ml water conditioner and 5 ml bacteria.
• Available in three sizes and two colors – black and silver. More options available directly from the manufacturer.
• Backed by a 2-year warranty on the fish bowl and base and one year on light and air pump.

Tetra Waterfall Globe Aquarium Kit

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Material: Glass globe with an ABS plastic stand.
Size: 12” x 12” x 9” bowl ; 1.8 gallons
Price: $$
Features:

• A unique take on the classic fish bowl with a glass fish bowl and ABS plastic stand.
• Features a built-in, electricity-powered bio-filtration system that doubles up as a waterfall for circulating the water. The water flow can be adjusted through a slider.
• The latest model has a plastic baffle to control the splash and sound of the waterfall.
• Comes with low voltage LED lights that can be turned on or off.
• A heater is not included, but the fish globe can support the Tetra H10 heater.
• Backed by a two-year warranty on the globe and pump.

WGV Glass Vase Fish Bowl

Material: 100% handmade glass bowl.
Size: 10.0″ x 6.0″ x 8.0″, 4.5″ opening ; 2.0 gallons
Price: $$
Features:

• Premium planter terrarium and fish bowl made of 100% handmade glassware.
• Features a 0.2″ (5 mm) thick glass with a 4.5″ wide precision-cut top rim.
• Includes only the bowl. Does not come with any fish habitat accessories. Also available in other sizes.
• Premium priced but offers better quality than similar glass fish bowls.
• Backed by a 100% satisfaction guaranteed commitment.

BioBubble Pets WonderBubble Fish Bowl

Material: Plastic globe with an ABS plastic base.
Size: 11.2″ x 11.2″ x 15.2″ ; 2-gallons but should only be filled to 75-80%.
Price: $
Features:

• Decent dome-type fish bowl with a 360-degree view. Has an Acrylic plastic body and ABS plastic base stand.
• Can be customized in multiple ways to create wet, dry, humid and open-air environments with the 2-inch cap opening and 11-inch dome opening.
• Most suitable to use with a couple of fry fish or for aquatic plants and insect habitats.
• Does not come with a filter or LED lighting.
• Available in multiple colors with the black and pink being the most popular. Other shapes and sizes are also available.
• Also available from the same manufacturer – BioBubble WonderBubble tunnel kit that features a semi-aquatic tunnel.
• Backed by a one-year warranty on the fish bowl.

GloFish Waterfall Globe Fish Bowl

Material: Glass globe with an ABS plastic stand.
Size: 12” x 12” x 10.75” ; 1.8 gallons
Price: $$$
Features:

• Another flowing-water glass fish bowl for GloFish and other freshwater fish. A variant of the Tetra Waterfall globe designed specifically for GloFish Tetras and Barbs.
• Comes with a pump driven 3i Tetra power filter with a waterfall spillway.
• Includes an Overhead integrated blue LED lighting system to enhance the glow of GloFish.
• Only has a single control switch for LED lighting and water filter.
• The manufacturer also offers the option to purchase GloFish through its
• Backed by a two-year warranty on the globe and pump.

EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem

Material: Glass globe with an ABS plastic revolving base.
Size: Small: 4” dia.;  Medium: 5.25” dia.;  Large: 6.5” dia. ;  Extra-Large: 9” dia.
Price: $$$ to $$$$ depending upon the size
Features:

• Not a traditional fish bowl but instead a closed, self-sustaining aquatic ecosystem with live shrimp and algae included. Made in Canada.
• Features a hand-blown glass globe with a turntable ABS plastic base.
• A completely closed ecosystem with no feeding or maintenance required. The algae break down the shrimp waste and the shrimp consume the algae.
• Works in indirect light and room temperature – 60 to 80-degree Fahrenheit.
• Comes with the glass globe, revolving base, cleaning magnet and care handbook.
• Comes with a 3-month replacement warranty and a replenishment policy at 45% of the original price.

Accessories for the fish bowl

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Once you get a fish bowl, you would need to get the appropriate accessories such as a lamp or bio-filter etc. You would also need to get the aquarium substrate and rocks and some aquatic plants or décor.  While the best aquarium accessories would be the topic of another article, some of the options that you can consider are:

• GloFish Aquarium Gravel: Best-selling aquarium substrate.
• Panacea Products Aquarium Marbles
• Luffy Marimo Moss Balls: Help in adding oxygen to the fish bowl and converting the nitrate to nitrite.
• Java Moss Fern – Live Aquarium Plant: Performs the same function as the moss balls.

