Moving Fish-

[rarefish]

I am moving about an hour away from where I currently am at the moment. Even though I won't have as much room for more tanks, my fish will recieve better care there(more resources fish-wise where I'm moving). I have the following fish:

2 large golden severums
1 medium golden severum
1 small pleco
1 small/medium pleco
2 small/medium pink kissing gouramis
2 bettas
around 20 guppies
3 mollies
4 platies
1 adult mosquito fish
around 20 mosquito fish fry
9 cory cats
1 snail

My main concern is moving the larger fish. I was thinking maybe a styrofoam cooler for each(???). The livebearers, snail, bettas, and cory cats I'm thinking of moving in individual bags. But I'm not sure about the plecos. They could easily poke holes in bags, just as well as the severums. And the kissing fish... I might put them both in one cooler. Has anyone else moved a lot of fish at once? My main concern is for their comfort and health. I have a 40 gallon tank currently at the other house, and am about to move a few of my 10-gallon tanks over there to cycle them. After they are cycled, the fish will be moved, along with a 29-gallon tank and a 20 gallon tank. One of my biggest concerns is that where I am currently we have city water, and where we're moving we have well-water. My bettas at the new house seem fine with it, but almost all of my fish where I am now were raised in city water and in the same tanks that they are now. Does anyone have experience moving from city water to well water? How did it go? Also, where can I get supplies for moving fish online? Thanks ahead!

rarefish

 

[madmom]

Dont feed the fish 1-2 days before the move. This cuts down on waste material. Coolers are okay. Maybe put a little Stress Coat (?) in with them.
You can put the bags of smaller fish laying down in a cooler. I don't think you will have any problems with the larger fish in coolers. Check your well water you may have to adjust it. pH may differ amongst other things. Check for metals or minerals some wells have high iron or sulpher content. I don't know quite how to answer about wells although I have one I got lucky with my water. My neighbor uses bottled water.

 

[rarefish]

I would use bottled water, but it would take more than 150 gallons of it to fill my tanks, lol ! I'll add some Stress Coat and AmQuel+. I'll definitely test the water. I'll fast all of them except for my fry 24 hours before the move. Thanks!

rarefish

 

[madmom]

Good luck with your move.

 

[Tolak]

For moving fish that short of a distance, use coolers, plain cheap styrofoam works great.. Bagging plecs, especially larger ones, is a bad idea, they have nasty spines. I've gotten stuck by 3" bristlenose, they are little foolers. Nets & plecs don't work well at all, they get tangled. Try a large glass jar with some zuccini in it. When they are munching away, take them out, jar & all. You could probably keep the plecs, corys, & livebearers in one cooler, sevs & gourami's in another, and bag the betta & fry for a third.

It sounds like you have some time where you have access to both water supplies. If you are going from the new place to the old place, bring some well water back to do a partial change, reverse it for the new place. It shouldn't be long before all the tanks are 1/2 well, 1/2 city water.

http/www.jehmco.com/PRODUCTS_/products_.html is a good supplier, I've used them plenty.

I've moved thousands of fish, from small angels & platys to a 15" plec. I keep spare styros in the attic, they may as well help insulate the house when not in use.

 

[rarefish]

Thanks Tolak ! I'll get a few gallons of well-water and bring it back with me. I won't be able to change the tanks to 50%city/50%well water as I have 50 gallons going right now in my tanks! I don't think I could fit that much water in the car, lol! Has anyone used http/www.angelsplus.com/ to purchase fish or supplies before? I'm interested in a few of their products. Thanks!

rarefish