Shipping with heatpacks
- Thread starter oO.Crim.Oo
- Start date
Generally, you don't want temps below 50 for tropical fish or inverts. However, the real issue is freezing temps. Stress is one thing, but freezing will kill regardless of the preferred temp range of the critters.
I think it depends on what you're shipping. Plants are going to tolerate an unheated 50F box a whole lot better than fish are. And a 50F day time temp can still swing down below freezing at night. So you've got to take nighttime temperatures into consideration too. Those packages go in cargo areas of planes, unheated processing facilities and unheated trucks at the wee hours of the morning when temps are still chilly. Also, try to find out what route the shipping plane takes. For instance, leaving sunny california headed to seasonal new jersey might find that the plane goes via chicago where temps are not so safe yet.
Ok thanks for the input! Shipping is so darn stressful! I'm mostly concerned about shipping shrimp. Our temperatures are in the mid to upper 60's during the day and 40's at night. I'm afraid of them getting TOO warm!
Keep the heat pack well-separated from the bag. If using a small Priority Mail box, I cut styrofoam to fit the inside for insulation then use newspaper (loosely wrapped) for padding the breather bag. Either place the heat pack on top of the styro "lid" or off to one side, just not inside the insulation w/the bag. Wrapping the heat pack in newspaper will slow down the oxidation and decrease the temp a bit. A 60 hout heat pack wrapped like that will easily last 72 hours w/out overheating the package.
If using a larger box, I tape the wrapped heat pack to the inside of the lid.
If using a larger box, I tape the wrapped heat pack to the inside of the lid.
I have 40 hour heat packs and the small priority mail boxes. I do line the box with styrofoam and have been taping the heat pack to the inside of the styrofoam lid and then putting a layer of newspaper or cardboard between the heat pack and the contents.
Am I understanding you correctly that it should be on the outside of the styrofoam?
Am I understanding you correctly that it should be on the outside of the styrofoam?
It depends on the size of the box and the lowest temp likely to be an issue. If it's a small box, tightly lined w/styro, a heat pack on the outside of the styro will work fine in warmer temps. Some of the heat will still penetrate, but not enough to stress the shrimp from overheating. If the temp will be below freezing (box sitting around after delivery...) then you want the heat pack inside the styro to keep the water temp reasonable.
ok i had one package i shipped before i got heat packs. the package showed up the water was icey and the shrimp was swimming around happy as could be. though i wouldnt risk it. i would wait for the mid 50's at night. the warmer the better.