Location Transport

What is the best way to transport betta fish in their bowls?

I moved into and apartment with my fiance, but my two betta fish are still at my old house. I would like to transport both of them at the same time by car to my new apartment, but I am worried about the water sloshing or them being traumatized. Any suggestions?

Public Comments

1. Put them into individual Tupperware containers, or gallon ice-cream buckets, with a snap-on lid. Leave a couple of inches of airspace. Wrap them in a blanket or something to protect from temperature changes. Try not to shake them up too much enroute. When you arrive, let the container sit quietly on the table for awhile, then gently put them into their bowls and try to not disturb them much til they rest a bit. After a few hours, offer a food pellet, if he takes it he's fine.
2. If it is a short distance, cover tops of bowls with plastic wrap, place in cardboard box or styrofoam cooler with "peanuts" or shredded paper to cushion. If it is a longer journey, please email me.
3. I don't recommend leaving them in the bowls for transport. Either get a couple of those plastic fish bags that pet stores pack them in, or use carry-out drink cups. Bags: The bag should be about one-fourth to one-third full of water, and the rest air. Close it with a rubber band at the top. If you're going very far, double-bag the fish. If it's cold outside, put the bag in something insulated. Bag each betta separately, of course. Cups: Get a couple of the cups with snap-on plastic lids from any place that sells coffee, iced tea, soft drinks, etc. to go. I like the foam cups used for hot drinks, because they insulate the fish from cold or hot air in transit. Fill the cup about half-full of water from the fish bowl, put the fish in, cap it and and make sure the lid is on securely. Keep the cups upright in transit so water won't spill or slosh out. If your car has cup-holders, they are perfect for this. Empty the bowls of water for the trip. The water will spill if you don't. Then set them up with new water as soon as you get to your new place. Let the fish, with the water they traveled in, sit next to the bowls in an open container until the new water in the bowls and the travel water are the same temperature, then put the fish back in the bowls. Welcome home, fish! Mazel tov!
4. Put them in a small enclosed container,( so water or the Betta won't splash out). Place the container in a sturdy bucket, or plastic box. Make sure it is deeper then the container the Betta is in. Pad the area very well between the container the Betta's are in and the box or whatever with wadded up plastic bags you get when you check out at Wal Mart, Target, Publix, etc or towels. Place them in a flat tight spot in your auto where the box holding them want slip and slide. If you need to you can open up the top of the containers for a few minutes the Betta's are in when you stop along the way to let them get fresh air. They can go for a couple of hours in a sealed container before needing fresh air. Once at your destination take out the containers the Betta's are in and take the tops off and let the Betta's recover from the trip for a while as they will most likely be stressed out. Then a few hours later or the next day you can put them back into their tanks.