Help with shipping

[Aaron T.]

I am new to these forums I recently found them while looking for info on breeding a such. Moving I recently found out that I am moving and not just down the street, about 1300 miles..

I tried to google the best way to ship but there seem to be so many conflicting way, don't do this don't do that, use a half a cup of water in a 4 x 18 inch bag...get bag buddies, dont use bag buddies use some other chemical...

Does anyone on here ship stuff regularly that could help me... with a how to and maybe where to get what is needed...

Thank you ahead of time

 

[gerald]

The best method depends on several factors:
1) what kinds of fish and how many?
2) how are you moving the tanks? driving? sell them and buy new ones?
3) will there be tanks set up and ready at your new house when the fish arrive?
4) if shipping, is the person on the receiving end an experienced fish keeper?

If you're driving, I'd probably put the fish and filter media directly in coolers or styro boxes with battery-operated air stones, rather than shipping. If you're staying with friends or at motels overnight you can bring them in and use plug-in filters or air pumps. Remember to treat your biofilter media like fish - dont let it overheat or run out of oxygen. If you must ship, Kordon breathing bags are my favorite for small fish (less than 3"). Regular polyethylene bags with 1/3 water + 2/3 air/oxygen for larger fish. Catfish and other spiny fish can be tricky in bags.

 

[Aaron T.]

It would be about 30+ fish mostly Apsito's and some rainbows some other odds and ends nothing that should puncture bags...

I will probably buy a couple tanks there but also bring the ones I have, this move will not be an over night deal my wife will be there appox a month before me and followers instruction well...

The drive there will take 2 to 4 days moving kids and house so fish will have to be shipped...

Trying to figure out the be way to ensure safety for the fish and over night or 2nd shipping seems to be the best idea...

All fish less than 3".. Any input is greatly appreciated...

 

[Linus_Cello]

Where are you moving to? Maybe your new destination has a fish club who could help by receiving your fish in advance and taking care of them until you move? Some areas have cichlid specific clubs.

 

[Aaron T.]

receiving isnt the problem, it a good step by step on how to ship them there safely

 

[gerald]

I would get the 7.5 x 12 inch Kordon breathing bags, stop feeding and change water 2 days before packing, put about 4 or 5 2" fish per bag, tie knots or use rubber bands to seal them, and pack the bags in a thick-wall styro box with styro "peanuts" between them so there's plenty of air space around each bag. You dont need any air space inside breathing bags, but a small bubble wont hurt anything. 2-day priority mail is usually fine, but in hot weather 1-day express mail might be worth the extra $. Dont skimp on water - the more volume, the more thermal and chemical stability.

 

[bseitz234]

Thanks for this advice- I'm moving in August, hoping to disassemble Friday morning, pack up the truck Friday afternoon, drive Saturday, and have everything set up again by Sunday, but this is all very helpful advice.

One question: do you think Corys are spiny enough that I should double bag them? Can you double bag the Kordons, or do they lose their breathing efficiency?

Thanks!!

 

[Aaron T.]

IF I recall you dont double bag Kordon bags you just wrap them in newspaper...

 

[bseitz234]

Cool, thanks!!

 

[gerald]

Kordon's website says yes, you can double-bag them, but it cuts the gas-transfer rate, so pack less fish per bag. I've never done it, and it seems to me that if the inner bag punctures and soaks the space between the two layers, then gas transfer is almost nil. DO leave a little airspace inside the bag with Corys and other air-breathers. Another trick is to rubber-band the corners, so the filled bag is almost a sphere with no corners to get wedged in. (This also works for bagging tiny fish, so they dont get trapped in folded corners). Drain most of the water out of your filter media and put it in a breathing bag too.

One question: do you think Corys are spiny enough that I should double bag them? Can you double bag the Kordons, or do they lose their breathing efficiency?