How to Transport Fish Home

[Navfish]

I have to go home for the summer and I have not been able to figure out how to take my betta fish home. How do I make sure my cycle doesnt crash. I have the betta cup I got him in but is it better if I go to petco and see if they could put him in a bag w more oxygen so he does not splash/move a lot in the water cup? In regards to the tank what should I do? I have fitler media and substrate that I dont want loosing the bacteria! Its a 5 gallon tank w live plants that I also dont want dying either. 3 hour drive home!

 

[anewbie]

3 hours is not much time - if driving just get a 5 gallon pail and put him in with lots of water - set something over the top with holes to keep him from jumping or spashing out. Of course you could use a breather bag or betta cup - they can breath air so be sure to leave a good gap near the top - make sure your car doesn't get to 150 or even 95 as the heat is not great and don't run the air conditioner down to 78 as they like it warm. If you do go the bag route set it in a bucket behind the driver seat where it is shaded.

 

[GaryE]

This may make you relax. 4 years ago I moved 50 tanks in the dead of winter, successfully, with no issues with losing the cycle. I prioritized saving the filter media for that - all media and sponges were bagged tightly and kept warm for the 10 hour drive.

For the Betta, I would get a fish bag, 1/3 water, and tie it tightly. Oxygen isn't needed. Warmth is as your location is vast and I can only guess at conditions. So maybe a cooler bag? Fill the tank with treated water upon arrival, and get the equipment up and running. Get the fish into the water, then enjoy being back home again.

Your Bettas was probably packed in a tiny round bag smaller than a tennis ball, and shipped hundreds to a box air freight from southeast Asia, sat in a US airport, shipped to a wholesaler, then distributed to a pet shop. I've seen Bettas lost en route that showed up healthy 3 weeks later, still bagged, still all alive.

 

[Magnum Man]

when I used to drive an hour and a half to buy fish, I had a styrofoam minnow bucket ( new) with a D cell battery powered air pump… if you tank your tank down but keep the substrate and filter wet, you’ll be fine, when you get home…