Entry Forms and Shipping

The entry forms for Convention are the standard IBC Show Entry Forms.  For Convention, people are allowed to enter up to 60 fish entries (70 total fish including pairs). (There is no additional limit for arts and crafts entries.)

A snapshot of an example form using the "help" for classes is provided for guidance, and then also there's a short video by Gianne Souza on how to both pick out the fish and fill out the form.

 

Due to the number of fish at Convention, and the extra number of days, there are no auction only fish to be sold at the auction on Sunday.  Instead, fish can be put for direct sale or for silent auction that will be placed in the Swap Shop room and will start on Thursday and run through Saturday night.  See the Swap Shop under Schedule for more information.

Where to send Fish

Shipped fish MUST arrive by Thursday noon, June 26.  Please plan your shipping in time to get them there.  We bench Wednesday and Thursday, with walk-ins on Thursday, and judge on Friday.  Please pre-register all your fish! Email your entry form to jeremy.n.waugh@gmail.com by Tuesday, June 24.

Send fish to:

Jeremy Waugh
3826 Larkspur Dr
Concord, CA 94519

For more information on entries, including details of Show Chair contact information, special notes, and unsold items, see the CBS IBC Convention Entry Information file [pdf]

Art Entries

Art Entries use the same entry form, but they should be shipped SEPARATELY from the fish.  Send Art Entries directly to the hotel.

Embassy Suites Santa Clara - Silicon Valley
Attn:  IBC/CBS Betta Show - ENTRY
2885 Lakeside Drive
Santa Clara, California USA 95054

And let us know that they're coming!  (There will be many other packages coming to the Embassy, including awards, so let us know about the arts and crafts so we can make sure we get them into the show and on display!)

 

Shipping Fish to a Show

There's a lot of details going into how to send a fish to a show.  Here are covered some of the very basics, and there's also a video from Amy Beccera on how to bag the fish.  Everything here are only basics - ask on the BetterBettas list or the Facebook if you have any questions!

Basic Shipping Instructions

  1. You will need long plastic fish bags from a pet shop, not from the grocery store. Two are required for each betta going to a show, and 2 for each betta at the end for either auctioning or to be shipped back to you.

    2. .

    You will also need the following items:

  2. Double bag each betta and use enough water to adequately cover the fish. Remember that water adds weight and increases the postage and the air held in the bag is almost more important to the betta. Knot the first bag, leaving 2/3 air. Then put that bag, with the knot end down, into the second bag. This helps to guard against leaking.
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  3. Find the classification sheet or class list and classify each fish with the appropriate number. Record the classes on the fish bag and also on the entry form. Also record the entry form item number on the bag. If you are in doubt as to how to classify a particular fish, mark the entry (both places) with “class help”. The judges are on your side and understand that some fish can pose a classification problem for the novice and experienced hobbyist alike.

    Use the remarks area for auction labels and also it's good for both show people and yourself to try and match up your fish when they get shipped around. Even if it's a 'help' class fish, if it's got "blue hm' on the remarks... the people unpacking can go "oh yeah, that one! yep, he's here."
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  4. Decide which bettas you might like to auction. Auction proceeds can help pay the expenses of showing. Remember that you have no way of knowing though, whether the fish may take a ribbon and you may be auctioning off a winner. Mark your entry sheet and the corresponding bag to make sure that the right fish is being auctioned.
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  5. Put the bags in the Styrofoam box along with any additional cushioning material. You might also put each bagged fish into a brown lunch bag to keep them isolated and insulated.
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  6. Weigh the box. Call the Post Office and find out the return postage for Priority Mail and Express Mail.
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  7. Put your entry form, entry fees, and return postage in a dry fish bag. Seal the box with strapping tape. NOTE: Do NOT label the box “Live Fish” on the outside – this can cause issues with certain shipping companies.
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  8. Mail your bettas Priority Mail (usually 2-3 days) or Express Mail (usually overnight). It keeps the box from sitting in cold rooms for long periods of time.
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  9. Timing the mail so the box should arrive the day before fish are supposed to be benched.  For a normal show where benching takes place Friday, mail on Wednesday morning (Express Mail) or Tuesday morning (Priority Mail).  For Convention where benching takes place Wed and Thurs, mail Express on Mon or Tues and Priority on Sat (Mon absolute latest, but you're pushing it on priority...).
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  10. Cross your fingers and wait for the results!

Note: If you cannot find some of the items needed to ship your fish, IBC sells plastic bags, heat packs (for shipping in the fall or spring), shipping labels, and styro boxes. Check the latest issue of FLARE! or the IBC web site for prices and purchase information.

 

Pictorial Highlights:

Make sure the water covers the fish!  Both when the bag is upright and when it's on it's side.  Longer-finned fish and crowntails will need more water (for buffering) than shortfins and females.  No matter how much water you put in, make sure there's at LEAST as much air, and preferably more. The standard ratio is 2/3 air to 1/3 water.  Due to box shipping size, sometimes people will put less than this in, but make very very sure there's always at least as much air as water.  The fish are traveling for a long time, and they'll die if there's too much water and not enough air. (Yes, bettas are different - that's why we love them.)

 

Tie the bag TIGHT!!!  The reason we use the extra long bags is mostly so we can get a really really good knot on the bags.  Twist that bag around until it's tighter than heck then KNOT!  Pull that knot tight!  Use your teeth if you have to, but make absolutely sure that the knots are tight and water won't leak.   (Hint - make the inner bag just less than full with water/air so the second bag can go over it easier.)

 

Pack the bags into the box, with the inner bag tie up (outer bag tie down).  Have your entry form and other paperwork in the box in a ziplock plastic bag in case of water leaks.  When all the bags are in the box, then put additional shipping material such as styro peanuts, airbags, crunched up newspaper, etc, in to make sure the fish are buffered during shipping and won't be thrown around inside it.

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