Moving Tank For College

I plan on taking my betta to college in August, approximately a 5 hour drive from where I currently live. I'm also planning to up his tank from a 2 gallon to a 5.5 ( which I will begin cycling as soon as the stand arrives in the mail). What would be the best way to move him/his tank? Should I wait to move him into the new tank until I go to my dorm or move it while I'm still at home? Thanks!

BONUS: I would like to do a "Greek Life" theme for the new tank, any decor suggestions are welcome.

 

Bettas are sturdy. He’ll be fine. Just empty it out and put him in a decent size container. As for the Greek theme suggestions. Anything Greek. Lol. Buildings maybe

 

Is the 2 gallon cycled? If so, just move the filter media into the 5 gallon to insta-cycle. If it isn't, go ahead and move him into the 5 gallon anyway. It'll be a more stable environment and you can go ahead and begin cycling.

To move him, I'd put him and his filter media into a bucket with a small airstone (turned down low enough not to stress him) in order to keep everything wet and aerated.

 

For water in the tank, should I take some "old" tank water with me or just put in all new water when I arrive?

 

Just new water. Old tank water doesn't have any bacteria in it, so there's no point in adding dirty water to your new tank.

If where you're moving has significantly different water, I'd do a short acclimation before adding him to the new tank. In the bucket you transported him in, just add a cup or two of the new water into the bucket every 10-15 minutes for an hour or two. Should keep him from parameter shock.

 

Move the betta into a small bucket. Set up the 5 gallon at your college.Then use the old tank's filter media and the bucket's water to insta cycle it.

 

How cool. What will your betta be majoring in?

For a greek life theme, I'd say put a bunch of empty beer bottles in the tank. And remeber, don't haze him...that is frowned upon these days.

Okay, but seriously now...since college is pretty far away from your home, the water chemistry may be different. So if it were me, if possible I would bring all two gallons of his existing tank water. Then when you fill the new tank, put all the old tank water in the new tank and top it off with local water. To the betta it will just seem like a 60% water change. Also, if you want to be extra safe you could acclimate him before releasing hom in the new tank.

 

I've never had to move fish but for the greek life theme, I know petsmart and petco have these decorations that look like ruins from ancient Greece. They could look really cool if you put some moss on it.

 

Something like this would be cool I think