Transporting fish

kattty

SOOO I'M VERY EXCITED!!!...like in my previous post my fire eel has passed away and I've been in contact with my LFS to order me in a similiar speices.

However..due to being somewhat impatient and overly excited with travel plans..I'll get to my idea:)

I'm from Ontario Canada.. I'll be travelling to Minniapolis Minnisota USA in two weeks . I've spoken with customs boarder crossing officials and made sure that it was possible to import tropical fresh water fish into Canada from the USA for personal aquarium use..and THEY SAID YES!!!! From all my previous knowledge this was a very difficult task..I dont need permits...I DONT EVEN NEED TO CALL AHEAD!!!.


I've transporting my 120 gallon over 9 hours..with stock..(not in the tank) ect...lol but..they all survived so I know it can work. The trip to Minniapoli is only 6 hours so not as long, however we may have a lay over for a night.

I know your probably thinking.."just wait until your stock arrives in your LFS" however..selection and variety have no match to the store I've found.. It has over 1,000 fish in stock!!!HUGE...lol I cannot even phathom lol..I'm pretty much going to be a kid in a candy store..It's a chance I cannot pass up.lol


Basically what I've done in the past to transport fish over 9 hours is to:

Purchase a 15 gallon tuberware container(I have all of these still)..several for that matter as to not cram fish into a tight area.( I generally have seperated species into their own container and similar tank mates that I KNOW get along) I rinse these containers with aquarium salt prior to use and let them air dry for severald days.

I fill it about half way....puncture several holes in the lid..add aquarium water PRIOR to moving(grabbing fish,emptying tank ect) as to limit the amount of debri/waste in the water

Add a heater to the side(I've tested prior to make sure the plastic ect doesn't melt and no chemicals get released). I also have a portable battery powered air pump which can last over 36 hours. I purchase airstones for every container to allow the water to oxygenate itself.

These containers are placed in the backseat of my truck and blankets ect are placed around the containers as to limit the amount they move ect..

This has worked in the past.

This time I'll have to ask the petstore to use their water as I don't want to transport my tank's water 6 hours for no reason.(Unless you think that's a good idea)

Basically,I want to know if someone has /done another method that may prove more successful?

Just curious:)

Thanks again,
Kat

twocents

Do you have an inverter to power the heater? I have some plastic buckets downstairs that I used for my water changes. One has a heater and it hasn't melted it yet, but then it is a 5 gallon bucket with not a very highy wattage heater.
Now, I have a bucket with a heater, just a heater for when I buy fish in the morning, take them to work, and there they sit all day. I have not had oxygen problems and I use the water from the tank they are going into and acclimate them over the course of the day.
I may add a small airpump and airstone to this mix.
Other than that, no recommendations.

kitten_penang

looks like you have everything under sontrol.good luck with the move. wheres the lfs you said that has the wonderful stock???

kattty

Yeah I have two inverters..with dual outlets:) haha..I forgot to mention that.

Yeah..I have ample airlines and airstones..aka the battery operated air pump:):)

kattty

Haha the stores called" A World of Fish" ..how ironic:)

kitten_penang

i wanna live in the store lol i love huge lfs. totally agree with you on the kid in a candy store part

kattty

Yeah..I'm not sure if you checked out their website..its kind of lacking but..I called and spoke with staff ect and they confirmed the large stock amount ...MAINLY ODDBALLS!!!!!..how exciting:0Hopefully I can get something crazy:$ I'm all about unususal specimen..or something difficult to get.

kitten_penang

love odd balls but some are just too picky to fit in my schedule. better ake sure you can givve them what they need lol

kattty

Yeah we head down saturday morning and hopefully leave monday so...Sunday I'ma try and head down there..look at the stock..select a few ..make a list and go back and research furthur if I don't know much about them to guarantee success!..

Go back monday before we leave and pick up the ones I finalized on and hopefully everything goes well:)

kitten_penang

good luck with that.would love to see your list of odd balls and the tank once you finished setting it up