Can you take your fish when you move?

Question

Hello,
My family and I are moving from Seattle, WA to Albuquerque, NM and we have freshwater tropical fish in a 29 gallon aquarium. Is there any we can take them with us?

P.S. We are driving there.

Thank You

Answer 1

Sure you can. Your local fish store can help you with large bags, styrofoam shipping boxes and instructions on how to pack your particular fish for a safe trip.

MM

Answer 2

It's very possible to move your fish. First you'll want to go to your local fish store and ask them for styrofoam boxes. Often they are very happy to get rid of them. You could ask them if you could have a supply of plastic bags as well. You'll want 2 bags for each animal, and a few spares. You should also get a bunch of small rubber bands.

To prep the fish for moving you'll want to stop feeding 1-2 days before the move. This will clean out their systems of food and waste.

On the day of the move you will want to save the tank tear down for last. You'll want to take as much water with you as you can, so buy some 5 gallon buckets with tight fitting lids and fill them. This will drop the water level in the tank. I would take 15 gallons at a minimum.

Now for your fish. You'll want to take a plastic bag and put enough water to cover the fish into the bag. Do not fill the bag, you want a minimal amount of water and lots of air. Now catch one fish and put it into the bag. You'll need to seal the bag to hold as much air as possible. To do this you "fluff" the bag and then grab the very top of the bag and twist it. The result should be a balloon like bag. Now rubber band the bag very tighly and slowly turn it upside down to ensure that they water will stay in. Now insert the bag rubber banded end first into another plastic bag. This is called double bagging and is the safest for your fish.

Please the bag vertically into the styrofoam box. Repeat for all animals in the tank. Once the boxes are full close them up tightly and cover with a blanket/towels. You want to keep the fish warm for their trip, but not hot.

Now finish emptying the tank. Place all rocks and gravel into buckets to take with you.

Typically well packed fish can survive 12-24 hours in the bag, but obviously it's best to keep it as short as possible.

Pack everything and hit the road.

Once you get to the new place you'll want to set up the tank get it filled with the old water you brought with you and topped off with new water. Let it sit with the filtration running for a few hours while you unpack other things. If the water temp is close to what it should be you could float your fish in the tank while you wait. You want to give your new water a bit to settle in and for the pH to stabilize. This time/danger can be lessoned by bringing more water from the old tank.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have two huge goldfish. When I moved, I just put them in a giant bucket with a lid (it was cheap at Home Depot). I placed the bucket on the passenger floor and slid the seat up to "lock" it in place so it wouldn't slide around. My fish were fine when I got to my new place. Make sure you don't fill the bucket all the way up as some water may leak out.

Answer 4

You can take them with you the way you took them home from the pet store. In bags with water and air... But it is important that you change the water and air every 4 hours.. then when you get to your new home put them back in the tank.... But there is always a chance that the fish go in to shock and die but most times the fish will be fine.

Answer 5

yes. i moved from DC down to OK-- what i did was get 5 gallon buckets from like home depot and lowes and put the fish in there w/ water (of course) depending on when you are moving, you may want to check on them when you stop. because if you put the buckets in the moving truck they can get hot, but the lids keep the water from sloshing everywhere. i also would open up the lid when we stopped to get fresh air in there for them and of course take lids off when you get there immediately so they have air. but mine made it.

Answer 6

Get a smaller rectangular fish tank
that can fit in the back of your car trunk,
make sure it cant move around...
feed them when you take stop.

Answer 7

EQUIPMENT

Before starting your move you will need some basic supplies.

Plastic bags: You will need enough suitable sized bags to bag up all your fish and filter media, small fish like tetras can go 5 to one bag, medium sized fish 2-3 to a bag and large fish 1 to a bag. Most LFS will give or sell you a few bags for a few pennies/cents. Remember to get some elastic bands to close the bags with.
You will also need a large refuse sack or two for bagging your substrate.

A large polystyrene box/s: These can usually be obtained at any lfs either for free or for a small charge, remember to ask a few weeks in advance as many shops throw the boxes out in the garbage. Place your bagged fish into these using empty bags filled with air and tied up to fill any gaps so the bagged fish are secure and then tape shut to keep them warm and dark to minimise stress on the journey.

Nets: Make sure you have two nets both without holes, using two nets to catch your fish by herding them into one net with the other cuts down on time and stress (for you and the fish). Make sure your nets are big enough for the fish you have, fish grow but nets do not.

Water storage barrels: These are a bit of a optional extra for if you are moving to an area with different water parameters to your current or you have a small tank and can easily carry all the water with you for a faster set up. They can be bought for around ?10/$10 from hardware or camping shops. You DO NOT need to take water with you as it does not contain anything benefitial provided your water stats match.

Oxygen tablets and heat packs: These are only needed if you are moving a long distance and your fish will be in their bags for several hours. Place one oxygen tablet into each fish bag before sealing it and one heat pack to each poly box.

A kettle: You will need several kettles full of boiling water to bring the tank back up to tropical temperature when you refill it at your new home and more importantly cups of tea for everyone who helped.

What to do

1 ) On the day of the move leave the tank until you have packed everything else into the van to cut down the ammount of time the fish are in bags.

2 ) Start by switching off all equipment and draining half the water out of the tank, a lower water level makes it harder for fish to escape and means less spills.

3 ) Next remove all the decore, if you have live plants gently wrap these in damp newspaper and then seal in a plastic bag. Be carefull of any stuborn fish that may be hiding in ornaments, in the worst cases you make have to bag the ornament as well.

4 ) Carefully but as quickly as you can net and bag all your fish, prepare a bag by filling it with water 1/3 water 2/3 air and rolling the top over to leave the opening nice and wide. Select the fish you want to catch and then gently push it into a waiting net using your other net. Once the fish is in the bag unroll the top, twist it around and seal it with a elastic band remembering to add a oxygen tablet to the bag before sealing if you need them. Place the bagged fish into the poly box in an upright position.

5 ) Remove the media from your filter and bag this as you done with the fish, one sponge to each bag, for long journeys you will need to add an oxygen tablet.

6 ) Drain the remaining water from the tank and scoop out the substrate into a refuse/garbage bag, i find a dustpan works best for this in larger tanks but for smaller ones use your hands. Seal the bag with an elastic band or tight knot to avoid water spilling in the journey.

7 ) Load the poly box/s full of fish and bag/s of substrate into the van, followed by the tank and then the stand, remember you are going to want the stand off first to position it in your new home and dont want to be double handling heavy fish tanks and boxes of water.

8 ) Set the tank back up adding the substrate first and then refill it adding boiling water from the kettle as you go to bring the water up to tropical temperature, remember to add dechlorinator as well so you dont kill all the bacteria in the substrate. Pour the new water onto a plate or bowl placed on the substrate to minimise the ammount of dirt stirred up. Once the correct temperature is reached place all your fish, plants and decore back into the tank and reconect all the equipment.
If you have saved your old aquarium water in storage barrels simply pour this back into the tank (still using the plate).

Answer 8

yes just put them in a bucket with a battery powered airator

Answer 9

Yes you can take your fish. A fish is not a real pet.