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How To Ship Fish/ Big or Small
Let’s do this step by step, I think it’ll be the easiest.
1.) Get on the horn or stop by your local fish store (lfs) to see if you can
have one of their shipping boxes. Most chain stores, Pet Supplies Plus, Pet
Smart, Pet Co, and any other big box store, get their fish shipped to them every week
or every other week. Those stores just throw those boxes away and they’d
be glad to give them all to you! Explain to them you plan to ship fish soon and
ask if they can provide you with bags and a handful of rubber bands. Usually
they will. Depending on the size fish you’re shipping will depend on what size
bags to get.
2.) Once you have your supplies all together you need to prep the fish for
safe transport. Do not feed the fish for five days before shipping. This will ensure
good water quality during transport. Who wants to swim in their own poo poo?
3.) Another thing you can do is unplug the heater for those five days. This
will slow the fishes metabolism which will make for a more comfortable ride.
4.) Also during those five days call or stop in your local post office to chat
with them about what you plan to do. Find out if they have a flight going to the
fishes destination on the day you plan to ship. You can also find out when their
truck comes to take packages to the airport. Most employees will have this
information for you and gladly share it.
5.) On the day you ship your fish, which should be a Monday or a Tuesday,
try and get to the post office an hour before their truck arrives to take them to the
airport. This ensures the least amount of time in the bag The reason you ship
early in the week is in case there’s a mix up at the post office. There are many
variables as to why the fish take too long to arrive. So you might as well be
prepared so the fish don’t sit in a box over the weekend.
6.) The morning of shipping day is when you’ll want to pack your fish. Fill the
bag so there’s half water and half air. You might want to practice catching air in a
half filled bag before catching the fish. Remember, the idea is to put as little
amount of stress on the fish as possible. Practice makes perfect. After you’ve
trapped the air in the bag and the fish is in there. Twist the top and fold it over
like you’re making a bow in your shoe string. Whilst holding the bag take your
other hand and get the rubber band on the bow. I use two rubber bands,
sometimes three… Next (this is optional) wrap the bag in news paper then slip
another bag over it. Make the same little bow in this bag and rubber band it shut.
ALWAYS DOUBLE BAG! The news paper is option but does help add insulation
and is a fin bursting preventative.
7.) Tape the box up, be sure to put a return address on it in case something
happens and ship it off. That’s it. It sounds more complicated than it really is.
Good luck and happy shipping!
How To Ship Fish/ Big or Small
Let’s do this step by step, I think it’ll be the easiest.
1.) Get on the horn or stop by your local fish store (lfs) to see if you can
have one of their shipping boxes. Most chain stores, Pet Supplies Plus, Pet
Smart, Pet Co, and any other big box store, get their fish shipped to them every week
or every other week. Those stores just throw those boxes away and they’d
be glad to give them all to you! Explain to them you plan to ship fish soon and
ask if they can provide you with bags and a handful of rubber bands. Usually
they will. Depending on the size fish you’re shipping will depend on what size
bags to get.
2.) Once you have your supplies all together you need to prep the fish for
safe transport. Do not feed the fish for five days before shipping. This will ensure
good water quality during transport. Who wants to swim in their own poo poo?
3.) Another thing you can do is unplug the heater for those five days. This
will slow the fishes metabolism which will make for a more comfortable ride.
4.) Also during those five days call or stop in your local post office to chat
with them about what you plan to do. Find out if they have a flight going to the
fishes destination on the day you plan to ship. You can also find out when their
truck comes to take packages to the airport. Most employees will have this
information for you and gladly share it.
5.) On the day you ship your fish, which should be a Monday or a Tuesday,
try and get to the post office an hour before their truck arrives to take them to the
airport. This ensures the least amount of time in the bag The reason you ship
early in the week is in case there’s a mix up at the post office. There are many
variables as to why the fish take too long to arrive. So you might as well be
prepared so the fish don’t sit in a box over the weekend.
6.) The morning of shipping day is when you’ll want to pack your fish. Fill the
bag so there’s half water and half air. You might want to practice catching air in a
half filled bag before catching the fish. Remember, the idea is to put as little
amount of stress on the fish as possible. Practice makes perfect. After you’ve
trapped the air in the bag and the fish is in there. Twist the top and fold it over
like you’re making a bow in your shoe string. Whilst holding the bag take your
other hand and get the rubber band on the bow. I use two rubber bands,
sometimes three… Next (this is optional) wrap the bag in news paper then slip
another bag over it. Make the same little bow in this bag and rubber band it shut.
ALWAYS DOUBLE BAG! The news paper is option but does help add insulation
and is a fin bursting preventative.
7.) Tape the box up, be sure to put a return address on it in case something
happens and ship it off. That’s it. It sounds more complicated than it really is.
Good luck and happy shipping!
