Sedate Fish for moving?

Question

I'm moving my fish about 12 miles this week. This is my first time moving aggressive fish. I have xingu pike, green terror, convicts, helodes loaches, angelicus loaches, bengal loaches, L56 chubby pleco, and rubber lip plecos.

Should I use some sort of sedative like clove oile for the move to keep them from attacking each other during the trip? I got 3 big boxes from the LFS, but they're still awfully close quarters for such an angry collection of fish.

Answer 1

It's really not complicated. Get bags from the fish store. Put the fish in bags (double bagged), for all fish, big and small, packed with air the way the fish store does it. Place the bags in coolers.

What you have is the fish safely packed (fish stores do it for a reason), the cooler will keep the temperature stable, and the darkness will keep the fish subued (darkness is a natural sedative for them) In addition the fish will be seperated - no worries. No massive buckets of water to haul around, no water sloshing around anywhere, and no equipment to mess around with. I've moved more times then is good for me with fish and have never lost one this way.

"but you need to take as much water with you as you can"
Bull. When was the last time you took a tank full of water home from the fish store with a new fish? The fish will do fine, and taking water does nothing for the cycle - bacteria is on surfaces, not free swimming in the water. I always use new water, except what's in the bags.

"but coolers make the water cold"
No, coolers are merely insulated, keeping warm warm and cool cool - it just helps keep the temp stable.

"What about my cycle"
Place the filter media in bags just like the fish - the bacteria will be intact on the other end. I also like to place the decorations and gravel in a rubbermaid container with a tight lid - everything will stay moist and most of the bacteria will make it.

Answer 2

I wouldn't suggest a sedative at all. Temperature, activity level and other factors that affect the fishes metabolism play a huge roll in determining the proper dosage level and just a few part per million can make a big difference. Factor in pH and hardness into the equation and it becomes a real challenge to get a safe but effective dose. I would suggest allowing the water to cool to the bottom of the recommended temperature range for the fish over the next day or so. This will increase O2 in the water and also slow the fishes metabolism a bit, both are good things for a stressful situation.

Hope that helps and good luck of the move.

MM

Answer 3

We have moved dozens of tank in our maintenance business over the years (many moves taking hours and covering a lot of miles).
I rarely used any tranquilizer. What I generally did do is use methylene blue as a hemoglobin transfer agent (it also helps prevent infection and calmed the fish by darkening the water).
I also added a small wonder shell for pH, GH KH stability as well as for VERY important electrolytes in this possibly stressful move.

I placed the fish in a sterile Rubbermaid or similar container.
A battery air pump was also employed in longer moves as well as cold packs around the container in the summer or heat packs in the winter (again around the container).

I will also add we have moved fish as far as from LA to Oregon using this method, with no losses.

If you feel sedation is needed, Would recommend Finquel as it is much safer than clove oil. I found a link here: http://www.paradisekoiponds.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=137_138&osCsid=cdf0ff818672ae797bbbf1a8354d74d6

Answer 4

Clove oil is also used to euthanize fish! Carefull with the doseage.

I would suggest going back to the LFS. They have a solution/and or pills which can be added to your fish to "settle" them during transportation. I would HIGHLY suggest this unless you are really sure you know what you are doing doseing clove oil.

Most fish stores will give this to you some you may have to purchase it (inexpensive) and will tell you how much to use.

I would also suggest if you are not going to bag them cooler them or bucket them out of the aquarium, yep sedate them. If you are bagging them, do it in different bags. The fish store again will be more than willing to give you the proper size bags. Since you really don't have that far to go .

Good luck with the move.

Answer 5

for the smaller fish use fish bags, the larger fish a box/bucket each. you'll need a lot of fish boxes and bags, but in the long run it will work. i know someone who has moved several 200 gallon tanks with very large occupants (rays, arowana etc), didn't sedate, didn't lose a single fish!

sedating can be dangerous and theres no way you can guarantee that you can bring the fish back around again.

Answer 6

Are they too large to fit in buckets? Get several 5 gallon buckets with snap lids. Separate them into the buckets, and snap the lids on. This will also keep them from spilling.