How to transport Saltwater fish??

Question

I am moving, a Blue Tang, Yellow Tang and a Clownfish, but I am picking them up an hour away, will they be fine, in a 5 gallon bucket??? Will they need heat or will they live for an hour without it?? Please give me advice on how to move them?? Thank You!!!

It is not from a petstore but from a private owner giving up saltwater aquariums!!!

Answer 1

I've transported fish that I've bought for more than an hour's drive (some up to 5 hours by car) and they're okay just being kept in the bags most stores use. Rather than a 5 gallon bucket, I would use an old picnic cooler that I bought used just for this purpose and stand the plasic bags in it. The cooler is insulated, so it keeps the temperature more consistant if the weather is warmer or cooler than the water temperature should be (or if you use the AC or a heater in the car during the drive). The motion of the vehicle is enough to keep the water moving to keep it oxygenated.

Answer 2

Every fish I have bought is in a bag for an hour before I get home.We have no saltwater stores here so I have to go to another state and hour away.. You can bag the fish and sit them in a box so the wont move to much and they will be fine.Or you can do what I do and hold them all the way home.I would sit the bags in brown paper bags though,the fish not being able to see is less stress full and with two of the fish being tangs you will wont to lessen the stress as much as possible for them and I would double bag.

Answer 3

Way to go Copperhead
I keep a heavy duty Styrofoam cooler in my car all the time because ya never know when you're going to be driving past a marine fish store.
I have driven up to 6 hours with fish in a bag and in a cooler.
Make sure they use a BIG bag with lots of air in it.