Transporting

[fadedoak]

Okay, I know right off the bat I should put out a disclaimer, I am not a crappy fish owner, its just that my roomate threw away my transport container and well, I have nothing left. I know in forums that people just go right off the bat blaiming the author, and I really rather not have to deal with that, though I was a telemarkerter and have a fairly thick skin.

So, after all thats been said. I have a walmart betta, who I have had experiance with being quite hardy... I have had it all year and now its time to go home and I am trying to figure out the best way to transport him. I have him in a classy vase right now, but I am taking home all of my appliances and thats just bound to break. I also have my nalgene (which has only held water) which I use now (since my roomate tossed the other container) as a holding spot for him when I clean the tank. Which I thought if I filled it half way theres still some air in there and the container is pretty thick if the TV fell on it it wouldnt break... Though I worry about if thats enough air for him.

Its four hour drive home. I really rather him not die.
Anyone have any thrifty (cheap) ways that I can transport him home

 

[Tolak]

Fish bags, just like a shop uses. Double bag, 1/3 water, 2/3 air. A small cooler or box packed with newspaper will help hold the temperature, as well as keeping the fish in the dark, which has a calming effect.

Don't feed the fish for 24 hours before bagging, this prevents fouling of the water. 4 hours is short term for a bagged fish, I sell fish at auctions, buy bags by the case. I regularly bag fish, mostly angels, corys, and assorted cichlids at 5am. The auctions don't start until noon, often running until 8pm. The fish are fine bagged for this long, if they weren't I'd hear about it, seeing as my name & phone number are on every bag.

I also buy fish like this, that have been bagged for this long. Problems are so infrequent that I really can't remember having one, i average around 8 auctions a year, for quite a few years.

 

[LosC519]

4 hours isnt bad at all. Aquabid sellers send out hundreds of fish every day which are usually in transit for 12-24 hours and make it alive almost always. Can't say he won't be stressed though, the temp. drop will certainly bother him. Could go with a 2 litre container that will hold the temp better than a bag just make sure the lid has holes in it. Goodluck and let us know how it goes.

 

[Night61]

i am in the same boat as you. its a two hour car trip for the fish and most of my stuff. i am taking mine back in his half gallon (i think) there is alot of air at the top so it should be ok.
my brother who has a three hour trip with his fish, usally finds a seelable bucket to transport them in, he just doesn't fill it to the top so the fish have plenty of air. he has managed to take over 20 fish and two frogs safetly back and forth with this method. the 1/2 gallon for me spills alot, and my old fish was less then thrilled but you fish should start speaking to you again once you get him on stable ground. the bag method works i guess, but i would make sure something harder is around it to protect the fish from shifting items during your jouney. also what i do is wrap a towel around the tank too so they can't see what is going on, i think that helps a little too.

anyways good luck, hope you had a good semester.

 

[newfishy]

the bag method actuly works well if you do 1/2 water 1/2 air, double bag and then place bags in a sturdy box lined with peanuts or newspaper. if its cold line the boxs with foam and you should realy be good to go.

 

[fredbygrace]

I brought one home from college in a 1 gallon milk jug. about a 6 hour trip. I just kept him up front with me and he was fine. bettas are usually very hardy.

 

[fishRfriends]

I just made a 6.5 hour trip home form college with my two bettas. One I just brought back in the container he came in. If your looking for cheap ways to bring them home, alot of pet stores will give you one of these for free because they usually have extras (Although those could be from bettas that died in the store...?). The other I brougt home in a .5 gallon food jar with a screw-on lid that cost less than 2 bucks at walmart. I just fill a backpack with lots of t-shirts and dig a spot for them so that they are held securely in place and don't get too stressed by seeing everything thats going on. I stopped about every two hours and dumped out a bit of water and put some new water in. Probably don't even have to do that, but I was paranoid . They both made it back safe and sound....and Diego had a bubble nest in his...weirdo!

 

[Night61]

I just made a 6.5 hour trip home form college with my two bettas. One I just brought back in the container he came in. If your looking for cheap ways to bring them home, alot of pet stores will give you one of these for free because they usually have extras (Although those could be from bettas that died in the store...?). The other I brougt home in a .5 gallon food jar with a screw-on lid that cost less than 2 bucks at walmart. I just fill a backpack with lots of t-shirts and dig a spot for them so that they are held securely in place and don't get too stressed by seeing everything thats going on. I stopped about every two hours and dumped out a bit of water and put some new water in. Probably don't even have to do that, but I was paranoid . They both made it back safe and sound....and Diego had a bubble nest in his...weirdo!

when i move liv for spring brake i got the look from him for almost two hour after he got back in his tank. he as one pissed off betta.
i think deigo is a travling betta, he must like car trips