I went to walmart to get a fish, a betta fish actually, and they were all out so i was just going to get a goldfish instead and put it in a fish bowl but the lady was like "Oh, it won't survive in a fish bowl it has to be in a tank." But, the fish was full grown and it was just as big as a betta maybe a bit smaller and she said it was too big. I was really mad. So, can a goldfish survive in a fish bowl that is like a 2 to 3 gallon ish bowl... i think.

Yes...of course it can, hence the name fish bowl.

We have had many goldfish over the years and all have lived in fish bowls.

I think that lady was just trying to up her sales.

By all means you go back into the shop and buy your goldfish....ok

I think the main problem is if they have the air filters and stuff that an aquarium would be set up with. I remember when I was a kid you could win goldfish at the amusement parks and we would be disappointed the next day because everybody put them in a rather small fish bowl and they would die anywhere from 24 hours later to a week later and I am sure it had to be because nobody bothered thinking about the air.
I am not sure about what would be the smallest size you can get away with but nothing is going to work to give your fish the longest best quality life without filtering.

Sorry nohelp...Goldfish have been kept in fish bowls for many years, with out such things as filters etc.
AS long as the water is changed regularly and the bowl is a descent size, it will be fine.

A goldfish is a cold water fish so you don't want to put it where it will get hot.

why did nobody's ever live more than a week then???? :(

Mine lived for a very long time ..it was a long time ago so don't remember exactly, but i had them and my kids had them all were fine.

Yes we had a few that were won from the fairground and yes 2 of them died, trouble is you don't know how long they were kept in those plastic bags before we won them, but the pet shop ones were fine.

All the kids used to have them years ago, they didn't take a lot of looking after or money to keep, probably thats why.