Looking for help shipping fish

vwill279

vwill279

AC Members
Oct 7, 2011
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Real Name
Vanessa
I just found out I am moving and I want to sell some of my stock before then so I have less livestock to move. However, after reading the sticky in the marketplace section of the forum, I am still confused on how to go about it. I have never shipped ANYTHING and do not want to risk my fish ( I love them!). If someone would be willing to walk me through the entire process step by step with lots of detail, I would really appreciate it. I am most confused about box sizes and how to go about getting the right box and printing a label and getting delivery confirmation, etc. Please post it here so that others with the same confusion can read it!

As an added incentive, the first person to explain it thoroughly enough that I feel completely comfortable shipping my fish will get their choice of a free gift as the first thing I ship (I will pay shipping as well)!

Choice of:
Live plant (pearlweed, java moss, guppy grass, or small amazon sword)
Pair of fire red flame tail endlers (Guy I got them from said they were from Adrian HD. I do not know what class they are, but they are beautiful!)
Flame tail endler male.jpg
Pair of japan blue guppies (no pictures, they're TOO fast for me)
10 blue and/or pink ramshorn snails
Blue Ramshorn Snails.jpg
25 Malaysian trumpet snails

(I have all this and a lot more for sale so whoever wins, if you want something else packed in with your gift, let me know and we can work out prices)

Flame tail endler male.jpg blue pearl.jpg Blue Ramshorn Snails.jpg
 
the way i ship fish is by getting a medium flat rate box from the post office. tape up the bottom with masking tape. getting some strofoam sheets from lowes or home depot. then you measure and mark the styrofoam to fit inside. use a hot knife to cut the styro the cleanest way. if you dont care about making a mess just use a box cutter. youl need a bottom, all 4 sides and a top. get the bags of your choice (either breathers of 3mil polly bags) and then what i do is fill them up the day before shipping with clean water and add some prime then float the bag in the tank water. the the next day i net the fish into the bags(make sure not to float the breather bag with the fish in it). then you get some newspaper and rap up the bags. place the bags into the box and then put newspaper into all of the gaps between the bags and sides. then you can add a cold pack if you want. the fish would probably be ok without one as long as temps dont go above 90. then place on the strofoam top and close the top and tape it up. finally either write the shipping address and return address on the box or print a shipping label of paypal.
 
In your particular situation, given no experience and the particular fish you mention shipping would be greatly simplified with breather bags. No need for pure oxygen, and far superior to standard bags as long as you're not shipping Cichlids, Catfish or other spiny fish. Most important step in any shipping situation is to stop feeding the fish 2 or 3 days before you ship them. A poop in the bag = death. With breathers you just fill the bag completely with water and the fish, and then squeeze out as much water as necessary to tie the bag or wrap it with a rubber band. Pack as normal. I usually put a 1" square of PolyPad or some other ammonia absorbing filter media in the bag as extra insurance, but not necessary for a normal shipping delay.
 
Can you tell me how to get tracking confirmation? I know that when I order fish I always like to have a way to follow them. I went on USPS website, but couldnt find out how to do it. Do you just add that when you drop the package off for shipping?
 
if you write the address on the package i believe they give you a piece of paper with it on there. if they dont just ask for the number. if you print one off pypal it will come up beside the payment in your history.
 
Awesome thanks! I think you win, so PM me and let me know which choice of gift you would like!

Thanks also SubRosa for the breather bag idea. I think that I will order some of those bags today!
 
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