Roadtrip with betta fish for 5 days

[Danielle825]

Hello,
Seeking help here. I am going to be moving from California to New Jersey. I have two established tanks 1. a 2.5 gallon with one female betta (my primary concern) and 2. a larger 8 gallon aquascape with 5 mystery snails. I am seeking advice on how to best travel with them that will be the least stressful. I will be traveling in a Uhaul and plan to keep them up front with me hopefully either in the middle seat section or by my feet. Is it best to break down the tanks and transport the betta in a small container such as a betta cup or something a bit bigger like one of those temporary gallon containers with the handle? My fear is the splashing around during the trip. This may be a dumb question but do I keep the containers bare bottom or transfer some substrate and sand to them? I'm hoping by adding plants to the containers will help with the nitrates and ammonia levels. Any help is welcome. thank you

I have also heard of people just reducing the water in the 2.5 gallon tank and just keeping the betta in their primary tank and traveling with that. Is that advisable? I guess I would use the original packing styrofoam and box and just tape the lid down...

 

[RayClem]

Presumably, you will be traveling in winter. To get from CA to NJ you will be traveling through some states where heavy snowfall is possible during winter. This could easily delay your trip unexpectedly.

There is really no good way to ship fish during winter months. Even shipping by air can be uncertain as flights can get delayed due to ice and snow. You can try to use heat packs to keep the fish warm.

Do you have a friend or relative in CA who might be capable of caring for your fishy friend until temperatures warm up?

 

[Mermegan]

I’ve never done this myself, but I would imagine putting the betta in a betta cup type container, the snails in another and then maybe packing it in something like a styrofoam box/minnow bucket kind of thing and possibly holding it or keeping it up front would be ok. For the aquariums you should be able to just drain all/most of the water and refill when you arrive and be ok. If the vehicle you’re traveling in isn’t heated (not likely) or if you’re going to blast ac then maybe get one of those disposable hand warmers. But I would say even that isn’t totally necessary for a betta and mystery snails in a comfortable temp vehicle. Don’t leave them in the truck overnight or anything.
Welcome North (East?) it’s already winter here lol.

 

[DaveSch]

I think you should definitely put the betta in a styrofoam container to help retain the heat. Bettas like temperatures in the 78 - 80 degree range and she could get chilled if the temperature drops too low and ends up sick. Of course, buckle the containers with a seat belt so that they don't go flying in case of a sudden maneuver or (heaven forbid) accident.

Don't feed them before leaving or during the trip so they don't produce any more ammonia than necessary while in the containers. You may want to check water parameters during the trip to make sure things are OK and do partial water changes as necessary.

Do drain the aquariums and refill upon arrival but leave the substrate in. If the substrate stays wet, the beneficial bacteria should stay alive too.

Good luck! I've moved fish successfully several times and all has gone well.

 

[Danielle825]

Thank you for the responses. Would putting plants in the traveling containers help with any sort of potential spike?

 

[KribensisLover1]

I would do water changes every night. Was that assumed?

 

[Mermegan]

Thank you for the responses. Would putting plants in the traveling containers help with any sort of potential spike?

Not sure. How long will the trip be? You could put some methylene blue in the water to help prevent ammonia poisoning potentially. And definitely do water changes as well, I’m assuming it would take like a week to drive across country?

 

[Fishfur]

Not sure. How long will the trip be? You could put some methylene blue in the water to help prevent ammonia poisoning potentially. And definitely do water changes as well, I’m assuming it would take like a week to drive across country?

Methylene Blue has no effect on ammonia toxicity but it is a very specific antidote for nitrite toxicity - that’s why some shippers add it to shipping water.

Unfortunately, the tap water is going to be different at every place you stop along the way, which could make doing ‘local’ water changes a bit risky if the parameters are too different.

So it may be worth bringing along 2-3 gallons of your current water to use for water changes.

Since it is a car trip, hopefully you can tuck at least one jug somewhere in the passenger compartment so it won’t get horrribly cold. Or you can warm one up in the bath or sink by floating or sitting it in hot water, though it will take some time.

 

[Mermegan]

Methylene Blue has no effect on ammonia toxicity but it is a very specific antidote for nitrite toxicity - that’s why some shippers add it to shipping water.

Unfortunately, the tap water is going to be different at every place you stop along the way, which could make doing ‘local’ water changes a bit risky if the parameters are too different.

So it may be worth bringing along 2-3 gallons of your current water to use for water changes.

Since it is a car trip, hopefully you can tuck at least one jug somewhere in the passenger compartment so it won’t get horrribly cold. Or you can warm one up in the bath or sink by floating or sitting it in hot water, though it will take some time.

Ah. Had that the wrong way around I guess. Still useful though.

 

[70iselin]

My question would be why New Jersey of all states

 

[Danielle825]

Lol. To be closer to family. I know I know. SMH. At this point I’m just like is it worth stressing out my poor little gosh with this trip or should I just rehome her to a friend here