Preparing Betta For Transport

[tracynagel]

Hello all,

I need to transport a betta on Friday - he will likely be on the road for 7 hours in a car. I've prepared a large container for my betta, to be placed in a box with bubble wrap surrounding it for extra safety. I also know about keeping gravel and filter media wet to keep the beneficial bacteria alive. I have a few questions though about prep:

1) I've read various suggestions for fasting the fish before transport.. Some say there is no need, some say fast for 24 hours, some say to fast for 2-3 days. I'm lost! Any suggestions from those in the know as to whether I should fast him at all, and how long?

2) I just did a 40% water change last Wednesday and the water parameters are still perfect. Now I'm wondering if I should do a partial water change right now just to be sure, or if it's better to minimize disruption and not do a water change at all.. Yes, I am fretting, perhaps needlessly.. But any advice would be very welcome!

Thanks guys )

 

[Mikaila31]

For only a 7 hour trip nothing fancy is needed at all IMO. I'm not sure what you mean by 'large' container of water. I would just be careful it is not too large as there will be more sloshing of the water is going to be stressful on a air breather like a betta. I would personally just stick him in a bag and place that in a lunchbox.

 

[tracynagel]

Thanks! It's a 4.7 gallon container, but it's tall rather than wide, so the surface area is slighter larger than the walmart containers. I only intend to fill it part way.. Was afraid he'd jump and umm hit his head on the top of the container, so I got a taller one.. is that silly and inadvisable?? If I used a bag, how do I fill it with air to make sure he gets adequate air? I don't have a pump of any sort.

 

[Mikaila31]

IMO thats way too big of a container as the fish is gonna be stressed as it is and swimming all over the place is going to exhaust him. Just get a bag from a petstore fill it 1/3 with water and 2/3 with air and just grab the top quickly and rubberband it shut. He will have plenty of air for a 7 hour drive.