I called the place I bought my fish and they said they would be fine in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid as long as they didn't get hot.... Hoping he was right. All of my fish are pretty small (2 gouramis, 2 tetras, 2 plecos, a danio, and an odessa barb), and they are in a 38 gallon tank. How the heck am I supposed to move the tank and fish then set it up again? There won't be time to set up a 2ndary tank as we can't get into our new place until the day we move.
I Am Moving 4 Hours Away, How Can I Keep My Fish Alive?
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bluesword23516
Fish Addict
I agree, make sure they stay cool. Also keep your filter linings in a bucket of the tank water to keep the bacteria alive. I believe fish produce ammonia when they are stressed, so you may have to take a stop about halfway and add some new clean and treated water to their bucket. Just make sure the bucket is really secure too, you wouldn't want it to tip over and spill. 
OMG I didn't even think about the filter, thank you! Any idea on setting up the tank when we get to where we're going? I will put the water they are in in the tank. I was thinking of filling another 5 gallon with their current tank water.... But that's 10 gal of a 38 gal, is that too much of a water change to fill the rest with new water?
I am terrified of the bucket spilling! I haven't quite figured out where I'm going to put it yet, but I am going to use a ton of tape to seal it! Hopefully they will fit in cab of moving truck.
I am terrified of the bucket spilling! I haven't quite figured out where I'm going to put it yet, but I am going to use a ton of tape to seal it! Hopefully they will fit in cab of moving truck.
bluesword23516
Fish Addict
I think it should be alright with the tap and in the cab area. I have done a big water change before and my fish were fine. Make sure you still acclimate your fish to their new tank water when you have it all set up again.
Maybe when you get there if you have an air stone put that in with the fish and also do another small little water change like the halfway stop.
Maybe when you get there if you have an air stone put that in with the fish and also do another small little water change like the halfway stop.
Yes i agree goto Home Depot or lowes and get as many 5 gallon buckets as you need with lids, make sure you put your filter media in tank water, you don't need the filter part I'm water. Also try and put the substrate in water as well a good amount of bacteria lives in it.
I don't believe there is a need to change the water if you spread the fish apart there's no need fish get shipped around the world for hours in bags and do fine, so just make sure they don't get to hot, and have mostly air in the buckets when you close them, water is less important because they get their oxygen from it entering through the atmosphere.
There's no need to take tank water with you, you just have to re-acclimate the fish to their new tank set ups.
When you set up everything just do it as it was before and you'll be fine, hope I helped!!!
I don't believe there is a need to change the water if you spread the fish apart there's no need fish get shipped around the world for hours in bags and do fine, so just make sure they don't get to hot, and have mostly air in the buckets when you close them, water is less important because they get their oxygen from it entering through the atmosphere.
There's no need to take tank water with you, you just have to re-acclimate the fish to their new tank set ups.
When you set up everything just do it as it was before and you'll be fine, hope I helped!!!
The best way to trasport fish it to get a plastic picnic box/cool box they are designed to keep things at the temperature you put them in it at. I always transport fish on longer journeys in a cool box as it keeps the temperature much better than a bucket.
Once you get the other end set up the tank as normal with dechlorinated water and any tank water you have brought with you, keep the filter wet also then drip aclamate your fish from the tank to the cool box.
Once you get the other end set up the tank as normal with dechlorinated water and any tank water you have brought with you, keep the filter wet also then drip aclamate your fish from the tank to the cool box.
All of these are great ideas! I would also advise not feeding the fish for at lease a day before the move. Less intake=less output=less ammonia.
I would also have to disagree with sawickib. While the fish would likely be fine without much of their own current tank water, it would put less stress on them if more of their water stayed with them.
Over all the whole experience is going to be stressful for them, so make it as low-stress as possible!
I would also have to disagree with sawickib. While the fish would likely be fine without much of their own current tank water, it would put less stress on them if more of their water stayed with them.
Over all the whole experience is going to be stressful for them, so make it as low-stress as possible!
TwoTankAmin
Fish Connoisseur
Hang on there. Thinks about something for a minute. Where do you think most of the fish in our tanks originate? The come from the wild, they come from fish farms in warm climes and from breeders. Unless any of these is a short distance from where ever you buy your fish, they have likely been shipped multiple times. And they were in transit for way more than 4 or 5 hours each time.
Forget buckets or coolers etc. for moving the fish. There is no need and they are actually a greater danger imo. I would suggest a couple of 5 gal. buckets with lids to move over some of the tank water. This can be mixed with your new tap water so its not to much of a change. Then:
1. Get a hold a a number of the shipping bags just like your store uses- they may give or sell you some. Get a styrofoam box- the kind you cool beverages in with ice for the beach or poolside is fine.
2. Remove the filters and other hardware from the tank. Put the filter media into a bag with tank water.
3. Remove water from the tank to buckets for transport and the most of the rest you can throw out. Lowering the water makes catching the fish easier.
4. Catch the fish (having not fed them for at least one full day before the move)and bag them in tank water and some amount of dechlored tap (2-1 mix). Double bag by inserting the 1st bag knotted end down. Make sure the bag is 50/50 water and air. Individually bag them if possible, but esp. the two plecos.
