Transporting Betta?

[LaRues Lady]

Hello, all! I live in an apartment at college which is about an hour and fifteen minutes away from home. I have a Betta here in a 10 gallon and was wondering what to do with him when I go home for Thanksgiving (in SEVENTEEN days!). I'm thought about getting a 2.5 gallon tank to keep him in for the week so I can take him home with me, but it seems almost cruel to take him out of that big tank and put him in a smaller one even if it is just for a week.

Also, over Christmas break (which is something like 32 days long for me) I was wanting to take him home again and didn't know if it would be better to use the smaller tank for the month or use it to transport him in and take the 10 gallon home. The problem there is what to do with the water. I don't want to put in completely new water for fear of it being to "shocking" to his system (even if there's the water from the tank that will be in the transport tank). I just want to do whatever will be best for him.

The tank I'm looking at has a hood, light, filter...all the things the "home" tank has and I'd get a few decorations for the smaller tank (not too many so that he can have enough room to play), but I don't want him to be mad at me for putting him in tha smaller tank for the week and month of Christmas Break. Any sugesstions would be greatly appriciated. Thanks!

[msjinkzd]

as long as you transfer media from the established filter (or even better yet the filter itself kept wet during transfer) the water won't shock him (matching temp of course). For your thanksgiving break he will probably be fine, they can fast for up to two weeks with no repurcussions, just do a water change before you leave and when you get back. The water itself holds little to no beneficial bacteria, its all in the filter, on the decorations, and in the gravel. Hope this helps.

[Hooked Newbie]

I agree with Ms, if/when you do transport him move the filter with him and you should be fine. For shorter periods, I'd just let him fast unless you have a friend you can trust to check in on him and feed him.

[wataugachicken]

if you do regular water changes weekly, a large change will not shock the fish. if you have never done a WC or only once a month, yes, it could be a shock.