Cantra

I'm going away for the summer and I don't trust my father or my brother with taking care of my fish. Trouble is I'm worried that they won't make the 4 hour trip over there. I already know that I'm not bringing my saltwater fish (even though i trust my father and brother with them even less) because of the trip. Anyway I know my betta would get a bigger tank if i took him with me but I'm scared about how stressed he's going to be for the trip. Last time I left my father and brother in charge of my betta was a week ago and he didn't get fed or his water changed at all that week and now his fins are starting to look bad again and my father is going on another one of his rants about me not needing to get medicine for him.
Whats your advice on how to handle this situation? I really need some help... Thanks in advance

agabr123

i'd definitely bring him with you. what you can do is fast him a day or two days before you leave so that way there won't be as much if any waste when you transport him and the ammonia won't build up. when you transport him, wrap whatever you're putting him in in a dark towel, so that will help keep the temperature stable and also keep him from being stressed on the move.

aquarist48

Too, I would like to add that a dose of Nova Aqua or Prime, Stress Coat, one of these types of stress relievers/slime coating will help if you'll add it right before the move. I drove 7 hours with 3 gold fish in a 6pk cooler. I added a battery powered air supply line ($12.00 at the LFS), Nova Aqua for stress and Amquel + to take care of ammonia. They all did great. When I got home I acclimated them into my pond...after all that they were eaten by a snake or turtle or something. Anyway, they survived the trip

Phinny12

I moved a Betta from Arizona to Pennsylvania.. He did not enjoy the trip but he made it. Good advice from Alex and Aquarist. I also packed him in his cantainer with towl and a layer of bubble wrap in a box to minimze the sloshing effect as much as possible.

Cantra

Thanks its really stressing me out even though the move won't be for awhile yet I'm really worried about it

mare2009

HI..I also moved my betta with me for the summer, and it was a 4 hr trip. I packed him in a store fish bag, in about 5 inches water, the rest air. I then place the bag w/fish a top a baggie filled with water, and then put the bag inside a small cooler, used assorted bags to keep the bag upright. My betta made the trip just fine....hope this helps you to make your decision

heartsongsinger

I did a 5 hour move with a betta and it lived another 4 and half years

pamd

Relax and take him with you! A four-hour trip in a bag might be a bit stressful for him temporarily but he'll bounce right back. For example, bettas are shipped all the time from Thailand to the U.S. and usually make it just fine.

COBettaCouple

We moved our Bettas from Florida to Colorado over a 3 day drive. Kordon's breathing bags and fresh water treated with Fish Protector, Prime and Vita-chem (and a tiny bit of meth. blue) in a soft-sided cooler. They all made it, even one who was fighting fin rot. We had a nighttime setup, but you won't need that for a 4 hr drive.