Fish Shipping Question

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joe00

Ghost Shrimp
MFK Member
Sep 19, 2005
111
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Rockford, IL
I just received a really big Polypterus today in a 17" x 17" x 9.5" standard fish styro shipping box that was DOA from another member here shipped USPS Express.

The water was foul, discolored, and had high ammonia. After talking with the shipper I found out that he had shipped the fish in fresh tap water with water conditioner instead of water from the established tank. I've never heard of anyone ever doing this before. The other fish he shipped to someone else for delivery today were also DOA.

Thoughts?
 
Why wouldnt he use established tank water? How long did the shipping take, and did he have any shipping aids in the box?
 
I ALWAYS ship with fresh, de-chlorinated water (and not tank water).

What benefit would shipping a fish in tank water provide?

Matt


joe00 said:
I just received a really big Polypterus today in a 17" x 17" x 9.5" standard fish styro shipping box that was DOA from another member here shipped USPS Express.

The water was foul, discolored, and had high ammonia. After talking with the shipper I found out that he had shipped the fish in fresh tap water with water conditioner instead of water from the established tank. I've never heard of anyone ever doing this before. The other fish he shipped to someone else for delivery today were also DOA.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
 
If the tapwater was treated, it shouldn't have been an issue. I've seen fish rebagged with treated tapwater multiple times.

Sounds like it was just a case of bad luck.
 
Shipping big fish is always a gamble. A bigger gamble for really big ones.

A couple most likely causes:

1) The fish wasn't properly cleaned out (i.e. hadn't been fasted for 3-4 days) prior to shipping and polluted the bag
2) The heat pack didn't last long enough and the box got too cold
3) the fish bashed itself into the side of the box and offed itself

Matt
 
Really guys. Tap water?

2 big issues. Most likely there will be a large difference in the PH. And there will also be a shock where temps are concerned. You will never match these with water straight from the tap. With tank water the temps will slowly change, as will the PH, but at least there is no sudden shock. Im amazed the anyone on MFK would basically endorse shipping with water, other than what the fish was swimming in. Too much shock.

At least this is my take. I always use system water for shipping.
 
I have heard of mant shippment orders gone wrong from. Ups guys just not giving a crap and bangging the fish around. Also he could have tanken the fish out of say 79 degrees and put it into a bag of 85 degree or 70 degree water. He most likely did not take the time to check both temp of the tank and temp of the bag to match them up. A drop of that much temp for a fish is fatal.
 
BOTR said:
Really guys. Tap water?

2 big issues. Most likely there will be a large difference in the PH. And there will also be a shock where temps are concerned. You will never match these with water straight from the tap. With tank water the temps will slowly change, as will the PH, but at least there is no sudden shock. Im amazed the anyone on MFK would basically endorse shipping with water, other than what the fish was swimming in. Too much shock.

At least this is my take. I always use system water for shipping.
Click to expand...

Yes, really. I do water changes weekly with treated tapwater as well.
 
Well, different strokes I guess.
I also do water changes, daily actually, but I don't put my fish in 100% new tap water. I'm sorry, but this is wrong. If the water was not aged then this is an issue. There are no two ways about it. Aged water brought up to temp and PH matched is one thing. 100% tap water, no matter the conditioner, is just wrong. It surprises me that anyone would advocate this.
 
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