How should I travel with Platies in the car?

Question

I will be needing to travel in the car with my 2 platies for about 3 hours. I'm moving so I don't really have a choice about it. How should I do it so that they survive and also so that I don't get water all over my car. Also I'm assuming I'm going to have to empty the tank.

Answer 1

The best way to transport them is they same way they come to the store where you bought them - in plastic bags.

Your fish store may be able to supply you with one, just fill it no more than 1/2 way with water and leave the rest air and tie off the top. If you can't get them from your fish store, I've used 1 gallon ziplock bags, but be aware these can leak. Double bag to be safe. I've then packed the fish into picnic coolers (I usually have quite a few fish to transport) but maybe one of the smaller styrofoam coolers would work for you. This not only collects the water if they leak, but insulates them from temperature changes. As long as the car is moving, the vibration will keep the water oxygenated.

As far as the tank, you will want to keep the gravel and filter media wet to prevent the beneficial bacteria from drying out. You can move all this into 5 gallon buckets with lids if you have a large tank, or just draw the water down so it's only just a little over the gravel and move the tank and all if it's a smaller one (I wouldn't try this for any tank over 20 gallon).

If you're moving in more than one trip, you can prepare some water the trip before you move the fish to have it on hand, otherwise, get the tank set up as soon as possible. Remember to acclimate the fish to the tank by floating their bag and doing partial water changes to ease their adjustment to any differences in the new water chemistry.

I've transported bagged fis this way myself for 5+ hour trips without losing any.

Answer 2

if you go to one of your local petstores they will most likly be happy to give you a cupple of large fish bags. bag your fish, filling the bag about half full of water and half full of air, do not blow into the bag. then dubble bag them. they should be fine for the trip. as for the tank, drain all but enough water to just cover the gravel, but do not clean the gravel, then transport the tank, and set up at the new place