Finally, if you are looking for a more stylish stand for your fish bowl, then you can look at the >Rluii Hand-Crafted Rosewood Oriental Vase Stand. It is available in multiple sizes and offers excellent value for money for your purchase.

How to pick the best fish bowls?

With so many cheap-quality fish bowls available in the market (some cost under 10 bucks), picking the best fish bowl as a starter aquarium can be a challenging task. We have tried to separate the chaff from the wheat and listed only the best-quality options.

Typically, in addition to your purpose and budget, you should keep the following things in mind before picking the best fish bowl for yourself or as a gift for children:

• Construction material of the fish bowl
• Size and Capacity of the fish bowl
• Pump and Filtration system
• Additional factors and considerations

Construction Material of the fish bowl

Along with the size and capacity of the fish bowl, its construction material is an important factor to consider. Like other modern-day fish tanks, the fish bowls are made of one of the three materials – glass, acrylic or plastic.

• Acrylic Fish Bowls: Acrylic fish bowls have become increasingly popular in the past few years. Acrylic is lighter and more moldable when compared to glass. And because acrylic has almost the same refraction index as water (it lets 90+% of light to pass through), you tend to get a better view in the tank. Though acrylic is considered tougher than glass, it is more scratchable and has a tendency of yellowing over a period of time without proper care. biOrb Halo Fish Bowl and biOrb Classic Fish Bowl Aquarium are both acrylic fish bowls
• Glass Fish Bowls: Glass has traditionally been one of the most widely used materiasl for fish bowls. Glass fish bowls are generally heavier, relatively rigid and less expensive than acrylic tanks. Typical fish bowl glass allows about 75% of light to pass through, so a glass fish bowl has a decent clarity which is retained well over time. Furthermore, good-quality glass fish bowls are more scratch-proof when compared to acrylic or plastic tanks. The Anchor Hocking Goldfish Bowl is an example of decent-quality glass fish bowl.
• Plastic Fish Bowls: Plastic fish bowls are the cheapest of the three – you can get a good plastic fish bowl for less than 15 bucks. Plastic is also moldable and relatively lightweight but is not as scratch resistant or durable as glass or acrylic. Plastic fish bowls are the best options if you are looking for cheap beginner fish bowl for a kid or teenager. The Koller Products BettaTank Fish Bowl is a good-quality plastic fish bowl to consider.

So, depending upon your budget and preference, you can pick the best fish bowl option for your needs.

Size and capacity of the fish bowl

As discussed above, the size and capacity of the bowl is a very important factor to consider before picking the best fish bowl for your pet fish. The general belief that a smaller fish bowl requires less maintenance is actually not a valid assumption – in fact, it is the other way around. The smaller the fish bowl more the maintenance it would need for proper upkeep of fish.

It is important to stick to the one-inch-per-gallon rule- every 1-inch (2.5 cm) of fish can thrive in 1-gallon (3.8 L) of water. Anything with a lesser capacity is just too small for the fish to flourish. That is why we have listed only fish bowls which are at least 1.8-2 gallon in capacity.  Some fish bowls that we have listed come in different sizes, so you can pick the best one as per your needs.

Depending on the breed and size of the fish you plan to raise, pick the biggest fish bowl that you can afford and have the place for. Our top pick, the biOrb Halo Fish Bowl is an example of a “real”, properly sized fish bowl.

Pump and Filtration system

To ensure that your fish has a clean, healthy ecosystem to flourish, you need a fish bowl with some sort of filtration system. Most high-end fish bowls (all biOrb fish bowls) come with multi-stage filtration systems (mechanical, chemical and biological filtration) that combine conditioning and filtering to create a fresh water source. A couple of fish bowls such as the popular Tetra Waterfall Globe Aquarium Kit even has a pump to produce the waterfall effect of flowing water.

If you go with a standard, simple fish bowl, you can always get an alternative clip-on filter for your fish bowl.

Ensure that you check the presence of at least a biological filtration system before picking the best fish bowl for your pet fish. Also make sure that the filtration system is adjustable and does not cause fast currents that can agitate the fish.

