Traveling with a Betta seems like a silly or stupid idea to some, well it is not. If one can travel around with a dog or cat or other pets, why should a Betta be confined to just a tank? Traveling with a Betta is a very nerve-racking process, and there are some points one needs to keep in mind when they are doing so.
One should be aware and properly knowledgeable about how to transport a betta fish in a car before they decide to transport them. One should only try traveling with their Betta if they are willing to go out of their way to ensure a safe and comfortable trip for the fish and to provide a low-stress environment throughout the journey.
There are no fixed set of rules available for this, and this article is a base set of suggestions to ensure a safe journey.
One thing to be kept in mind is to remember that the fishes are also living, breathing creatures, and they deserve to be treated as such. One needs to think of every possible situation and take precautions for them as it is better to be safe than sorry.
There are a few things to be kept in mind while taking your Betta along with you in a car.
Things to Remember On How to Transport A Betta Fish in a Car
Length of the Trip
The length of the trip is something one needs to be sure of before preparing the Betta for travel. If it is a trip that will take just a few hours, then a simple set-up should be enough to transport the Betta. However, if the trip lasts for more than a day, a set-up that is a bit more substantial needs to be used.
Tank Type
Most Bettas are not kept in cycled tanks. However, if it is kept in a cycled tank, parts of the traveling can be modified to meet those needs.
Number of Fish
Suppose it comes to a situation where one needs to travel with more than one Betta. They have to be careful about it and be sure to keep a divider or a separation in a tank. Betta fish are fighter fishes, and if two male Bettas are housed together, they will start being aggressive to each other, which is not something one needs while transporting a Betta.
Betta Fish Gear for Trip
A Betta fish needs to be prepared well before a trip and they have a few necessities which need to be made available before the trip happens. The list of required necessities is as follows:
- Pre-treated water
- Aquarium Salt
- Water Conditioner
- Plastic Container
- Thermometer
- Paper and Cloth Towel
- Fish Net
- Small Cups
Fish Container
One should never use a fully equipped aquarium for transportation. It is neither a safe nor a smart idea. The car’s movement could not only result in the spillage of water but also result in the tank falling over and breaking. So, Never use a fully equipped glass aquarium for transportation.
The transportation should always be in a plastic container that can hold around half a gallon of water.
A plastic zip-lock bag or a Tupperware can be used. The Tupperware needs to have a proper lid to prevent spillage with holes poked on the surface to allow air to go in and out. These containers should be very clean and should have nothing other than fish and water. The zip-lock bag should also be opened in regular intervals to make the airflow in.
Another viable solution is to use a travel tank. This is better to be used in a situation when the fish has to travel a long distance. These tanks have clips on top of it to secure them and have holes to ensure airflow. It should be a minimum of half a gallon to make sure the water does not become dirty easily and also should not be big enough to make it hard to transport.
Plants can be used but not plastic but either live or silk to make sure it does not hurt the fish.
Best Preparation to Transport A Betta Fish In A Car
Preparation should start early and should not be left for the last minute. Last-minute planning could be stressful for everyone, including the fish.
Feeding
If a routine is there for the Betta, it should be followed, and they should be fed. The break of routine could stress your fish and could affect their health. Feed the fish as one would normally do.
The Water
Water should be prepared the day before the travel. If one has a routine of changing water, stick to it; however, changing the water should be similar to the water the Betta generally lives in. Partial water changes two to three days before the trip is a good way to make the Betta feel more comfortable with the new water and never put the Betta completely in a new tank with new water suddenly. This is to prevent the Betta from being stressed.
Water Conditioning
The water container should be very clean to avoid contamination. Fill it with water and use a good tank conditioner on the water. Let the water sit overnight. Aquarium salt can be used as well. One tablespoon of Aquarium Salt can be used per gallon of water. Do not add the Betta immediately after you add the salt as it could cause burns.
Transfer of the Betta
Before transferring the Betta into the new tank or bag, one needs to make sure the temperatures of the water Betta lives in and the water they are transferred to are the same. Next, use a net and cup to capture the Betta and then place it in the new container and wait for the Betta to move into it on its own.
After transferring observe the fish and make sure there are no swimming irregularities.
After the transfer, the tank can be emptied and cleaned out, and placed inside the car for transferring. Make sure all the decorations are removed.
Transporting
While placing the tank and the fish in the aquarium, one needs to make sure everything is strapped down tightly and nicely. It is better to keep the container on the floor than the seat. In the car, one needs to make sure the temperature does not go down below the level the Bettas are comfortable with.
The fish should not be left in the car under the hot sun. Therefore, temperature management is something that one needs to be very careful of when transporting Bettas.
After Reaching the Destination
After reaching the destination, one needs to clean the Bettas tank and fill it with water following the same procedures mentioned earlier. Then, add Aquarium salt into a water container, mix it thoroughly and pour it into the old main water tank to ease the transition.
Never add the salt directly into the water tank in which the fish would be living.
The tank should be cycled, and it would be fine if the fish is left to live in the temporary transportation container while you set up the old tank again. One needs to be gentle while shifting the Betta back to its original tank. The Betta should not feel stressed as they are transferred.
After transferring the Betta to the tank, one needs to observe the fish and see any abnormal behaviors. If the fish shows no abnormalities, then feed the fish to make it feel relaxed.
Also, Read | Paradise Betta: Beauty from the Heaven?
Transport A Betta Fish In A Car FAQs
Here are a few questions we hear when someone Transport A Betta Fish In A Car.
How to transport fish over long-distance in a car?
To transport fish in a car long distance, a safe container to keep it is very important. The best thing one could do is place them inside a 5-gallon bucket. Make sure that the bucket is half-filled with water before placing the betta inside it.
How do you carry a fish in your car?
Depending on how long the trip is, use either plastic bags or 5-gallon buckets half-filled with water to carry your fish in your car. Make sure that the bucket or the plastic cover has enough air for your fish.
How do I keep my fish while transporting?
Fish have to be kept in a clean, spacious waterproof container while transporting. Make sure the container has enough oxygen supply and water level. Taking some plants from the aquarium and placing them in the container can also help in keeping good bacteria on them alive.
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Final Thoughts
The transportation of Betta can be something that would bring huge stress to the fish however, this stress can be reduced to a great extend if one follows the proper precautions. One should be careful of the Betta and make sure it does not feel any stress or discomfort.
This article has the basic set of information one needs to follow while transporting a Betta. Hope it was useful.
