Im getting ready to move my fish 1700 miles to Portland. Any tips?

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Carefree_Dude

Piranha
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2011
1,226
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Portland, OR
I'm moving from Kansas to Portland, Or. I got rid of most of my stock, but theres a few favorites I want to keep. They are as follows:

1x Jade Goby (12")
2x ornate bichir (14")
1x black ghost knife (17")
1x fire eel (15")
1x farlowella catfish (7")
1x leopard cactus pleco (7")
3x red headed geos (5")
1x electric blue dempsey (8")
1x blue gene dempsey (6")


So far, I have rigged up three foam containers. each one has a seeded sponge filter, and an air supply that will be provided by an air pump hooked up to the moving truck. I also plan on bringing several 5 gallon containers of water to do water changes along the route.

I plan on distributing fish as follows

Container 1:
EBJD
Blue Gene Dempsey (these are a breeding pair, cannot go with other fish)

Container 2:
3x read headed geos
1x farlowella catfish
1x leopard cactus pleco
1x fire eel

Container 3:
Jade goby
2x ornate bichir
Black ghost knife


As for transport, do you think I will have any issues? They will be in these containers for 3 days, 4 days max. I could possibly set up a fourth container, but the cab of the moving truck may be too full. I have a cockatiel and a macaw that need to be in there too. Also, would coolers be better than foam containers?


Also, for moving my super giant aquarium, I heard there are giant suction cups I can purchase in order to make moving it easier. Does anyone know a website where I can order these?
 
Have you got someone else to share the driving with you, so you can get to destination ASAP?

Make a trip to destination first, by yourself, without any fish. Consider taking a flight for this trip. Set up tanks and filters and heaters, etc, etc, leave everything all running and working and cycled, etc, before going back to get the fish. Do not just get the fish there, then slowly set tanks up, then find floor is a bit uneven and stand is wobbly, then connect filters and find one piece is missing, then find out need electricity extension cords and power boards, etc, etc, then find filter leaks, etc, etc...this would be a lot of unwanted headache.

Do not feed fish before or during the trip.

Remember, there is less dissolved oxygen in water the higher the water temperature goes.

Bring lots of Prime. Bring a few spare plastic bins, buckets, pails etc, at least one or preferably two battery operated air pumps (with spare batteries) for each container of fish that you are taking, in case of emergencies.

A bit concerned that multiple bottom-dwellers placed together in cramped containers could lead to fights.

Bring lids for all containers. Seriously, these fish are going to jump very, very high!

A bit concerned that heavy foam boxes full of water could crack, especially when water swishes around inside from side to side, or when you try to move them.

Keep in mind: drive slowly and carefully. A large volume of water is hazardous to transport in a moving vehicle...it can even cause the truck to fall over sideways! If a large container filled with water has the water inside swishing from side to side, the truck becomes very unstable! Dividing a large volume of water up into multiple containers, like what you are doing, makes it much safer. Otherwise, a large volume of water in a single container needs baffles placed inside to minimize the swishing effect. So, keep the truck slow and steady, do not speed around corners!!

Keep birds inside travel cages whenever truck is moving on road! Keep talking to them so they know you are there. They will need fresh water at all times. When stopping for rest, only let birds out into room when all doors and windows are closed, even if their wings are clipped, because when everything so unfamiliar, they can get easily spooked and fly! Bring a couple of table-top perches so they can stretch wings and feet a little.

Keep mobile broadband internet connection, so can get MFK advice in case of emergencies.

Good luck!
 
I am actually currently up here, trying to find an apartment. I don't think I'll be able to set anything up ahead of time though, because the one I found wont be ready until next week, and I head back to kansas on saturday. Sadly I'm traveling by myself. I drove out here and it took me two days of travel, but i was going 80 most of the way. that's why i've alotted 3 day travel for this trip. Fish will not be fed several days before the transport. I do have prime to add to the tanks as needed. The containers I have are the foam drink containers from walmart. Not sure how much water they hold, but not a lot. I'm tempted to get some good coolers, and keep them in the back of the truck, but i fear it may get to hot back there. My macaw has a very large and roomy dog carrier that he travels in. He loves road trips, so he shouldn't be much issue. The cockatiel is only two months old though, and has never left the house so I'm a little concerned for her.
 
I would buy coolers. Or a large cooler. They have allot of insulation to deal with the hot and cold. I did this with my 850mile move. Had it in the back of my car. Controlled temp with car heater and ac. Then reached hand in to check temps every now and again opened lid to cool down left close to keep warm. I didn't have an air supply or anything but I would advise having one. All this was for one Jack Dempsey. Lol. Drove all day parked for some hours at night and drove to final destination In morning setup tank there and put fish in all was well. Now he is 5 years old move was about 4 years ago. My parents moved during summer just took gold fish tank with lower water in the back of a truck and they all died on the trip. If it was me I would put all the fish in the cab where you can control the temp the best. I think that was my success. And some luck.

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Foam drink containers seem like they would leak to me. But I have not used them

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I would buy a couple good coolers. The foam containers will break when you try to move them with more than an inch or two of water in them. You have some nice fish and I know coolers aren't cheap but neither are some of your fish.
 
I'd put in some Seachem Prime or other water conditioner into the water before you put the fish into the coolers. That way the fish will be less stressed from the conditions and you're less likely to have ammonia/nitrite spikes when you transport them. It would probably be a good idea to have some battery powered air pumps too. If you were transporting peacock bass or other fish that are sensitive to low oxygen, then BPAPs are necessary for long trips. The fish you have listed should be ok without them but I'd buy some anyway to be safe.
 
Alright, a few changes in my plans.

First off, I leave tomorrow. And instead of a few days, the fish will be in these containers for a week.

I have also purchased some very thick heavy duty 1 week coolers for this trip

Also, I have discovered my moving truck doesn't have space in the cab for the fish, so they have to go in the back. Every day it has been 105 degrees or more. Is it better to keep the coolers closed to help keep temps down, or to keep them slightly opened so an air line can go in? Also I could tape the pumps to the inside but im not sure how that would work with water sloshing around. A third option is to drill holes in the coolers for an airline, but I don't want to ruin the coolers.
 
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