Advice

[mwnumber1fan]

Hello,
I posted before about my mollie being pregnant. I bought a breeder tank but the guy at the pet store suggested a tank divder. They were sold out, but said I could come back withing the week to get one. Which do you think is better.

I also am traveling about 5 hours (Or more) in about a week. I need to bring the fish home because i will be away for about a month. What is the best way to transport my four fish (and baby's)?

Thank you

[Swimfins]

Hmm, I know someone who once sent fish UPS to where he was going, fish arrived overnight, with media from his tank, just popped by the friend receiving into a holding tank till he got there.

It is a good question.

[TKOS]

5 hours isn't too hard. Place the fish in sealed tuperware containers, ideally with plants so they will feel more secure. Every so often crack the tuperware lid to let fresh air in.

Your main problem is the pregnant molly. Often pregnant livebearers that become over stressed will hold their babies in and cause their own death.

It would be best if you could find a person to take care of your fish if at all possible, or at least do something with the pregnant molly.

[Blinky]

I agree, the best thing to do (easiest on your stress level too) is find someone to care for the fish. Here in Toronto we have pet sitting agencies that will care for all sorts of pets for reasonable prices (for example it's $7 CDN for them to come in and feed a cat, play with it for 30 minutes and clean the litterbox). If that's not a possiblity, do you have any friends who could look after the tank?
If you have to transport them, a bucket/container with a lid is best as TKOS suggests. Make sure the tank doesn't have any water in it when you move it, or it could break.

[Kabong]

Try to use a soild containor for transport. Fish like most animals are less stressed when they cant see.

[mwnumber1fan]

Well, im in a dorm and they are locked over break, so no one can come in, and everyone i know is going just about as far so no one can watch them. A friend suggested lowering the water level in the tank, and putting in on the floor (if it fits, and lowering the level so it didnt spill) and keeping the car generally warm. I can even wrap it sothe fish cant see. What are your opinions on this? That way the envioronment for hte pregnant fish wont change too much. ANd as soo as i get home ill have the tank up and running.

[Blinky]

I did already comment on this but I think it's worth saying again - leaving any water in the tank could cause the tank to break. It's a bad idea to move a tank with water in it - I don't even recommend moving a tank with gravel in it, but I know with smaller tanks people often get away with it.
Never forget that while it seems very solid, a tank is made of glass and needs to be treated with a lot of respect - take it from someone who has cracked a tank before, it's not a fun experience.
Buckets with lids aren't very expensive - one for your gravel and decorations and one for your fish are all you need.

[TKOS]

I would really try to get some tuperware or something similar (margarine containers taht are well cleaned will also work). A glass tank being transported with water is begging for disastor.

And make sure to keep the filter media wet as well.

[MikefromNH]

I did already comment on this but I think it's worth saying again - leaving any water in the tank could cause the tank to break. It's a bad idea to move a tank with water in it - I don't even recommend moving a tank with gravel in it, but I know with smaller tanks people often get away with it.
Never forget that while it seems very solid, a tank is made of glass and needs to be treated with a lot of respect - take it from someone who has cracked a tank before, it's not a fun experience.
Buckets with lids aren't very expensive - one for your gravel and decorations and one for your fish are all you need.

I totally agree. It aint worth the risk. Try Home Depot, they have 5 gal plastic buckets with lids---problem solved. With the bucket 4/5 filled, not only will there be enough air dissolved in the water but the water wont slosh around as bad as if there was 1 gal of water in a smaller container. Also, the temp wont drop as much. Plus, the bucket is relatively opaque (HD orange) so it'll be nice and dark in there. As a bonus the buckets have carry handles.

I guarantee you'll use the bucket in the future for a bunch of different uses so for $5 how can you go wrong.

As for the pregnant mollie, I'm not sure what to tell you but I be willing to bet she'd be just fine...........unless you live in MA and you have to drive over the nice smooth roads there, cough cough ;)

[mwnumber1fan]

HAHA, i do have to drive through MA. Only for about a half hour though.

So my plan is, I will buy a bucket at home depot, and put the fish in there, and depending on whether or not the mollie has the babies i will just keep it (or the babies) in the breeders trap. When I get home, im going to put them in my sisters fish tank. It has no fish in their currently, and has been kept running and stable for about a month. So if i take a lot of the water that the fish are currently in, and put that in the tank and introduce the fish slowing into her tank. This should be fine? Then do the same when i come home in a month.

Also thank you ALL SO MUCH for your help. I was really worrying about this but i feel a lot better now.

[MikefromNH]

HAHA, i do have to drive through MA. Only for about a half hour though.

:D ROTFLMAO!!!!!! ;)


Aside from the driving in MA, your plan sounds good to me. Good luck and have a safe trip!

[mwnumber1fan]

Thank you everone :)

[TKOS]

Make sure to take your filter media as well. Since your sister's tank has no fish in it there won't be any good bacteria. Also by the time you returned to your dorm all the good bacteria in your tank will be gone as well.