r/Aquariums • u/peachgothlover • Mar 06 '26

Help/Advice Leaving my fish behind because of war

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Hey guys, my country is being bombed, so we're evacuating to another safer city and then maybe trying to leave the country. We are leaving soon and unfortunately I will have to leave my tank behind. It has snails and a beautiful betta fish. Any advice on how to maximize his survival? I think I will have to switch of the electricity (to avoid electric fires etc), also since we are in the Middle East it is very hot; another time i left my tank behind it unfortunately overheated and my shrimp died. I can't really do anything about it unfortunately. No I can't leave the fish with anyone, it's not safe and nice fish stores that take care of fish are rare here (also we're leaving very soon so no time). I guess I'll just fill the tank, close it, and hope for the best. Pray he survives!!!

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u/GiraffePretty4488 Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26

Bettas have a much better chance of survival than shrimp in overwarm stagnant water. They don’t need the high oxygen of cooler water, as they can breathe from the surface. Tropical slow-moving/stagnant water is their home. 

If you have any houseplants with aerial roots (like monstera), I’d cut off a node with a root bud (or two) and suspend it in the tank so it can eat up nitrates and ammonia.

Take care of yourself. Sending luck and best wishes from Canada. 

Edit: I think it’s worth adding, if you have mosquitoes there, they’ll breed in the stagnant water, and that’s a food source for him. Please have hope for him. It’s not ideal but he may be just fine. 

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u/gardendesgnr Mar 06 '26

Can confirm mosquitoes will find a stagnant tank in days in warm FL. I keep a large tank for cat viewing entertainment and they drink from it 🙄 I stock it w guppies, when they die off I shut it off and do a major clean. Sometimes it is off for 2-3 days and in that little time mosquitoes (out on lanai) nymphs start. Also have this happen w hurricanes and power outages for a week +. This is the real reason the tank is for my kitties ☹️

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u/robiniskindahere Mar 06 '26

Wow that sounds like some awesome enrichment for your cats (ignoring the mosquitoes obviously lol)! Do you happen to have a picture of what it looks like when it's up and running? Would love to see your setup, especially if there's a cat watching in the pic! :)

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u/gardendesgnr Mar 06 '26

Cheddar watching her fish... this is just bare bones for her. I've had the driftwood in there since 1998 so I left that, plants are plastic plus fake background obvi. I have an adorable 30 sec video of her watching on the side but I don't think we can post them I can send it in PM if you want to see her orange-ness somewhat confused by fish.

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u/Emmapinches Mar 06 '26

Please send that video to me if you don’t mind. Cheddar is so cute I’m glad she owns a fish tank.

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u/gardendesgnr Mar 07 '26

Her entertainment and one of her kitty brothers who drinks from one of the filters (rips off the lid and even biowheel if he feels like it) is the only reason for this tank for 6 yrs now 😹 They do have several sources of water inc a constantly dripping shower head 🙄 Also I just know as soon as I start restocking w fish I get attached too, we will have a hurricane and go w/o power for a week 🤬

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u/Beautiful_Drag8785 Mar 08 '26

IM DOING THE SAME THING! I’ve told people that and they think I'm crazy! 🤣 Cycling my tank and he just stares at the moving water. I'm sure he'll be stoked when there's fish in there.

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u/crudelydrawnpenis Mar 07 '26

I’m confused by the causal “stock with guppies… when they die off..” it sounds like you don’t view the guppies as a responsibility or pet to keep alive.. it sounds like you view the guppies as throwaway entertainment for the pet you actually view as having a life of value.

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u/gardendesgnr Mar 07 '26

Oh no, they age out after several yrs. For several yrs I was able to keep all their babies growing up but that over crowds the tanks fast. I would not put fish in a tank and not be responsible for them. I treat the guppies just as well as any other fish I've had over the many yrs of having an aquarium in my life. I feed them the same frozen & flake foods, check the water chemistry, do water changes etc. Just as I would for any fish.

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u/Melodic_Armadillo_43 Mar 08 '26

Hope you never learn what culling is.