Additional factors and considerations

In addition to the three major factors discussed above, there are a couple of other considerations that can make a purchase more attractive than others.

One of the major factors is the presence of an inbuilt LED lighting system that can be turned on and off through a switch. Most fish and especially bettas love well-lit fish tanks and hence the presence of a proper lighting system would help the fish to flourish in the fish bowl.

Another factor is the accessories that come with the fish bowl. Though most fish bowls we listed are flat-bottom and do not necessarily need a stand, having one can add to the stability of the fish bowl. In addition, many fish bowls come with food samples and coupons for purchasing pet fish at nearest stores, so check these items as well.

Last but not the least, check out is the warranty and service support provided by the manufacturer. Most top brands such as biOrb and Tetra provide multi-year warranties on their products, so you can purchase them without a lot of worries. A word of advice: to avail the full warranty support, always look for an authorized seller and register your aquarium kit with the manufacturer.

Keep these other small considerations in mind while picking the best fish bowl for your pet fish.

Things to Remember

Just like other fish tanks, fish bowls require proper maintenance. The notion that a small fish bowl is less responsibility and does not need a lot of maintenance is actually incorrect. In fact, if anything, it is the other way around – the smaller the fish bowl, more the regular maintenance it needs.

Thankfully, maintaining a fish bowl is not too difficult and keeping certain common things in mind would help make the fish bowl a flourishing ecosystem for the fish. Some of these major considerations to keep in mind are summarized below. You can also check out our article on the best fish and aquarium care guides (especially the Dummies series books) for some additional beginner guides:

• We have been harping on this throughout the article, but to reiterate one more time – the size of the fish bowl is an important factor to consider. Be it the betta fish, tetra, guppies or goldfish, you need a reasonably sized tank for the proper upkeep. Consider getting a fish bowl that is at least 2 gallons in capacity for one or two adult fish. Smaller tanks are only suitable to keep fry fish, minnows, shrimps or other very small fish breeds. You can even consider using the small fish bowls to just have some aquatic air plants, shells or just a decorative water-bed.
• To maintain the chemistry of the water in a fish aquarium, it needs proper filtration and water change. Standard fish bowls do not come with a filter built-in and only proper fish bowl aquariums such as the biOrb and Tetra have a filter with an air pump. If you have a fish bowl without the filter, make sure you change the water in the bowl more frequently – 25% to 50% every two days or so.
• Some fish bowl fish, especially tropical fish such as bettas require the water temperature to be in a specific range (74-80 degrees). So, make sure you place the fish bowl in a place where this can be maintained throughout the day.
• If you are considering getting a fish that tend to” jump out” (Kili fish for example), then you need to make arrangements to cover the opening of the fish bowl.
• Some fish prefer a steady circulation of water, while others get stressed by it. We have listed some options that have water pumps and waterfalls (example – Tetra Waterfall Globe Aquarium Kit) which create a water current in the tank. Fish with large tail fins (some bettas) may have difficulty in such bowls. Keep this factor in mind before picking the best fish for the fish bowl.
• You have to make sure that the fish bowl is cleaned regularly irrespective of whether you are using the fish bowl for keeping fish, aquatic plants or just decorations to ensure that there is no algae buildup in the bowl (except for a closed ecosystem such as the EcoSphere Closed Aquatic Ecosystem). You can check out the following article: WikiHow – How to Clean a Fish Bowl for some basic instructions.
• Make sure you clean the fish bowl before setting it up for the first time.

Keeping these things in mind before and after setting up a fish bowl would ensure that you truly have a thriving aquarium and an excellent showpiece for your home or office.

You can also check out the below video on how to clean a fish bowl:

Final thoughts on the best fish bowls to buy

A high-quality fish bowl is one of the best beginner aquariums to have for kids and adults alike. After all, since our childhood, we have been captivated by the fish in the fish bowl through cartoons, movies and television shows.

In this article, we looked at some of the best fish bowls available in the market. We left out the cheap, impractical fish bowls and focused on sharing the “real”, “high-quality” practical fish bowls that can provide a flourishing ecosystem to the fish. Some of them even work well as live aquatic plant tanks or just sea-bed showpieces.

We hope that you found this article useful and it would help you in picking the best fish bowl for yourself or someone else. Do let us know your feedback and questions by commenting below. Until next time, happy time building your fish habitat!

Image credits:Amazon.com