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I know many of you are not familiar with the terrarium craze of the late 1970's -- some of you were not even born yet, but I have this big old bottle that was once used for a terrarium. It is 24 inches tall and 38 inches around. The only drawback is the opening, which is only 1 1/4 inches. It has been sitting in my closet for the past 26 years, collecting dust.
It would however, hold at least five gallons of water. Besides sticking it back in the closet, could it be used as some sort of fish bowl? If so, what kind of fish, and how would I clean it?
All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

I'd suggest a betta and you would have to dump the whole thing to clean it.

Thank you for your quick reply. I have three female bettas, the idea of having to dump five gallons of water without loosing my fish, is not very appealing. I will have to think about this one.
Perhaps, it would make a better jar for spare change!
Thanks.

That's what I do with mine, spare change. One option would be to take it to a glass shop and see if they can cut the top off, you would then have a nice round jar. A top could be fashioned from a round piece of plexi-glas, hinged and then partially siliconed at the rear to hold it in place.

The only problem with this type of tank would be the distortion you would have when viewing the contents.:%)

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

I would wash it out good, then go down pick up a wine kit and make some wine, sounds like a carboy to me lol

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an bacon and egg breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

Correct me if I am wrong, but couldn't you put the betta in there and when you have to do a water change, use a syphoning tube? I think the bottle would look kinda retro and cool...

You have all given me some good ideas. I had no idea that these things were used to make beer and wine until I went on the Internet last night after typing in " five gallon bottle" under search! That is all it brought up.
I wonder if I could make the thing a wooden frame and turn it over on its side, sort of like a ship in a bottle, but without the ship, of course. It would still hold a couple of gallons and perhaps be easier to clean with a siphon hose.
My little yellow female betta would have a lot more room than the one gallon she is in. My other three are in two gallon bowls.
Having the top cut off is also, a very good idea. If nothing else, it could be used for a temporary tank in emergencies.
You have given me a lot to think about, while putting the bottle to some good use besides just taking up space in the closet.

Just my way of thinking after having a kid drag his foot across one of my toes so I have lost the nail, but you could always see about shoving your least favorite person inside of it

Other than that I think Old Timer took my ideas...both of them

Or of course you could make it back into a terrerium (ok i can't spell)

heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Sorry I stole your thunder, Heidi.

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Heidi,
I am sorry about your toe. The least favorite person idea has also, crossed my mine (but lets not go there).
The bottle was a birthday present from my husband many years ago, 1978, I think.
It was full of tiny plants; a palm tree, prayer plant and some other tiny things with yellow spots on the leaves. It had a collection of tiny Nomes with various gardening tools in hand -- really cute, but we got reassigned and I had to take it all apart to move (US Army).
You have given me another good idea (terrarium), or perhaps some sort of aquatic garden with a few tiny snails (non plant eating)to keep down the algae.
Thanks Heidi, that might actually be the best idea yet.

I would either cut the top off as previously suggested, or use it as a terrarium, or water garden. I wouldn't put a betta in it. I know that you could use a siphon to do partial water changes, but it you ever had to remove the fish, I think it would be very traumatic for it. There would be no easy way to get it out except to pour the water out.

the red snails (ramshorn?) are very cool. 1/2 a dozen of them and a plant or two.

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

I've got a few of the large glass pickle jars around the house...they do have much larger mouths than the jar youv'e got.

I use mine for plants when I'm bringing them home from the LFS. I'm debating setting up a nano FO low tech for the windowsill with just java fern babies.

^_^

[hr width='40%']"Put your soul in the water,
And join me for a swim tonight"

Thank you for all of your ideas. I have decided to check into having the top cut off first. That way I could put marbles in the bottom, some artificial plants and perhaps a small heater. It would then make a much happier home for one of my bettas or other small critter like a frog or two. I can then do water changes a lot easier and should the betta ever need to come out, it would be far less tramatic for her, as Pugperson stated in her reply. It will depend on what it would cost, however.
If that turns out to be too expensive to have it cut, I will look into the aquatic plants. I have never had live plants, so that might be interesting to try. If the snails do not get too large they would work to keep the algae in check. I am scrapping the terrarium idea as I had almost forgotten about the pain I had with it before (when it was originally a terrarium) with lots of green algae and no way to get it out. I have not seen ramshorns around here, but there is a small LFS that could get them for me, or something else that would work (trumpet snails ?).
My husband recently had a stroke, but is slowly getting better. He might be able to help me with one of these projects if he is up to it.
There is a place in town that can cut glass. I will look into it next week. Thanks!