Whats the best way to move fish? I have 3 aquariums a 10 gal. a 39 gal. & a 10 gal. with a turtle. &

Question

I'm moving 2 hours away is all.

Answer 1

I use rubbermaid tubs with lids or large sized tupperwear.

Answer 2

Go to your local fish shop. Get a few fish bags depending on how many fish you have and how big they are. Do not feed them for at least 24 hours before you need to move them. Ask the fish shop keeper to show you how to put a fish in the bag and how to close the bag. Maybe you could add a bit of stress coat in the water of the bag before you put the fish in.

Empty the aquariums of most of the water and leave the filters submerged to aquarium water maybe in a bucket or if they are canisters do not empty them.

Fish will have no problem in the bags even if they had to stay 24 hours + in there. That is how fish are shipped from eg Malaysia to the states. Remember even if you are 2 hours away you will have to consider time for putting tanks in place, filing them up and starting them.

Answer 3

This is how i have moved my fish...Buy a new rubbemaid type of trash can and rinse it really well with clear water. When you drain the water from the large tank drain it into the trash can. When it gets full enough then scoop your fish out with a net and out them in there and drain the rest of the water into it. Be sure to use a good aquarium syphon for this. For the ten gallon you could use a plastic tub. Be sure to cover them both withthe lid so the water doesnt splash out and you dont loose fish. Same holds true for the turtle or you could leave him in his tank and just remove any rocks you have in it that may fall over. Dont move your tanks with water in them or you may get a leak. Take all decorations out first but you can leave the gravel just be extremely careful.
When you get moved, get a man or two to help you SLOWLY pour the water back in your big tank and all will be fine. I was even able to move Angelfish that way and you know how delicate they can be.

Baggies will not have enough air in them. They need a large surface area at the top of their water to allow air to get into the water. They will be fine for 2 hours or 3 even. Just when you get to the new place set them up with an air stone.

Answer 4

you should be able to move the ten gallon tanks easily, just drain as much water out so the fish can still move freely but do not leave to much that you will damage the tank. for the 40 gallon I would get a few 5 gallon buckets with good lids to put the fish in make sure you aerate the water allot and if you can't get the aquarium setup right away make sure you put a air stone in the bucket also try to get as much water out of the tank as possible because it is going to be very heavy and do not try to move the big one by yourself unless you take everything out

Answer 5

I would get a bunch of the bags that they put the fish in when you buy them and put them in the bags, then sit all the bags in a big plastic container/bucket. And i have no idea about the turtle.

Or you could put the fish in old cointainers and put holes in the tops but the bags will probley be easier

Answer 6

A good article about moving fish can be found on this page a little ways down.

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-longterm.html

Answer 7

Use the container for the turtal and bags for the fish (not ziplock they might open) in a chilly bin or something, but some will probly die, and its risk you'll have to take

Answer 8

place fish in ziplock baggies and then into a cooler for transport. the turtle can ride in the cooler as well but provide a barrier so it does not pop the baggie

Answer 9

what no one has said is you have to make sure that the water is the same temp as the water you are you are taking it from they will go into shock and could die