While the pet industry is improving the living conditions of many pets, Betta Fish and Goldfish are still kept in tiny bowls, jars, and little cubes as part of "decor" in the home. They are not treated as living beings, but as accessories

• People put them inside plant vases
• Use them as cake toppers
• Accent pieces at their wedding (sometimes with floating candles on top of their little bowl)
• As party favors for kids
• There are even fishbowls inside of stuffed animals for kids (further perpetuating the image that fish are just another "toy").

Video debunking the Betta Fish Puddle Myth used to justify keeping them in tiny bowls.

This is another video about why you should NOT keep Goldfish in a bowl.

Pet Stores are often the FIRST place where people gain knowledge about caring for their future pets from the staff. While it is understandable that Bettas need to be kept in cups to prevent fighting this is a TEMPORARY set up that should not be encouraged. 

Staff should let the public know that:

Betta Fish should be kept in no less then 2.5 gal with a aquarium heater, gentle flow filter, and decor that will not rip the fins of these delicate fish. They can be kept with other peaceful community fish but not with other Bettas unless there is a barrier between them. 

Goldfish should have a MINIMUM of 20 gal per fish, if not more. They should not be crammed in a tiny tank together. They produce a lot of waste so they need a good filter to handle the bioload (fish poop). They are coldwater carp and are NOT compatible with tropical warm water fish, however they still require a heater to maintain stable temperatures in colder climates.

A fish bowl is the BARE MINIMUM required to keep a fish alive. From time to time, few people get lucky and manage to have their fish survive in these conditions. This should not be seen as a reason to continue to keep the fish in a tiny container.

As pet owners we need to DO BETTER than tiny bowls. These fish deserve good care just as much as any other pet.