Ok I need help.. can anyone tell me How to transport two goldfish over a 7 hour car ride? i need them to live?

Question

Need Help before December. Thats when i have to go home. I will be so upset if they die.. someone help :) thanks!!

Answer 1

Here is information from an article about Aquarium moving I wrote:
There are many different methods for moving that work well, I will give you information on the moving method that has worked best for me when I moved aquariums (small and large) for my aquarium maintenance clients (some short distance, some as far as 800 miles)

*Purchase some sterile Rubbermaid containers and buckets (I prefer as large as possible such as 32 gallons for tanks over 40 gallons)

*Drain water from the display tank into one of these containers. Do not fill more than you can move or will spill. Then add your fish to this water.

*Add Methylene Blue , this will aid in the oxygen capacity of the blood, ease stress, ease ammonia/nitrite poisoning and help prevent disease. I also added Wonder Shells as these would increase the bio load capacity of the water and add very important electrolytes. Keep this container as dark as possible.

*For trips over 4 hours, a battery air pump or AC air pump plugged into an inverter that runs off the vehicles cigarette lighter.

*Do not over rinse any gravel or bio filter media such as sponges; place these in an open container/bucket

*Place safe (not heavy) decorations in with fish to provide cover. For live plants keep them separately as you will deplete oxygen in the darker moving environment. The same for rocks and heavy decoration as these can injure the fish

*Discard any unused water.

*For small tanks (usually under 40 gallons), I will generally leave some gravel and other equipment in the tank for quick moving. For larger tanks I remove everything.

*Once at the destination, I begin to re set up the aquarium. For marine tanks I immediately start up a container with an air stone, water (preferably RO) and salt mix so as to have mixed saltwater ready for use. I will also note that I prefer 24 hours of agitation of newly mixed saltwater before using, however this time is usually not an
option when moving.

*Once the tank is set up and running, I start SLOWLY mixing water back and forth between the tank and fish container to prevent osmotic shock, and adjust temperature.
I will usually add Stress Coat or similar to the container holding the fish and Prime to the display tank just before addition of the fish (and other aquatic creatures)

For the full article about movin, please follow this link:
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/08/aquarium-moving.html

:~) C

Answer 2

I've had a few moves with my collection of tanks (fresh and saltwater). The biggest problem I had was that the water chemistry was different in the two places I lived.

When you're ready to move take out the fish and put them in plastic bags. Ziploc ones of at least a gallon can work, but only fill about 1/3 to 1/2 of the bag with water, then seal. You can sit the bags upright in a bucket or old picnic cooler (I have a few I keep just for moving fish) while you tear down the tank. Take out as much of the water as you can to move the tank, but make sure the substrate (sand/gravel) stays wet - this will keep your beneficial bacteria (biological filter) alive. Put a clean plastic garbage bag over the tank, or spread it out so it covers the water inside - this keeps the water from splashing out as you drive. You can bring the extra water too, if you want, but you'll be better off moving it in 5 gallon buckets with lids - you can put filter media and any decorations or plants in one to keep these wet as well. If the water's from the same supplier as your present water source, it shouldn't be necessary, but if it's different, this will be less of an immediate change for your fish. If the water sources are different, I'd take at least half of what they were in - you may want to do a water change a day or so before moving them so the water's good quality.

I always did the actual move with my fish in an old picnic cooler I bought at a second-hand shop and cleaned out well. Depending on the thickness of the cooler, you can put the filter on it just as you would a tank and use this as a temporary tank while you set up the regular tank.

Add the fish to the tank with any of their old water first. Mix up some new water (along with dechlorinator) that's about the same temperature as the old and add it to the tank slowly to lessen and changes in temperature or chemistry. If you fill the tank first, take the time to float their bags and do partial water changes like you should do when you first bring the fish home to let them acclimate to the new water.

Haven't lost any fish doing this method yet!

Answer 3

They should be fine. Just do a couple of things:

1) Keep them in tupperware for the trip. Yes, tupperware. You can secure it so it doesn't spill like their bowl probably would. Use the same water you normally do for their bowl (clean, preferrably). Make sure the tupperware is big enough to allow them to swim around a bit and is deep enough to allow a little extra head room. Poke a couple little holes in the top for air.

2) Keep them out of direct sunlight. Consider throwing a towel over them.

3) Put them somewhere sturdy like in the passenger seat or something. If the container bangs and splashes around a lot it'll really stress out the fish or could even kill them.

Answer 4

one basic thing you have to worry about is them getting stressed over the ride. The best thing to do is to place them in a plastic bag (just like what the pet stores do with their fish), and then, place that bag, with them in it, in a box that is somewhat small, but just able to fit the bag in there. You don't want too much movement, or else you'll stress the fish. You can also add Stress Coat to the water before placing them in the box.

Answer 5

At most fish stores and shipping places such as FedEx or the UPS store, you can get bags that are made for shipping fish long distances. These bags do not allow water to leak in or out, but they do allow air in and out. This is how fish are shipped from suppliers to fish stores all over the world.

Answer 6

if you have a small enough tank that you can take the whole tank, just drain out about 1/3 of the water. Goldfish will come to the top of the water for air, they should be okay.

Answer 7

you know how when you buy the fish they come in the baggies......well you should put them in baggies with water then put the baggies in the tank and fill the tank half way this way if the baggies pop the fish will still be able to live put it on the seat and buckle it in this way the tank willl not topple

and try your hardest to dry carefully this way the tank will not move much

Answer 8

ok u should get a cooler fill it with room temp!!!water about1/3 of the way