punkrockviolet5

I've been reading other posts today and noticed some of you purchase your betta fish online. How do they ship them? Wouldn't they be beaten to death in the process (shaken fishy syndrome)? Kinda makes my stomach hurt thinking of buying one that needs to be shipped. What are your thoughts on the matter?

Phloxface

I know a lot of people have them shipped successfully, but I personally couldn't do it. It horrifies me to see the tiny baggies they put them in (the fish can't even turn around) and the thought of the poor thing being in the complete dark, terrified and being thrown about by delivery people. Just because someone knows there is a fish in there doesn't mean they care. (I know the people I work with are like that. They constantly throw garbage and stuff into the office fish tank and I am always taking things out to save the fish. They think it's funny and don't believe fish matter)
I know I would be devastated if a fish arrived dead. I would blame myself for ordering it. Plus, I just feel so bad for the petstore Bettas. It makes me feel good to rescue them.

Dino

I package fish so that they could survive a war.

Double or triple bagged, packaging around the bags and heavy cardboard boxes if not plastic boxes or plastic picnic coolers.

Since most fish I ship arrive within 24 hours, they spend less time traveling from me to the purchaser than do the fish that go from Florida ( for those here in the states) to your local fish store.

I cannot imagine the flights are any worse from a Florida fish farm to LFS, than they are from breeder to individual purchaser.

Phloxface

I understand the logic, still I just don't want to see the fish in a small bag, inside a dark box knowing it spent 24 hours travelling through the mail. It's as horrifying to me as it would be for someone who loves kids to adopt a baby from another country and have the baby shipped in a dark box with air. The kid could survive, but no one would think it was humane.
Ideally I would prefer to have a local breeder that I could go to and pick out my fish and take it home with as little trauma as possible.
Too bad breeder can't just "open up shop" even a couple times a week and let people come and buy fish directly. People will drive hundreds of miles to pick up a purebred puppy from a breeding kennel.

punkrockviolet5

That makes a lot of sense. The shipping method is the same as the larger "Deathcos" and such. If all fish retailers were more like you, I don't think I would even have needed to ask the question. I guess research really is the answer. Buying form a reputable source is the way to go when you want a really exotic Betta. Even in So Cal, they are hard to come by. Thanks again!

I don't know... I wonder if the dark would even bother them. It is such a short time, if you purchase from responsible individuals who care for and over prepare for the trip. For someone, who really cares about fish, to sell them over and over knowing they're dying doesn't sound right to me. There must be a magick to it and I'm betting these people have found it.

I can see your logic with a child, as children understand and process things differently. The experience could be scarring. I have yet to see this result in the fish but hey, you never know! We do not need a world of over-xanazed fish!


Thank you both. Got what I was looking for!

punkrockviolet5

Hey Dino,

Do you have a link??

Thx!

COBettaCouple

That's the truth!! When i got a box of shrimp and plants from Dino recently i was impressed with the solidness of the packing job!

that's why i'll take our bettas with me when i fly. i figure that will give them less time in their bags than overnighting.

Phloxface

Do they let you take the Bettas with you as carry-on luggage or make you put them in the back with the regular luggage? I may someday be moving across the country and will not ship my Bettas no matter what. I'd have to leave them behind with my brother but if I could hold them on my lap on the plane and make sure they are okay then I"d take them.

Dino

Currently, it is not possible to carry fish with you on a public plane.

COBettaCouple

yea, because the TSA is completely idiotic they protect us from explosive bettas :P and won't let me carry them on. So i'm forced to pack them up and put the box in a suitcase thanks to the moronic way the TSA steps all over us in enforcing a completely inconsistent bunch of ridiculous rules.

chickadee

I have only had one fish who had a bad reaction to being shipped and that little guy was afraid of the dark and was the whole time I owned him. He made me sleep with the TV on and I even went out and bought him his own portable DVD player to try to settle him down. Otherwise, they have been shipped with great care in six pack coolers and triple bagged or double bagged with heat or cold packs and the people I buy from are humane enough to refuse to ship in poor weather conditions. They are prepared to ship before shipping and sometimes the smaller bags are more protective than giving them a large bag to be really thrown about in. The bags are not like them being put in a stiff sided container as they are padded and soft sided and even if they hit the side of the bag it will not hurt them. I have never had a fish arrive injured and with proper acclimatization they are the most healthy little fellows. They are a joy to own.

Rose