5. Leaving substrate plants and about an inch of water, carefully put the tank into the car/truck and make sure it is secure. Add a bit of water if needed to cover any plants or you can put a thin damp cloth over them. The leass water on the tank the less likely it will be to create the kind of stresses than can crack it. Always carry the tank with hands under the bottom edges.
6. Happy motoring
7. If you had to add a bit of water to the tank to cover any plants, remove it before trying to carry the tank from the car to its new home.8. Set up the tank and put the brought water in and then add dechlored tap.
9. Get the tank up to temp and pour the fish out of the bags into the tank- do not worry about the bag water as it should be safe to add.
Inside bags in a stryro with some packing peanuts or crumpled newspaper as padding, the fish will never get slammed against a hard surface if you have to stop short or take a corner a bit too fast. As long as the temp inside the car is not too cold or too war, everything will be fine.
I have shipped fish that were lost in transit and took 4 or 5 days to arrive. And when they did they were all alive. Overnight shipping is a snap and your fish could almost walk a 4 hour drive away.
Forget buckets or coolers etc. for moving the fish. There is no need and they are actually a greater danger imo. I would suggest a couple of 5 gal. buckets with lids to move over some of the tank water. This can be mixed with your new tap water so its not to much of a change. Then:
1. Get a hold a a number of the shipping bags just like your store uses- they may give or sell you some. Get a styrofoam box- the kind you cool beverages in with ice for the beach or poolside is fine.
2. Remove the filters and other hardware from the tank. Put the filter media into a bag with tank water.
3. Remove water from the tank to buckets for transport and the most of the rest you can throw out. Lowering the water makes catching the fish easier.
4. Catch the fish (having not fed them for at least one full day before the move)and bag them in tank water and some amount of dechlored tap (2-1 mix). Double bag by inserting the 1st bag knotted end down. Make sure the bag is 50/50 water and air. Individually bag them if possible, but esp. the two plecos.
5. Leaving substrate plants and about an inch of water, carefully put the tank into the car/truck and make sure it is secure. Add a bit of water if needed to cover any plants or you can put a thin damp cloth over them. The leass water on the tank the less likely it will be to create the kind of stresses than can crack it. Always carry the tank with hands under the bottom edges.
6. Happy motoring
7. If you had to add a bit of water to the tank to cover any plants, remove it before trying to carry the tank from the car to its new home.8. Set up the tank and put the brought water in and then add dechlored tap.
9. Get the tank up to temp and pour the fish out of the bags into the tank- do not worry about the bag water as it should be safe to add.
Inside bags in a stryro with some packing peanuts or crumpled newspaper as padding, the fish will never get slammed against a hard surface if you have to stop short or take a corner a bit too fast. As long as the temp inside the car is not too cold or too war, everything will be fine.
I have shipped fish that were lost in transit and took 4 or 5 days to arrive. And when they did they were all alive. Overnight shipping is a snap and your fish could almost walk a 4 hour drive away.
These are all very helpful, thank you! So... I got 3 5 gallon buckets with lids. I can put the gravel and plants/decor in one with some tank water, the filter media in another with tank water.... I can fill the 3rd with tank water or put the fish in it. What is the SAFEST way for the fish? I was under the impression it would be better in the bucket as there would be more water/air ratio but temp would be more of a problem. In bags in a cooler the temp would be less of an issue but the water/air ratio would be less. I plan to move the tank mostly or completely empty as I don't want water splashing anywhere or breaking the tank from stress. I won't be in the moving truck and I don't know if hubby would be up for stopping to add water or let more air in bags.
Safest way for the fish, would be to use LARGE (the biggest you can find) fish bags and put 1 fish in each bag with LOTS of water (small amounts of water will lead to ammonia faster because of no filtration)
Then pack these bags into a newspaper filled foam box as insulation, stick some heat packs to the lid of the box and secure it in place in your car.
The filter media will be fine in the bucket with water and the decor in the other 2.
When you get to where your going, set the tank up as fast as you can! get the water temperature right, then acclimate the fish for longer than you normally would to be sure they get used to the new water levels. (i usually do it in 60-90minutes)
Least thats how id do it
Then pack these bags into a newspaper filled foam box as insulation, stick some heat packs to the lid of the box and secure it in place in your car.
The filter media will be fine in the bucket with water and the decor in the other 2.
When you get to where your going, set the tank up as fast as you can! get the water temperature right, then acclimate the fish for longer than you normally would to be sure they get used to the new water levels. (i usually do it in 60-90minutes)
Least thats how id do it
OK, bought 8 bags. Hubby is supposed to pick up a cooler. I am going to skip the heat packs because it's supposed to be 100 degrees here. I will attempt to use the bubbler hose to add more air into the bags. Moving on Thurs. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the suggestions!
Thank you all for the help. I bagged them all and filled the bags with air from the pump, put them in a cooler and supplies in buckets with some tank water and off we went. Very happy to report that they all made it and are doing great! I really appreciate all of your help, and so do my fishies!
bluesword23516
Fish Addict
Great! Glad they are doing well!
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