what is the best way to move two plecos?

Question

we live in tennessee and we are moving to ohio soon. We have to Plecos and they are in a 10 gallon tank right now. We will be putting them in a 29 gallon before we move. Ohio is an 8 hour drive from Tennessee.

Answer 1

The easiest way that I can tell you to move a fish(depending on the size of the fish) is to put them in a cooler. If you don't have one, you can buy a good cheap one(those styrofoam ones work well). That helps to keep the temperature up, and it keeps it dark inside, which doesn't stress the fish as much.

If you ever look at how fish are shipped to the pet stores, alot of the time, they use styrofoam lined boxes...

Answer 2

My first recommendation is to NOT move them into the bigger tank. It's just that much more difficult to deal with. I moved my 29 gallon tank recently, and it was no simple feat, I'll tell you that.

I had a short drive, but I ended up putting my pleco in a big tupperware bowl...I think it's probably a 4 gallon bowl, with a snap-on lid.

Not too long ago, the heater broke in my tank, and all of the fish except for the pleco died. He then lived in the same tank with no heater for a couple of months...The point of telling you this is to express how hardy plecos are. An 8-hour drive without the heater on should cause no major problems.

That said, I'd either move them in the small tank (with a bunch of the water removed), or in a bowl like I did, with some of the water from the tank they've been in. Try to take the turns reasonably slow, so they dont slosh around too much!

Good luck!

Answer 3

best way:
use a 1 gallon plastic ice cream bucket *

fill it about 1/2 way w/ water.


*(or a 1+ gallon bucket - if you use a bucket put a garbage bag sideways over the top & wrap the edges w/duct tape or a big rubber band to hold the bag over the top)

also you can punch a few holes in the top w/a fork if you're parnoid and think you got the top on real air tight, but not many if any are really needed

you may also want to put the containers in a cooler to maintain water temp.
if you don't put them in a cooler, consider using paper bags or dark plastic bags to hold them. keeping it dark will help them to be a bit less freaked out..

it also would be wise to put each one in a separate container. no fighting if they can't reach each other.

8 hours is definitely not too long for a pleco to survive, even in a sealed plastic bag or 2.

If you have a fish bags & want to use them, put 1 fish in a bag w/enough water to cover it, plus an inch to 2 inches more, puff air into the bag and close it tight, twist it a few times to get the bag taunt, and wrap the end profusely w/a rubber band, then get a 2nd bag and put this one in the 2nd one upsidedown (so that the rubberband you just put on is at the bottom of the 2nd bag) this will prevent the pleco (or any other fish) from wedging itself into a bag corner & possible getting stuck/punching a hole in the bag/etc.

Answer 4

buckets and containers are safer than bags for 2 reasons:

The larger the pleco gets, the longer and sharper their ( cant think of the word) pokey things on their bodies get.

Also, most people do not know how to properly bag a fish. They need mostly air and it has to be new air, not exhaled. I find it really easy to do but I can't explain it. It's all in how you grab it.

So either the tank with only a few inches of water or a NEW container that has never hade cleaners or soap in it with a lid to prevent spills. Again with only a few inces of water. A little more than what will cover them. Throw some live plants in too if you can and stress coat the full tank the night before.

Answer 5

Get a five gallon bucket... a cheap one , and preferably one with a lid (I've used thoroughly rinsed plastic kitty litter containers to transport fish, and they work great). Cut a small hole in the lid. Buy a battery powered air bubbler, and thread the hose with the stone attached to it though the hole you cut in the lid. Fill the bucket with tank water, add the fish, turn on the bubbler and you are good to go! 8 hours is not a long drive, and Plecos are very tough fish. You should be just fine.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Wow! What a situation to have! as far simply by fact the pleco is going, internet him with a brilliant internet and extremely gently positioned him in a medium sized Rubbermaid plastic bin that comes with a lid, crammed a million/2 of how with water. (be careful, they have spines!) cover the bin with plastic wrap, then positioned the lid on. this might help shelter against maximum leakage and additionally, the pleco won't thoughts the darkish in any respect. in actuality it particularly is going to help shrink his stress point if easy is blocked out. that's what I did with my super pleco (14 inches long) as quickly as we moved, yet he rode in our automobile on my lap and the experience became no greater advantageous than 30 min... Your holiday is plenty longer. Are you retaining the fish with you interior the automobile and hotel rooms? if so, you need to do an identical with the Oscars, you will in simple terms must be careful with the temp interior the automobile and do water variations nightly. be certain you fill the packing bins interior the 1st place with the previous tank water and be certain to additionally positioned a number of the previous gravel in with them. even be certain tocontinual "gently". No sharp turns or unexpected stops. i'm hoping I helped. solid success!

Answer 7

I'd avoid moving them in a tank. A full tank's bottom can break fairly easily. Personally I'd get a 3-5 bucket with a lid. Fill it 2/3 with tank water, and put them in. They should be fine for the whole trip.

PS- Remember to take some/all of your gravel in a container with some tank water. It's a good way to jump start your new tank's cycle.

Answer 8

All good advice,but two separate containers will prevent them from injuring each other. -----Good luck,PeeTee

Answer 9

http://www.plecofanatics.com/