How do you transfer fish from tank to tank?? NEED ADVICE!!!

[bettafish777]

I am transfering my betta to my 29 gallon tomorrow. I need advice on how to transport him over. I know I need to aclimate him to the temp in the other tank. Before I have just stuck the fish in a ziploc bag to float them. Is this ok? Or should I use something better? thanks!

[ChilDawg]

Are the water parameters (e.g. NO3, NO2, NH3, etc.) the same between tanks?

[bettafish777]

I havent checked the betta tank...maybe I should do that tomorrow. Will that make a big difference? I get the same water for both tanks and both tank are at like 78 degrees.

[ChilDawg]

Yes, that could shock the betta a bit if there is a large difference in parameters. I would suggest slowly placing water from the new tank into the bag--some tank water enters the bag every ten to fifteen minutes or so--maybe an hour or two to do that acclimation process would be okay...

[bettafish777]

wow..that long? I thought maybe 30 minutes max. SO get a big bag. Place the betta with his water in it. Slowly every 15-20 minutes add water into his bag from 29 gal. tank. Do I take any of his water out??

[WhitneyGail]

I think the ziploc should be fine....though I have in the past gotten people at local petsmarts and petlands to give me a few of their bags. I like using them when I can because they don't have sharp corners for the fish to get stuck in (but on the occasions that I HAVE used ziplocs, the fish have never been injured).

I'm not sure from your post if you were just asking about the bags or wanted general moving advice....so I'll give you some just in case, and if it's helpful, then great........

Here's how I move fish....and I do this whenever I'm moving anyone...be it from fish store to aquarium or aquarium to aquarium.....

1) float the bag for about 20 minutes to a half an hour (the bag should be closed- you don't want to contaminate the tank with whatever might be in the water.)

2) then I open the bag and dump the fish and its contents into a large glass mixing bowl set on a chair next to the tank

3) take a length of plastic air tubing and set it up to siphon tank water from the aquarium into the glass bowl.

4) start siphoning- but as soon as water starts coming out, tie a knot at the bottom of the tubing, so that the water flow is reduced to a steady drip.

5) leave the whole set up like this, with the tank water dripping into the glass bowl for at least an hour, sometimes two.....basically until most of the water in the bowl is the aquarium water the fish will be moving into.

6) finally, net the fish and transfer him to his new home

7) replace the lost tank water with some fresh water from the tap (or wherever you get your water from).

I've never lost a fish as a result of stress from an aquarium introduction. That's my method....hope it was helpful.

[WhitneyGail]

What other fish do you already have in the 29 gallon?

[bettafish777]

that is a very good method! I usually just float the fish and add the water for about 30 minutes. I'll do it longer tomorrow! I love my betta;)

[WhitneyGail]

Thanks....it was suggested to me by one of the employees at my favorite aquarium store. I find it works very well.

Adding water to the bag makes me nervous because it leaves open the possiblity that some of the bag water will end up in the tank.....doing the mixing in a totally separate bowl eliminates that problem and also allows for much more water to facilitate acclimation than a ziploc bag would.

You could also use this method without the airtube siphoning and just add a little water, bit by bit every 15 minutes or so....but I think this is probably even less stressful for the fish AND you don't need to babysit it.....just start the siphon and walk away

oh..one thing....I've been told that some bettas are jumpers....if you think yours is, you might want to put a covering like saranwrap over part of the bowl's top to discourage suicide attempts

[bettafish777]

alright. I might have to try that. It can just be a plain aquarium bowl?? I dont really want to tie a knot in my syphon tube though...

If I put him in a gallon sized bag and add a little bit of water every 10 minutes or so(without getting water into that tank) it would be fine? I love your idea but I cannot tie a knot on my syphon. Any other materials that could work?

[johnlarson66]

Just a guess here.

If your temp and ph is the same and you do not have any issues with the water parameters (in either tank) then why not just net it and put it in.

I could understand if this fish was coming from another source, but the source is you. If the water is good in tank A and the water is good in tank B, then the only concern should be the temp, with that in mind you might want to float it, but I would not worry about the waters mixing or not.

Now if your betta is in a tank that has issues, then by all means do not put that water in your new tank...

I would rather test the first tank than do the drip set up. Even though the drip set up sounds fun.

[WeeNe858]

yeah.. if the tank has the same peramerters.. then... your good to go on the net and drop..


temp
ph

[WhitneyGail]

Sorry....I think I wasn't clear about what tubing I use....

I have a separate air bubbler tube (the kind that could be attached to an airpump)...but this one isn't attached to anything....I use it exclusively for the purpose of moving fish and small siphoning jobs......it's like an IV line...clear plastic tubing that's just about 1/4 inch wide and about 5 or 6 feet in length. I bought it at the fish store for about 5 bucks....and very similar stuff can be found at home depots or hardware stores, also for very little money.

A plain aquarium fishbowl would work perfectly for this method.

[fballguy]

For drip acclimation I use airline tubing and a small "C" clamp to slow the siphon to a drip. Then I put the fish with the water from the bag in a large mixing bowl and let my tank water drip into the bowl for 2-3 hours. That way stress is kept to a minimum. In your situation you could just remove 2/3 of the water from the betta's tnk and set it next to your other tank, then do the drip acclimation that way.

[bettafish777]

oh ok! lol. that would explain it whitney!

The permimeters in the 29 gallon are great. I havent checked the 10 gallon(where betta is at) yet. It might have nitrate issues. I might have to do a few water changes before I can go ahead if that is the case. I will do a water check tomorrow and get back to you guys on it. If they are the same I'll just go ahead and float for about 20 minutes or so.

Also, I have 2 bubblers and a double cannister filter. I am planning on taking out one of the filters for less activity in the water for the betta. Think its a good idea?

[fballguy]

I would leave both filters on. Put in the betta and see how he does. If it is too much flow, cover the out-flow of the filters with a sponge and that should disperse the flow plenty.

[bettafish777]

good idea! thanks! I am so excited about putting my betta in my community!!

[johnlarson66]

I see that you did the transfer. How did you do it?

[gomezladdams]

Are we talking about the betta in your avatar?looksreally nice,I wouldt want to risk him in a community