Having To Sell/leave Behind Most Of My Bettas

[kiwifeather]

Hey guys, so after all that fuss of getting my females sorted and such, I am now moving and can only take 1 tank with me. Unfortunately that meant I had to pick between my pretty boy, my girls or my first Betta Atlas. Atlas's 30L is coming with me. I couldn't get rid of my favourite boy. Even if his fins are a bit pathetic haha.
My soon-to-be-previous flatmate wants to keep the largest tank, with the girls, so that okay I guess. She has fair claim to them, since it was technically the "flat tank" and she paid for some of the stuff. I am worried she won't take care of them properly... It's silly, but I am still worried. I have only had them all a short time but they have already grown on me. I love how they all hang out together by choice, they have the whole big tank and lots of plants and hidey holes, but they prefer to be together, I have never seen any chasing and no torn fins either... not to mention the way the eat out of my fingers and all come rushing over when they see me. I am selling the pretty veil-tail boy and his tank together, at least that way I know he'll be in an appropriate home when he's sold on. Going to miss all my fish babbus...

So guys. What's the best way of moving a 30L tank and its inhabitants (fish and plants)? The car ride to the new place will take 5-10 mins probably. Depends on traffic.

 

[BKBetta]

put the fish in thick* plastic bags fill up with air and tie the top tightly, if you have many fish put and secure them (so they dont move, use foam etc) in a box... tank back seat of car? seat belt wrapped.

Filled with your aquarium water ofc (bags)

the plants will do fine all in a shopping bag as long as you put them back in water asap =)

 

[pablothebetta]

If you have a large enough bucket or plastic container, you could just put the fish and plants in there (might be a good idea to put the filter media in there too as it'd be best staying wet, though I'm sure a couple of minutes wouldn't hurt too much if you chose not to). I'd make sure you cover it though .

At 30L though, you might just get away with emptying half or so of the water out and putting it in the back of the car - perhaps behind the front seats on the floor (can't fall/smash etc and probably easier to secure in place than on a seat). I have my betta in a 28L tank and I imagine I'd quite easily be able to transfer everything in that sort of way. You could just put the water you take out in a bucket and take it with you too so you can top up the tank with it when you get there

 

[kiwifeather]

Okay, thanks for that guys, I'll refer back to this when the time comes in a week or so. I do have a 12L and a 7L plastic container, both with lids that I use for popping the fish and plants in during water changes, so I might put them and the filter media in there. Didn't even think about keeping the filter media wet, so thanks for that! I'll have to measure the gap between the back of the front seat and the back seats and see if the tank will fit there, because it would be great to not have to empty all the water out and loose some of it.

 

[OldMan47]

You could move your fish they way I do when going to a club auction. Fill the bags 1/3 water and 2/3 air and tie the bag. Place all bags in a picnic cooler, no ice please, and expect the fish to travel well for over 12 hours.
At 5 to 10 minutes, I would just put a few inches of tank water in a water change bucket and just sit it on the floor in the back seat area. After all, that is far more water than most bettas see for several days in the LFS and they do survive it although it is far from ideal. To move a whole tank full of fish and plants, one of my larger, 4 gallons, water change buckets would hold plenty of water for the trip at just a few inches deep.

 

[seizethecupcake]

You could move your fish they way I do when going to a club auction. Fill the bags 1/3 water and 2/3 air and tie the bag. Place all bags in a picnic cooler, no ice please, and expect the fish to travel well for over 12 hours.
At 5 to 10 minutes, I would just put a few inches of tank water in a water change bucket and just sit it on the floor in the back seat area. After all, that is far more water than most bettas see for several days in the LFS and they do survive it although it is far from ideal. To move a whole tank full of fish and plants, one of my larger, 4 gallons, water change buckets would hold plenty of water for the trip at just a few inches deep.

+1

I've used both methods and they worked well. I preferred the fish-in-bag method, as it allowed me to strap the cooler into the passenger seat and keep an eye on them throughout my looooong drive.