What's the best way to transport fish?

Question

I have a 55 gal aquarium with about 9 different fish in it. I am moving 3 hours away and need to figure out the best way to transport my fish by car. Obviously, the aquarium is going to be drained and then re-filled once I reach my destination, so leaving them as they are is not an option. They are all freshwater fish including a paradise gourami, black moor, 2 danios, 2 rosy barbs, an alqae eater, a shubunkin, a koi, and an albino frog. What would you recommend?

Answer 1

Try to save some of the water (aged aquarium water) and take it with you.. it will help they system rebalance itself after the move.

If you can break the tank down last and have it be the first thing to get running. It will not have to be in its final spot but to restore heat and filtration is very important. For transporting distances and with the combination of fish/frogs you have 2 - 5 gallon buckets half filled with water will work well. For added saftey you can check at your local pet store and see if they have a battery operated air pump for your travels. (they work great if the power ever goes out too! ) If not.. use a regular air pump and plug it in when you can. It will help with oxygen levels.
Instead of buckets if you choose to Bag the fish it is OK.. but remember fish breathe OXYGEN so if you bag them 1/3 water 2/3's air.. with just a few hours of travel I don't think its necessary to see about having them packed with O2 at a fish store. BIG bags for the koi and goldfish.. they are just messy fish

While I don't reccomend mixing cold water fish (goldfish-koi) with tropicals its working for you. Just be prepared for that koi grow huge and they do put a heavy load on the biological system.

good luck with your move..

Answer 2

I once moved my fish from California to Ohio (also, frogs) by the following method:

I just put each fish in a plastic container with a lid. The lids were actually closed, you know -- snapped shut with no holes. And I stood them neatly, closely together in a deep dishpan to minimize sloshing. Then, every time I stopped the car (which was frequently), I opened the lids to let fresh air in.

The things to be aware of: If you have about a quart sized plastic container, you can put a couple or few similar-type docile fish in there. Put only a few inches of tank water, maybe a third or half of the container is water and 1/2 to 2/3 is air. Use some of the stresszyme or whatever you use to condition your water. Your species of fish are all pretty tough and will do fine. You aren't dealing with very picky fish.

Also, on a long roadtrip, don't leave them in the car for long while in the restaurant or hotel since the car can heat up or cool down too much. Three hours will pose no problems.

You know, when the fish are shipped to the pet store, they are packaged this way -- in small sealed containers each containing plenty of air. The petstore sends them home with you the same way, just using bags because they are cheap.

Have a great move. Just put those fish in Tupperware or something similar and you'll be fine!!

Answer 3

Find a pet store that will lend or sell you a fish box,also known as "styros",also get some fish bags,and a lesson on bagging fish. An aquarium club or a fish store in your new town might be a good source. After the move the tank will have to be cycled again. This can be done with fish in the tank,but it is really difficult.Keeping some of your old filter material may be an aid in re-establishing the beneficial nitrifying bacteria in the new location,however careful monitoring of the ammonia levels in the tank will be necessary for 5 or 6 weeks after you get up and running. Good luck to you and your fish. Hope this helps. Also it's a good idea to bag each fish separately. PeeTee

Answer 4

Get like two or three containers, fill it with sand or gravel some things that you have in your fish tank and toys and stuff, then when your moving put the lid on top of the container, if there are no hole in the container just poke small mini holes for them, they may be uncomfortable a bit with the moving but they should be fine as long as you drive slowly they should be fine as for when your driving either fit the containers in the front passenger seat and put them there with them on the same seat and buckle them up together so that if your make very big stop when your driving they wont fly out, or if the passenger seat is occupied use the backseat. Good luck with your new place and the fishes!!!

Answer 5

See if the LFS will give you some fish bags. Get a styrofoam cooler and line it with a trash bag (just in case). Put each fish in its own bag with tank water in it about 2/3 with water and 1/3 air. Tie it off with a rubber band or something and place them in a second bag upside down (so that if theres a leak the second back will get it) and tie that off. Its really the best way. And then put it inside the cooler. If theres extra room for them to flop around get some old towels or sheets to fill up the spaces.

If you can't get bags from the LFS get some 1g storage bags from the grocery store and double bag them as best you can. I don't know if storage bags come bigger than 1g... But you need to put them individually with room for air at the top. If you have room to spare and bags to spare, fill up baggies with tank water so that you won't have to worry about "new tank syndrome" and your new destination. It's also a good idea to have just enough water over the gravel in the aquarium so that the bacteria in there don't suffer.

Answer 6

Id go for bags the ones they send you home after buying with tie all the bags and make sure theres air in them use your tank water so they dont get too stressed.Using a bucket probably isnt a good idea as if the car stops quickly or moves sharpley the bucket will tip water will drain and your fish will die

Answer 7

I moved 5 hours away, had 2 freshwater eels, an 8" goldfish, a couple large pleco's and one 13" oscar.

I moved the oscar and the smaller pleco in a large cooler, and the other fish in a med sized cooler. They are insulated to keep heat in better, watertight, and can hold enough old aqua water to help start up the next tank. They all did great.

Good luck.

Answer 8

I moved a 75 gallon saltwater tank 5 hrs away. I took 5 gallon bukets and put some of my sand in it along with a rock and then added the fish. I also kept as much water as I could so I could keep the bacteria that was needed. As soon as you get to your new home set the tank up asap. The fish will be alittle stressed but they will be fine. Good luck

Answer 9

Ask the aquarium shop fellow to get you a polyethylene bag , a bigger size which usually they get when they recieve parcels of fishes from his whole sale dealer. they are meant for long distance transportation of aquarium fishes. And they are meant for this purpose. They will have the corners patched up to avoid fishes getting stuck at it and die of congestion.
So, go to the aquarium ahop and get it soon.

Hey if possible take your fishes in a small bag and then ask him to fill the big bag with ur fishes and ALSO ASK HIM TO OXYGENATE IT(air rich in oxygen will be pumped into ur bag), to ensure the breathing of ur fishes better.
Bcoz its just three hours, oxygenating is not a real necesity, but be at the safer side.

Good luck.

Answer 10

I'd recommend a 5 gallon bucket, meticulously cleaned and with very well aerated water. Fill the bucket about 3/4 full. they should be fine for 3 hours. If you are smart, you will use water from the tank and use it to start the tank again.