How do I move fish on a two hour car ride?

Question

We are planning on moving two hours away in May and would like to take our Oscars with us. How can we travel two hours in a truck with them?
I know I just asked this same question, but there is the fact of the Oscars size. The are both about a foot long.

Answer 1

I think magic man and roberto are right and here is a EXCELLENT site that gives great advise in good detail.

http://www.bestfish.com/moving.html

Answer 2

I moved our 55 gal tank over 900 miles without losing one fish. We had large fish too, but not quite that big, maybe 8 or 9 inches. The key is lots of room, lots of aeration. We took the back seats out of the car and had 2 large plastic garbage cans (55 gallon size??) filled with fish tank water and "new" water divided between the 2 cans. They were probably 2/3 to 3/4 full. We had an aeration system for the cans, plugged it into a converter which plugged into the cig lighter and we switched the air from one can to the other every hour or so. We used the ones from our tank with the tubing for blowing the air in the tank. We kept the lids on the fish and kept them in the dark. The garbage cans were secured by bungee cords to the car and the bottoms were secured by 2X4s framed around the bottom of the cans. Once we got to our destination, I set the tank up with the same plants and rocks from the original tank, and used the same water that the fish had traveled in. I allowed it to settle for a few hours and then transferred the fish. I don't think I netted them - I think I used a large pot so I didn't stress them. Lights off until the next day. The next morning, I turned the lights on and fed them. They were fine. Lots of work, but definately worth it....

Answer 3

For general fishes, even large ones, a strong plastic bag will suffice even if your fish is a foot long. If bags are used, either tape the corners to make them round or turn the bag upside down. This prevents the fish from becoming trapped in a corner and injuring itself. Double bagging adds security against leaks and should be used for transporting fish with spines. You can alternatively use a water filled polystyrene box, or alternatively use a cool box, and place the plastic bag inside the cool box..

Temperature is another major consideration. Unless extreme temperatures dictate otherwise, short journeys of less than 5 hour temperature should not be a concern.

It is also advisable to keep the fish in darkness during transportation. Wrap the bag in newspaper as flashes of light can shock fish. Finally, to reduce pollution to the transit water, do not feed fish for 24 hours prior to packaging.

Answer 4

Forget the airation thing, it's not nessacary

Go with the large fish bags from the fish shop, double bag them and put them in an eski (i think americans call these ice boxes) or a foam box. bag them separatly.

Also if you can switch off your filter (i'm assuming it's a canister) at the last minute and as soon as your at the new place put the two oscars in a large eski or pastic box with lid with a heater and attach the canister and switch it on till you sort out your tank. With any luck this will save the bacteria in you filter dying and prevent you having to cycle the tank. Be carefull the heater doesn't melt the container.

i've been told the bacteria only lasts one hour but you may get lucky and its worth a try right?

Answer 5

Ive always use big thick tall plastic bags, fill about 1/2 of water, and the rest air. put in cardboard box , it also depends on the size, I would think one per bag You can get them from fish shops.

Answer 6

when my brother move from Leeds to Burlington witch is about an hour and a half away he put his Oscar in a bucket of water and put clingfilm on the top with hols in it and it works fine so you could try that

Answer 7

I once moved a goldfish by taking a glass peanut butter jar, poking air holes in the top, and putting the fish and the water from it's bowl in there, then putting the jar in our ice chest. Since your fish are so big, perhaps you could get a big glass pickle jar, or something like that.

Answer 8

Yeah somehow be able to let them get plenty of air.I'd sugguest ever so often adding more fresh water in whatever you travel them in.If not you could ask a petstore to bag them for you.Buy some stress tablets.Other than that i really dont know what to do,but it doesnt hurt to try to help.

Answer 9

Do it the same way they travel hours upon hours in a truck to get to your local pet shop. In a large bag inside a styrofoam container. No doubt if you go to your local shop and explain the situation they probably will save you a few of the large bags and styrofoam boxes in which they receive fish. They will make the trip with no problems that way , even with foot long fish. The bags they use are huge and so are the styrofoam boxes. You might check specifically with a shop that deatils in saltwater fishes, they often use even larger boxes and bags.

MM

Answer 10

the size makes a difference. use an ice chest.. if works good cause it is made to hold water, had a lid, and doesn't effect the temp. of the water. To insure their survival aerate the water w/ an air pump. this will insure they have plenty of oxygen to breath.