Moving 800 miles with fish. Need advice.

[spitz006]

I'm moving to from Fayetteville, Arkansas to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 8 weeks. I'm trying to decide if I should attempt to bring my fish or if I should just stop by the local fish auction this Saturday and make some cash.

Has anyone ever tried this before? I'm sure the process can't be too difficult, fish are shipped around the world every day. I just worry that I won't have the energy to bag them all up, disassemble my tanks, drive 13 hours, and set them up again.

Any tips? Should I use bag-buddies? battery operated air-pumps? heat packs?

 

[jakeca77]

Could you put them in rubbermaid bins or garbage cans? That's how I always thought I would move my whole setup if I had to go far. I don't think bagging them all up is necessary. I have transported fish for 8 hrs in a bucket with a bubbler and they were perfectly fine. Probably didn't need the bubbler. Water holds temp pretty well so it's really up to you on how much energy you have to do this.

 

[Owain4]

i kept 4 fish in a 5gallon bucket, it was really overstocked. i kept a bubbler going to whole time to keep oxygen in the water. while i was travelling i would add water and remove some like water changes by pouring clean bottled water into the bucket.

 

[joe jaskot]

Do yourself and the fish a favor. Sell the fish. Get new stock after you set the tank(s) up in the new place. Water in Michigan may be completely different from the water in Arkansas. Unless you are superman, you won't be able to bag fish, break down tanks, move tanks, drive 13 hours, unload tanks and fish, set up tanks, acclimate fish, all in one day. Just my two cents.

 

[Mount_Prion]

Joe raises a good point. I recently gave my friend the contents of a 30g planted and sort of re-set it up at his house in a 20, and that took a solid evening of two people's effort. I'd already had it broken down and living all in a little 4g bucket with temporary gravel, a heater, and two filters for a week, haha. So all we had to do was pick up the bucket and tank/supplies and go. And we only drove like 45 minutes away.

You might want to compromise and bring one or two of your favorite fish that you feel are most unique with you. If you can afford it, I'd probably try to sell your tanks locally and get new (or new to you but used) ones in the new location.

 

[Runitis]

Do yourself and the fish a favor. Sell the fish. Get new stock after you set the tank(s) up in the new place. Water in Michigan may be completely different from the water in Arkansas. Unless you are superman, you won't be able to bag fish, break down tanks, move tanks, drive 13 hours, unload tanks and fish, set up tanks, acclimate fish, all in one day. Just my two cents.

I agree with him. Unless you have already a cycled tank awaiting your arrival (could be possible) I'd say get a new stock.
Sent from my cave