Flying With My Betta

[bettagirly]

Hello all,

I am looking for some helpfull advice on transporting my betta splenden.

We are moving countries in the next few weeks and are having a really tough time finding ways of transporting the our betta (and other fishes). Due to the liquid restrictions (nothing larger than 100ml) our airline refuses to allow us to book the fishes as pets and if we are to ship the fishes though a shipping company they charge an absolute fortune! We therefore thought to perhaps putting the fishes (seperately of course) in 100ml containers of some sorts and taking them in our hand luggage. I realise that probably there will not be enough oxigen for a 6 hour journey in total (drive and flight) so had thought to transfer the fish and the liquid in a plastic bag once through security.


So my questions are as follows:
1. Will my betta (and other fish) survive this treatment?
2. Will the airport security (we are going from the UK) allow us to take living creatures through?

I have already obtained written permission from our destination country to import the fishes and will be getting a proof of origin from the store i got them from as well. So going through security on the arrivals end should not be a problem.

Our little guy currently lives in a fluval edge aquarium with 3 shrimps and five cardinal tetras plus lots of plants for company. He is such a character -jumps for his food, loves to be stroked and to tear all the plants in the aquarium to shreds as he playes...

Any advise would be appreciated

 

[marieukxx]

My betta was posted overnight next day delivery so was bagged up for hours and she was in very little water with a heat pack. Tbh I don't know much else I'll have a look on the net and see if I find out anything.

 

[marieukxx]

One person who can help is a guy called Steve he imports and sells Bettas. His website is www.bettaspelndens.co.uk. You can email him from his website. He has hundreds of Bettas and sends them in very little water. I bought mine from him. He imports bettas as well so could help you with that side of things regarding customs and stuff as well as give advice on how to package him up.

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't want to sound harsh 'cos I know how fond you must be of your fish, but honestly, I'd re-home the fish you have and start again when you've settled in to your new home.

 

[marieukxx]

I don't want to sound harsh 'cos I know how fond you must be of your fish, but honestly, I'd re-home the fish you have and start again when you've settled in to your new home.

Yeah I was gonna suggest that. That's what I would do

 

[mmjisawesome]

give them to your good friend he or she will take good care of him i am sure and he or she will get to send you pics and you can visit your friend and your fish good luck on whatever you are going to do.

 

[Randomitity]

Ok so 1.) he would survive if you did this having gone from Thailand to the States (23 hour flight[I was like 9 and thought it was ok even though I don't now]) but 2.) Since there are not only legal problems, diseases problems,stress problems, maybe they think you are trying to bomb people with fish problems, it is not advisable to do this so like a few have said just give him to a friend to take care of who you know will take the best care.

 

[clgklg]

hey there, after reading other replys I thought, No way! There has got to be a better way then to give your fish away. Then I looked into it and it is about 85.00 average to take your fish on airlines that actually allow it, and then there was also some advice about water solutions that were needed to make sure the fish is not over stressed (a salinity mixture) but then it takes days to reintroduce the fish back into it's established tank. Then there was shipping it FedEx or postal, but hat was in the US and it depends on what mood the postman is in on weither or not hey will ship the fish, and how confident you are when you request postage. Of course you would have to ship fragile overnight and specific packaging with heating pad ect. So.....I have to agree with everyone else, due to cost and the odds of your fish making the journey. Good luck and sorry

 

[StandbySetting]

Attempting to smuggle live animals through customs in most countries is illegal, I'd agree with Fluttermoth, find the fish a new home and buy a new one.

 

[Randomitity]

Attempting to smuggle live animals through customs in most countries is illegal, I'd agree with Fluttermoth, find the fish a new home and buy a new one.

How is it smuggling one country has given written consent that they know and allow you to do such a thing?

 

[StandbySetting]

I was referring to this part:

We therefore thought to perhaps putting the fishes (seperately of course) in 100ml containers of some sorts and taking them in our hand luggage. I realise that probably there will not be enough oxigen for a 6 hour journey in total (drive and flight) so had thought to transfer the fish and the liquid in a plastic bag once through security.

The fish would more than likely be confiscated and incinerated at customs due to the risk of disease spreading, this will depend on the country you're taking the fish to, the importation license is generally for shipping fish in using a courier, but again it varies from country to country, what does the written permission state?

 

[hanny93]

I too have no idea what youre on about standby,

She already has written consent from the country she is moving to, she was just saying transfer them to a plastic bag later on in the flight so they would have more water and oxygen to survive the flight, because they arent allowed more than 100ml on the plane.
She wont be hiding them in hand luggage, just taking them on as hand luggage so she doesnt have to pay to have the fish shipped via a courier and risk losing it, especially if their flight is delayed etc.

 

[StandbySetting]

Written consent to import can mean anything, it can mean you're fine to import through a courier for example, one problem I do see is that if the fish is bagged, make sure you leave some space for the air inside to expand as the cabin of an air craft is depressurised.

 

[Ryefish]

Putting the fish in small containers and hiding them in hand luggage will cause all sorts of legal issues. I agree with standbysetting on this.
You could try and find a shipping company who deal with live animals and use them. Most wholesale fish who are imported can spend around three days bagged up and in transit.
If i owned expensive fish like discus and was moving country i'd import them but anything else i would give them to an lfs like most people do or find a friend who wants them

 

[clgklg]

well, if you do decide to take them it is recommended to fast them for 48 hours to reduce water pollution as they will be stressed.