Moving Fish from one tank to another

[MarkX]

Hi Everyone


I have a new tank cysling at present and also a smaller tank which has been going for a few years

I am getting shot of the smaller one but obviously need to move the fish from one to the other (when it is ready to be done)

What i have done so far is closely monitor the water in the established tank to ensure everything will be very similar to the new one. I have ensured that the temperature is identical.

When the time comes to move them (and yes I will do this over a period of time) how/what is the best way to get them from one to the other and also the best way for the fish so as not to cause them much stress

Any help would be great

MarkX

 

[ask a stupid question]

Good question, am in the same situation as you, could someone tells us.
cheers

 

[sammydee]

I have two tanks and I can swop fish over from one to the other at any time. They don't seem to stress out of anything... if water quality is similar, which is likely as they are both filled with the same water, it should be OK.

Just be careful if you are running Co2 on one and not the other because that will cause a big pH difference.

 

[SarahBravo]

When I'm transferring fish I half fill a measuring jug with tank water and hang it over the edge of the tank with the jug bit in the tank - this keeps the water in the jug at the same temp as the tank. Then catch the fish! EAsier said than done sometimes! The fish should only be out of the water for a second or so when you net it out the tank and into the jug. Then just move the jug to the other tank, hang in the new tank for 15 minutes so temps match, add new tank water to jug gradually - after 20 mins net fish out of jug and into new tank. Discard water in jug. This way ensures that you keep any transfer of bugs/parasites etc from one tank to the other to an absolute minimum. It also minimises 'out of water' time and stress to the fish. If you 100% know that the water temps and parameters in the tanks are the same, then you can shorten the acclimatisation period. If you have a whole load of fish to move, do it in batches, but don't overcrowd the jug or mix species that might fight or stress each other.

Oh, and obviously it doesn't have to be a measuring jug, just any kind of container with a handle that will let it be hung inside the aquarium!

HTH

Sarah

[EDIT] PS. Keeping the lights off in the new tank whilst you're transferring and for a few hours afterwards will also minimise stress.

 

[aloaring]

You could also take water form the old tank and put it in the new one !
Plus i'd move some gravel form the old one into the new to help all the good bacteria!!
Then move the fish via container or net!!

 

[keane]

Hi,

why "get shot" of the old tank?

Once you have transferred your fish to the bigger tank, why don't you keep the smaller one running and make use of it as a quarantine tank for any new fish you get or as a hospital tank for any fish that may get sick?

doesn't sound very optimisitc I know, but law of averages depicts that at some stage you will probably come across some sort of infection/illness in your tank.

just a thought.

tbr

 

[Fishy411]

i agree with the blad ranger. I moved all my fish to my 55 except my cories and i am making my 10 into a nano tank as soon as i can give someone the cories