View Full Version : Transporting Live Fish
Miersix
08-23-2003, 2:38 AM
Hiya, I am moving from BC to Ontario soon and am looking to take my Pleco and some guppies with me on the 6 hour plane ride. I am wondering what you guys can suggest as far as transporting them goes. I heard something about putting them in a cooler with tank water... not sure what the best thing is really.
Thanks Miersix
yashinfan
08-23-2003, 1:14 PM
You poor thing! Moving from BC to Ontario... WHY??!!
Anyway, maybe you should check with the airline what their policy is with live animals (I'd specify fish, tho) is and if you can bring them with you onto the plane. A six hour plane ride is not going to be good for these fish unless you can somehow make sure that they will receive adequate aeration wherever you put them. It really depends on how big your fish are, but I think the guppies would survive in a small bowl with no aeration for 6 hours, but the pleco would probably not fit into something you could bring onto the plane with you. You might have to sell the pleco or drive back for it one day?
cdawson
08-23-2003, 6:55 PM
Originally posted by Miersix
Hiya, I am moving from BC to Ontario soon
god.... who'd you kill? =)
Miersix
08-24-2003, 2:43 AM
I have a cooler...lunchbox size... I am thinking I can possibly carry that onto the plane and perhaps pop the top so Bob (pleco) can get some air etc... was also thinking of adding an ammonia buffer to the water so it doesnt get all icky... do you think that would work? Bob is my buddy hehe hes the best fish ever, I couldn't bear to leave him behind. And no I didnt kill anyone ... just wanted a change of scenery and Ottawa is definitely different than Port Moody hehe... =)
yashinfan
08-24-2003, 11:01 AM
Are you moving to Ottawa?? The cooler idea could work, it would be better if you could bring an air pump, but how would you plug it in? Hmm.. You could for sure try, but... wouldn't it be worse if he didn't make it rather than selling him and knowing he's alive somewhere else? Wait... I wonder if you could ship the fish to you?! That could work! They have fish selling online, right? Well how do they transport them? You should so do that! Mail your fish to yourself!
Miersix
08-24-2003, 2:21 PM
I'll just mail Bob to you!! hehehehe... I will look into the airplane thingy.. I think they have plugins for lap tops dont they? hmm... both are swell ideas ehehe
latazyo
08-24-2003, 2:24 PM
just bag him up and bring him in with you, when fish get shipped don't they just go in a bag f9illed with water and air...for definitely more than 6 hours, I don't think you need to worry this much
ChilDawg
08-24-2003, 2:26 PM
If you are worried, I would try to get some of those breathable fish transport bags that allow for O2 exchange. Remember also to not feed the fish within 48 hours of the trip...they will be able to complete their digestive process prior to the trip and thus not foul their bags as much.
When I transported my fish, (about 10 good sized fish), I got a 5g bucket from home depot, filled it with my tank water, and aerated it with a battery powered air pump that I use for transporting my live fishing bait. It worked like a charm. I threw some stress coat in the bucket as well. I don't know what the fishing is like in Canada but down in southern US you can easily find one of these pumps at any sporting goods store. The pumps usually run around $10 US. This beats spending $30 for shipping. I took my time with the move, a few hours and the fish didn't seem the bit stressed out- (until I dumped them into their new home). The only thing I really watched was the temp of the water- i didn't want it to change drastically. Using your cooler should help with this. FWIW the pump does make a bit of a vibrating noise so be prepared to muffle it in the close quarters of an airplane.
good luck
-Jamie
ChilDawg
08-24-2003, 4:06 PM
Be thankful that you live in Canada if you manage to run the pump idea while on the airplane...we're still too paranoid in the U.S. to allow someone on the plane with a vibrating cooler...!
ChilDawg
08-24-2003, 4:10 PM
It does sound perfect for a car ride, though...I may try that around ChrisTmas when I move back home!!! Thanks for the idea, Jamie.
clayt101
08-26-2003, 12:06 AM
I've brought fish on a plane with me several times. I have them professionally packaged (thick plastic bags with oxygen) and carry them on with me. Just make sure that it can fit under your seat, so better make the bags kinda small if you are going to bring a lot of fish.
BTW, you will get some strange looks as you go through security:)
Miersix
08-26-2003, 10:27 AM
Sounds good.. thanks for all of the suggestions everyone =)
Iced Galaxy
08-26-2003, 8:08 PM
or u can use one of the battery operated air pump when u r on the plane.....i think u can buy them in Pet's mart.....cuz i seen them in Pet's mart. i was going to buy one cuz of the blackout.....but i didn't......but the the fish are alrite
GoLdFiSh_GrL
08-26-2003, 8:55 PM
that's a gr8 idea! but wut i wud do is that i's take them 2 PetSmart & take them 2 the fish section and ask them if they can put them in those aired thick bags they hav 4 taking yur fish home.
BTW, if they say no cuz yur not technically buying a fish, tell them u'll pay them... just a thought... ;) :D
Miersix
08-30-2003, 4:08 PM
K, airlines have told me I can't take fish onboard... any suggestions? I was trying to find a company that transports fish but so far I can't seem to find any in BC.
yashinfan
08-30-2003, 8:03 PM
The bags from PetSmart aren't breathable, they are only made stronger to avoid leaks (although I have had a leaky PetSmart bag that we only noticed in the car). You can tell this because it says to transport your pets IMMEDIATELY and to not keep them in the bag for longer than an hour and a half because the air supply will run out. You'd have to have them opened to get new air or buy the special bags for a lot more. There's a fancy guppy site that ships fish in these special containers and they all live, maybe you can buy one of these? Too bad you're not driving, it would be so much easier!