Can goldfish live in fish bowls?

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 that's why.

I have been told the same thing, but honestly I have had fish all my life and I started with goldfish in a bowl. I am now 30 and still have my first goldfish I won at a fair when I was ten. No filter, no big tank. Just a bowl and monthly water changes.

First.. You went to wal-mart to buy a fish? Big mistake. Secondly, if the fish was the size of a betta then it was not full grown. Most fish sold at pet stores are sold as juveniles and that's why they are small. Goldfish can grow to be the size of koi, and on average have a lifepan of 20 years in captivity, if kept in an adequate environment.
2 reasons goldfish NEED filters:
1. Goldfish are coldwater fish, so they need more oxygen (gases dissolve more quickly in cold water than in warm water).
2. A little thing called The Nitrogen Cycle helps explain why goldfish live only a couple years MAXIMUM in a bowl (and those two years are very stressful for the fish indeed!) When you put water in a bowl or tank, bacteria begins to grow. This is good bacteria. This bacteria will consume the ammonia in your fish's poop and convert it into something less harmful (nitrites then nitrates) But without movement of water (filter) no oxygen is coming into the water, so the bacteria quickly die, thus leaving your fish in a small bowl of basically it's own waste.
The human equivalent would be if you lived in a tiny bathroom, with a backed up toilet. Not fun. And if you wouldn't submit yourself, your kids, your dog or your cat to it, then don't do it to a fish. Even a 25 cent fish from wal-mart. Remember, this is a living animal and you're taking it into your care, so give it a quality of life!

(if this didn't affect your decision, then consider how keeping a fish that needs to swim in a teeny tiny bowl is perhaps a tad CRUEL).
Livia Sue, I challenge the validity of your claim.

Well, it can survive, and I agree with Orphan. I think she was trying to make a couple of more bucks. But, she is still kind of right. Because when the goldfish grows up, it will die because the tank is too small. Fully grown goldfish, (depending on their type), grow bigger than you'd expect if properly cared for. (about 12 inches average So when it gets about 3 to 4 inches long, go by a tank of at least 30 gallons, because pretty soon that fishy is gonna get big!

ok...goldfish can not live in bowles! i have two goldfish in a 29g tank. if you want a goldfish tht bad i would suggest getting a 10g starter kit! they are cheap and you can still get your goldfish! the 10g is pushing it...every goldfish needs 10 gallons bare MINUMMUM! just give him a few places to hide and he should be fine!