You can take your betta fish with you when you move or travel, if you do it carefully. Since bettas (unlike most aquarium fish) don't need any mechanical assistance to breathe, they make great candidates for traveling. No filter, air bubbler or other electrical components are necessary.
Traveling with Bettas in a Car
If you are traveling in a car you can make a safe place for your bettas on the floorboards. When I transport bettas in my Ford Escort, I place the tanks side by side (half-full of water), right on the floorboards of the passenger's seat. Make sure the tanks are firmly in place by sticking pillows, clothes or towels around the empty spaces between the floorboards and the seat/dash area.
Try not to make sudden turns and your fish should be fine. Be a bit more mindful of your driving. :)
Bettas in the RV
In my motorhome, I have a gallon tank for each betta, which I only fill halfway to prevent the fishies sloshing out during drives. I put the tanks, which have flat sides, against each other on the motorhome's dinette. Finally, I placed two eye screws into the walls of the RV on either side of the dinette. When we are ready to drive, I simply stretch a bungie cord to the screws, locking in the tanks against the wall. This keeps the betta tanks secure - I'd hate to have them fly off the table when driving over bumps.
Another good place for your fish tanks and bowls is the kitchen sink. Make sure you pad the empty space around the tank with towels for security.
Daily Life On the Road
On the road, care is the same as in the home. My bettas are fed on their normal once a day schedule. I need to keep a lookout for algal growths, since the tanks get more sunlight from the dinette window than they had against the wall at home. I change the tank water weekly as usual.
The bettas don't seem to mind sloshing around while driving, but I have made double sure there is nothing in the tank that can fall over on the them. There is also nothing sharp they can be scraped up against. To them, life is the same - but has become at least more interesting and varied.
Traveling with Other Fish
Other good fish candidates for travel include the other air breathers, such as gouramies and paradise fish, shallow water lovers like kilifish, and hardy types like guppies and the comet and common goldfish.
If you are moving with other fishes, it doesn't hurt to add some oxygen to the water by stirring, or adding water, and make sure you plug in the air filter when you have access to electricity (such as at an RV park, in a hotel, or at a friend's house).
If you know you are settling in for a long trip, you should look into getting a battery-operated air pump to keep your cherished fish alive and happy on the road. It never hurts to have one around for power outtages in general, or for environmental catastrophes - hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc. Here is a Petsmart link to the battery pump I like to use: Battery Operated Air Pump by Hagen
Related Articles
Protect your Fish in a Hurricane
Betta Care Article Index
Save to Del.icio.us
