Transporting big fish

[Paul_MTS]

I'm looking into buying a 6ft tank which comes with fish.

It's 130miles away and has some big plecs in there- i'll post the picture i have in members pics section.

Here's the fish I got him to list for me-
"Fish included are 2 sailfin plecs and an albino plec. 2 kissing gouramis, opaline gouramis, golden gouramis, 3 silver sharks, 2 black red fin sharks, 2 albino red fin sharks, a brown catfish, and a number of others"

Now I'm wondering how I can transport the fish safely, according to multi map it's going to be about a 2hr drive, maybe longer as with all that weight in the back!!

I reakon my LFS will donate me some bags and boxes for the job, but bagging aorund 30 fish is gonna take some time!

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=ST&f=22&t=56082

 

[Silly me]

rather you than me.. we once moved and a 3 hour trip with oscars and tinfoil bards, that included a battery airpump and 10 gallon buckets

 

[Paul_MTS]

Hmm could say that although it's cheap which I'm liking!! The travelling costs will probable be more than the tank once bidding is finished!!.

Did you just stick each put each of the fish in there own bucket?

I have a about 5 gallon tub which quite a few gourami could probable trvale in, but the big plecs are going to be a problem, maybe i could put some water in the tank and leave them in there??

 

[The-Wolf]

Paul, ask your vet about how best to transport large fish. They may suggest some kind of tranquiliser for them, I would also add ammo-lock to the water to keep things nice and healthy.

 

[Paul_MTS]

tranquilliser aye!! Not sure if I'm too keen on that, I would beable to tell how there doing really, atleast where there awake you can see the tell tale signs....when something could be attempted to save them.

Whats ammo-lock? EDIT- oh to remove ammonia

I was thinking of adding stress coat to there water which contains alae vera.

 

[ad_smith]

this is only a theory but if you could suspend the bags on some heavy duty wire then the pendulum motion would stop the water sloshing around and stressing the fish ( i think)

only just thought of this so i don't know if it would work... i need to transport some fish soon, but its only a 15 minute drive.

good luck anyways

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[Paul_MTS]

it would stop the water slooshing a bit but the bags would still swing aorund probable.

I'm going to the lFS at lunch so will find out how he transport his larger fish.

 

[squidlips]

if you are only going 2 hrs just dont feed them for 24 hrs before you handle them.then they shouldnt crap n mess up your water.if you can grab a couple eskies are good . put your fish in large bags with a couple air pumps ant tie the tops around the airline and you shouldnt get any sloping.bad idei leaving any in the tank they will get hammered around and knocked around .or a couple of foam boxes and if your lfs is good they could oxygen and tie em up for you. oh make sure you take two good size nets so you dont have to chase and stress them out.
more than you have to . if you put a couple of sheets of news paper in between 2 bags the fish will be a lot calmer if they cant see out even only the bottom half of the bag is good

 

[Cheese Specialist]

What about those plastic cooler things that people use for beer on picnics? You could put water in there and the temp would stay more regular as well.

 

[squidlips]

esky ........cooler same thing ? we put our tinnies in our eskies and coolers oh ho ho ho

 

[Paul_MTS]

righty just got back from fish shop and he says black bin liners in boxes!!.

Bag the fish in the liner, then put it in a box so it keeps it's shape

He said thre ammo lock stuff is a more slow reacting chemical so wouldn't work on a 2 hour journey.

Also I should be too worried about aerating the bags, seeing as there big fish they can take alot more than we credit them for!

So I'll go about collecting a few boxes which will do the trick!!

 

[SirMinion]

I'm hoping that you do NOT mean cardboard boxes, the LFS means expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) fish boxes.

If you put a large plec in a plastic bag and slosh it around, it will attempt to use it's hard, spiney pectoral fins to steady its self and will puncture the bag. It MUST be in a waterproof fishbox in case this happens.

Trust me, been there, done that.

Fish boxes have the added avantage if being very good insualtion and will keep the temp stable.

Your LSF will sell you a fish box for a couple of quid.

 

[rvm]

Paul, make sure you hire a Merc Sprinter or equivalent. I have a Citroen berlingo and thought I would get my new tank in that until my mate talked me out of it. I'm so glad he did as ther is no way in hell that was going in my berlingo!! I'd have been seriously pissed off at having just driven 130 miles to find I couldn't get it in the van. It will cost you £50 for the day plus a refundable deposit.
Also with regards to transporting the fish, I have a couple of polystyrene boxes that my LFS gave me which is what they get fish transported to them in. If you're going past Bucks on your way to get the tank, you can pick them up if you like!!!

EDIT: Just read SirMinions reply above, and yes, don't just use bin liners. Bad idea!!!!

 

[Paul_MTS]

I was planning on using the plastic storage boxes for bigger fish then i'll get some boxes off my LFS for smaller ones or fish boxes for all if he has big enough ones....think i'll need a few more than one aswell

Other than bin liners what else is that big that i can use, I'm not even sure if my LFS has bags that big!!

Not sure what a berlingo looks like, But my brother has a Daiatsu Mini Jet van (like bedford rascal) which as long is 6ft long will fit everything in. I can put stuff inside the tank when dry and I can tie the stand to the roof rack to safe space inside. Also hiring isn't a option probable as my brothers only 19 and my dad won't do the drive

Cheers for the offer, not sure if bucks is on the way or not, I'm in essex and going down to surrey.

 

[rvm]

Nope, not on the way then, and you probably won't be able to hire either. I had trouble and I'm 28!!!!! Thrifty said I had to be over 30!!!
You may struggle with a bedford Rascal, they're pretty narrow, and I dunno if it'll be 6ft long, but more than that is the sheer awkwardness of carrying the damn thing!!! Make sure you've got a couple of strong mates to help you. My arms still ache from carrying mine on Saturday!!!