Within the last month I was faced with my first major predicament regarding my Betta fish. I had to move across the country, and was at a loss for what to do with my Betta fish, David, the star of many of my fish advice articles. I explored many options, searched the entire web for solutions, and even asked friends what they did with their fish when moving. To my dismay, the resounding answer seemed to be simply, if you are moving more than a medium length drive away, or further than another state, the costs of trying to transport the fish with you are not justified by the benefit of having your fish with you at your new location. However, in my research I found a trove of helpful tips for relocating your pet fish short distances, and discuss them below.

Ideally, it is best to pack and move your aquarium separate from all of the other boxes and clutter, as that can take away focus from the health and safety of the fish during a move. Also, do not feed the fish within 24 hours of the move, as this will cut down on the waste in the water of the travel container. When packing the aquarium, take out and wash the decorations first, then catch the fish and put it into its travel container (we will get to that in shortly), and then empty the water from the aquarium, but not before filling the travel container with water directly from the aquarium. If the decorations in the tank are breakable or expensive, be sure to wrap them in paper or Styrofoam, as well as keep them together in one box so they do not get displaced in the move.

As for the container in which the fish should be moved in, a Styrofoam box appropriate for the journey can be found at most local pet stores. Be sure to fill the container directly with water from the home aquarium before emptying it for the move. To protect the Styrofoam container further, most pet shops recommend using a plastic liner, as well as an outer cardboard protective shell. Just be extremely careful if using a plastic bag or liner, as, if little oxygen is allowed in, your pet fish may be dead before you even pull out of the driveway. While on the road, it is best to cover the fish with a blanket, and to resist checking on them often, as this scares them.

A few hours later, once at the new location, the aquarium should be set up in a nearly identical manner to that at the old location. It is also best to use the old gravel, as it will still contain many necessary bacteria that the tank needs. Water should be added, and the purifier added, and then should be left to acclimate to room temperature. Once the water is at room temperature, slowly add in your fish, and welcome them to their new home.