Moving, Need Advice on Moving Fish

R

rockbellab

AC Members
Nov 21, 2005
67
0
0
Turtle Lake, ND
I need some advice on how best to move my fish. It is a long move. We are moving from Oklahoma to North Dakota. We will not be able to drive straight through so it will probably be about a 48 hour trip. I've bought very large ice cube coolers and had holes drilled in the top which will give each Oscar quite a bit of room. They will be riding with me in our explorer. I plan to separate my Oscars and put one in each cooler so they don't injure one another. Does anyone know if I should use a tranquilizer and if so where exactly do I find the right kind. My Oscars are about 10" & 11". I know they will be stressed and I want to do whatever is necessary to keep them alive. I know some people are going to advise me on not taking them but that is not going to happen. These fish are my babies and they will be going.
Any helpful advice is appreciated.
Bridget
 
IMO I know what you mean about being attached to your fish, I am also moving in May a 1,200 mile trip also. The cooler sounds good for the oscars being in their own. I would recommend (sp) the day before you put the fish in the cooler is use the water in your tank for the oscars in the cooler. Go purchase the battery operated aerator at any LFS like 5.00 each I believe and aerate the water, just make sure you have enough batteries on hand also. Remember not to feed your fish the day before you leave since they will be in the cooler for two or three days that way you can keep the waste to a minimum in the cooler, if you happen to have waste during the trip use a turkey baster to suck out the waste along the way. In general fish can go without food max 5 days. You would the same with your cory cats as with the oscars. For your bettas see if you can get the smaller divider tanks that you housed them in for like 6.00 dollars for temporarily use. Do the same as the oscars and cory cats but the only different is they do not need the battery operating aerator, saran wrap the little tank with the lid on cut the slits out so air can get in the container because as we know bettas are labrynth fish they need air to breathe like us. Hope this help you
 
Phises,
Thank you so much. You have been extremely helpful. I will pick up all of the stuff I need this weekend. Good luck on your trip. Hopefully we will all arrive safely and settle in quickly.
God Bless, Bridget
 
i would also go talk to your lfs guy. mine praises these 'little blue pellets' he puts them into bags when his sold fish have long travels. apparently acts as a tranquilizer, and makes the trip alot easier on them. he uses them on fishing trips, and does wonders for his minnows!! i wish i had a product name, but i don't. good luck to you, b
 
I know it might be a bit uncomfortable, but keep the heat up in the car if its not warm enough. No A/C! Cover the coolers with blankets and anything else to keep the heat from dissapearing.
 
Also, I would probably buy an extra cooler and put the gravel from your tank in it, cover with some water to keep moist. I'd stick the filter cartridges in there too, so you can help preserve your bacteria and get your tank cycled fast after your move.

I would imagine they'd survive two days without fish though I wouldn't want to wait much longer.
 
You may be able to get a power inverter for you truck this way you can get one pump and split the line among the coolers, it may be cheaper then buying allot of batteries. You could also plug in your heaters if it were nessesary:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom