What fish can you keep without a filter?

Answer 1

When you are considering keeping a fish without a filter (which really isn't that complicated of a process even for a child) then you are considerably compromising the life span and life quality of these fish, including goldfish who can technically live for awhile without oxygenated water, but not for long. Think of humans as an example. Technically, we can live without extra oxygen, but medical findings reveal that we will not live as long, or as healthy without the added benefits of cardiovascular activities that add oxygen to our cells. The same goes for goldfish, bettas, and guppies. The more you oxygenate them, the stronger and heartier they will be. Needless to say, other fish who only breathe through gills will suffocate without filters and aeration.

Goldfish produce more ammonia than most any other fish, and actually need MORE filtration than other Freshwater Fish. Also, even bettas should have filters. Even though they are labyrinth fish (air breathing in addition to gills), they still are affected by ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites in your water. There is NO fish that should be kept without a filter. Filters are not only for oxygenation, they are for keeping the water cleaner than simply water changes can accomplish.

Actually the person up there is toattaly wrong.I only have 2 kinds of fish i have 3 calico fantails and 2 goldfish they dont need filters, or air bubblers for that matter .

The contributor above does not have 2 kinds of fish. They are all just goldfish no matter what fancy names they are called. Just because goldfish will survive without filters does not mean they will be doing well or are happy and healthy. Saying "ive dont a ton of reasherch to" Well, I find that very hard to believe.

I'd like to add that a large enough tank with the proper ratio of plants and animals could theoretically be maintained. It would be a monumental task, but it would be possible. The answer is correct in that most fish don't do well in a "bowl."

That being said, thirty some years ago, I made an attempt to breed Betas. At the store I bought a bright red and blue male and a dull brown female and isolated them in a 5 gallon tank. The mating ritual didn't proceed as described in the book, but when I felt the time was right, I removed the tank's glass partition. Before I could respond, the brown fish had the bright blue one shredded and bleeding. He eventually died as a result of the battle and I left the brown fish neglected in the tank.

The water turned green with algae. It evaporated to just a few inches left. After a couple of months, I decided to clean out the tank to use for something else. To my surprise a beautiful bright red, long-finned, male beta had replaced the dull brown one I'd left to die! It loved living in it's swamp!

The last contributor accidentally experienced thirty years ago how Bettas survive in the wild. That capability to survive in an environment not unlike a rice paddy. The use and purpose of the anabantids labyrinth came into play (Bettas can breath air at the surface). It was obviously a young immature fish when it was mistakenly identified as a female. Never-the-less, the basic rules of fishkeeping should still apply. If you want healthy fish and if you want them to live a long life span, you will allow a minimum of 1 gallon of water per inch of fish. You will have a properly cycled filter running permanently and you will also change 25% of the water in the tank every week.

I will agree that most fish readily thrive in a properly stocked, equipped and maintained tank. The purpose of the story was to demonstrate how an inexperienced hobbyist could do everything wrong and still have a fish do well. Further, there is a branch of the hobby that keeps fish in a balanced, natural environment with little or no mechanical aid. All it would take is to educate oneself how to do it and put in the labor and resources. People keep fish for years and years in ponds. Others use a combination of sunlight, plants and fish to keep fish in their homes. The rules outlined above are by far the best method of keeping fish, but are by no means the only way.

Answer 2

It's a good idea to have a filter for any type of fish. Betta fish can safely be kept in a smaller bowl type aquarium without a filter. Some people keep goldfish in a small aquarium with no filter, though with goldfish, many problems can occur. Goldfish do produce alot of waste so the water quality goes down hill very quickly. Very frequent water changes are required under these circumstances. Personally, I have several tanks and even my daughter's 1 gallon beta tank has atleast small bubble operated filter on it.

Answer 3

The only fish that can thrive without a filter is a betta fish. These fish have alabyrinth organ which allows them to breath air from the surface, because of this the amount of dissolved oxygen levels in the tank don't need to be as high for the betta to survive as they would for a different type of fish. Also betta fish do not create a lot of waste so a filter although it makes maintenance easier, isn't necessarily needed. Lastly, bettas have very long and delicate fins so therefore a betta fish does not like a current (which a filter will normally produce) always pushing against their fins, much like wind to a kite.

Answer 4

Provided your aquarium is large enough and there are growing (thriving) water plants in the aquarium, almost any species can live without a filter. If you don't have the thriving water plants in your fish tank, then without large and very regular (daily) water changes, no fish will survive for long without a cycled filter. The job of a filter is to convert the deadly poisonous ammonia that is created simply by the fish living, breathing, pooing etc. into harmless nitrate.

Answer 5

fish who don't need filters

Guppies don't need a filter.

Betta fish can live without a filter.

Answer 6

Yes. Betta fish will work with other fish, if the betta is 'nice' and well fed.

Answer 7

All tanks should have some type of filter. I have a goldfish and it's tank has a filter same with my African Cichlids.

Answer 8

Plecostomas, Corydoras, otocinclus, most gouramis and all Betta fish. But keep in mind, no filter still means you have to clean the tank.