First Time Shipping a Fish!

[Buphy]

So yesterday I shipped my first fish to another member here, jeaninel While successful, it was not without its bumps. It was requested I detail my experience for other peoples learning so here goes!

Started with getting everything, including the heat packs!

Next I made the water for transport. After mixed opinions I did 1/2 "fresh" water and 1/2 tank water. First I filled a 5 gallon bucket with tap water, prime, and a few drops of methylene blue. Then poured 1/2 of it out and filled the other 1/2 with tank water (which I had done a larger water change on the day before).

After filling the bag with about 40% water, I set in the tank to get the temps the same.

While waiting on that I continued to prepare the box for shipping. Making sure the heat packs were heating up and filling the box with newspaper.

Finally it was time to get her in the bag!

Based on duanes suggestion I duct taped the bag before double bagging it.

Finally I taped it up and and took it to the post office! Reference, it came out to 11 lb.

Now at this point I'm out of pictures but hopefully Jeaninel will be able to fill some in. This is where we ran into problems. The package was delivered on time (literally got there in 24 hours give or take 30 min) but it was damaged. Whether that was the handlers' fault or mine is still to be determined... Although the bags appeared undamaged, they leaked. Strange because I feel like I tied up the bag very well with rubber bands. Something else that went "wrong" was there was only one heat pack found in the box (other may have fallen out due to the damaged package), and it was cold to the touch. Question with this is if the water stopped the heating reaction, because I made sure they were heating up before boxing them up. The Paratilopia Bleekeri appeared in rough shape upon arrival but has since recovered and appears to be doing well, so I'm told.

Lessons learned:
-Seal bags really well!
-Fish are very hardy when healthy!

 

[tomojsg]

next time sytrofoam all sides including bottom and top (lid).
also make it so the bag cant move inside the box. i see some
space (box is a bit too big). you could also use more new paper
to stuff the box which will help retain the heat better along with
the styrofoams. i like to triple bag when shipping larger fish or
cichlids in general. everything else seems ok you'll get better at
it as you ship more if you plan to in the future.

 

[jeaninel]

Was my first experience receiving shipped fish. I was so excited when I heard the knock on the door but my heart just sank when the delivery guy told me the box had been damaged in transit. They had wrapped it in a big plastic bag and one end of the box was soaked and had a big hole in it. I just knew the fish had to be dead.

 

[Wailua Boy]

If your package was damaged and resulted in death you could file a claim, depending on carrier

 

[Wailua Boy]

Even Priority includes $50 coverage without any additional fees

 

[jeaninel]

When I opened the box it was wet inside and looks like most of the newspaper had fallen out the hole but the bag was still in tact. I opened the bad and saw no movement. Crap....She's dead. Then I saw a little twitch. She's alive!

 

[Wailua Boy]

Glad she is a survivor

 

[jeaninel]

Glad she is a survivor

I immediately put her in my hospital tank. She sank to the bottom laying on her side but I could see she was breathing. I turned the tank light off and left her alone. An hour and a half later she's up and swimming around.

 

[Wailua Boy]

I think she looks to be in good health at this point

 

[Buphy]

next time sytrofoam all sides including bottom and top (lid).
also make it so the bag cant move inside the box. i see some
space (box is a bit too big). you could also use more new paper
to stuff the box which will help retain the heat better along with
the styrofoams. i like to triple bag when shipping larger fish or
cichlids in general. everything else seems ok you'll get better at
it as you ship more if you plan to in the future.

Thanks for the advice. There was styrofoam on the top and bottom, but the box was an odd shape. Next time I'll be doing a box that is better suited to a single bag.