[puppyrjjkm]

Hi all!

We are moving in 6 weeks, and will be driving for 3 days! I'll be taking my 3 male bettas. Planning to put them in the cups they were purchased in, then place them in a small drink 'cooler' to keep the temperature more constant. But one of my bettas is 3 years old, a veiltail, and is just huge! I feel bad squishing him into that small cup for three days. Any ideas what else I should put him in? I was thinking like a small 1 gallon critter keeper or something... Any other advice when moving with fish?

Thanks! :-D

 

[MrVampire181]

There is a sticky on shipping bettas in the care section. Pack them like that for the best, least stressful transportation. Heat pack would be optional depending on the weather. I lay my bags sideways to allow them to get air more easily and to avoid tail biting.

 

[puppyrjjkm]

I really don't want to ship them. I would only ship overnight and no one would be there to receive them, and no one will send them for me. So taking them is the only option. We've moved with aquatic frogs before and they made it on a 2 day trip, just trying to make things as best as possible as we can. Thanks though.

 

[Tikibirds]

I drove from Alaska to NY with bettas in January. Are you someplace warm or cold? I recommend keeping them in the front seat, by the heater.

I had two of those coolers with 23 of my bettas in their cups WITH heat packs and all but 4 froze. The Therometers I had in the coolers said 34 even with several heat packs in each cooler. I ended up having to hold the remaining 4 on my lap for the remaining 8 days.

I also kept a syringe with them so I could easily scoop out poops and had a 2 gallon storage container so they could streatch their fins out a bit when we stayed in hotels. After their free swim time, I put them back into their cup with the clean water.

 

[puppyrjjkm]

Thanks, we will be going from montana to north carolina. so temps the whole way should be 60 or above. so i think temp shouldn't be a huge concern.

 

[MrVampire181]

I didnt say to ship them. I said to pack them like youre shipping them.

 

[Jessicatm137]

I just moved across the USA and I took my betta Fin in a half gallon tank. I kept him next to me and kept an eye on him. He is alive and thriving! We where traveling for over a week!

 

[puppyrjjkm]

Oh sorry MrVampire I misread! So would bags be better than putting them in those cups, just oxygen wise... Or would I have to 're-bag' with air throughout the trip?

Jessicatm137: do you think it was better that he had some swimming room vs. the cup they are sold in? also did the water slosh around a lot?

 

[Jessicatm137]

He was much more active in the half gallon than in the cup he came in. He was a lot happier and wasn't as stressed out than being in his little cup. I took the cup with me for water changes, but they are much more flimsy and it cracked ( it was a very big crack ). I think a half gallon is better. I left the tank 3/4 full and the water only sloshed a little, only when we went over the bumps. I got this tank: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753118&lmdn=Fish+Aquariums+%26amp%3B+Bowls there is also a light you can buy that is made for it, though it is only available online and I don't know if they still sell it. Fin is a huge Betta too.

 

[MrVampire181]

Oh sorry MrVampire I misread! So would bags be better than putting them in those cups, just oxygen wise... Or would I have to 're-bag' with air throughout the trip?

Jessicatm137: do you think it was better that he had some swimming room vs. the cup they are sold in? also did the water slosh around a lot?

It's okay
Bags can last bettas for awhile. It's always 1 part water, 2 parts air. Bags won't spill like the cups can.

 

[puppyrjjkm]

Great, thanks guys. That's really helpful. I think now I will put them each in a 1/2 or 1 gallon little tank then put the in like a styrofoam cooler, so they have more spece. I didn't really think how easily the cups would get cracked. Now I feel much better that it won't be as stressful for them, thanks everyone!

 

[Jessicatm137]

Glad to help.