Survival rate on moving large Aros on long trips?

[Crazyfish88]

Hi there. This past week I've been spending alot of time on my monsters. I been feeding them more often as I have alot of food left in my freezer. Now my question is what's the survival rate on transporting 3 large Arowana's on a 12 hour road trip? Say each one is placed in 30+ gallon rubbermaids and a battery powered airpump for each. I'm asking because I'm thinking of keeping the silver Aros and the RTC and try to bring them back home with me. I built a bond with these fish in the past 7 months or so and I just measured my largest Silver and he measures in 2 ft from tip of barbels to end of tail, 23" without the barbels. I just think I put alot of effort in raising these beasts and think it's a waste to let them go I've sold everything else already and all I have left is what's in my signature. If any of u out there have any experience with this help is much appreciated thanks.




Andy

 

[slednex11]

hey Andy i brought back a 20in black Aro from drumheller with a battery powered air pump. You could even get a power inverter from Canadian tire and run heaters if you wanted too, my trip home to regina to around 7 hours i put him in my big beer cooler lol it helps to keep the water warmer longer too!!!! I used rubbermaids for all the other fish that i brought back

 

[Arowana1]

Instead of a Rubbermaid I would go with a standard aquarium wholesale Styrofoam box with oxygenated plastic bags. The should insulate, have more oxygen, and the Styrofoam if the Arowanas jump will hurt them less than a Rubbermaid (and they are going to jump).

12 hours is long ways I would keep those oxygen pumps handy or just use them with the Styrofoam boxes.

 

[Crazyfish88]

hey Andy i brought back a 20in black Aro from drumheller with a battery powered air pump. You could even get a power inverter from Canadian tire and run heaters if you wanted too, my trip home to regina to around 7 hours i put him in my big beer cooler lol it helps to keep the water warmer longer too!!!! I used rubbermaids for all the other fish that i brought back

Thanks bro. I'm not too concerned about the heat as it's summer. I just worry about them surviving such a long trip. Also would they last another night in the containers as I probabely won't be able to set up the tank til the next day or so. Also how can i keep the bio media alive from my filters? My friend suggested placing the media in the rubbermaids with the fish. Would that work?

 

[Cakilla]

I was Hoping you would keep them!!!!!!!!!!!
I would keep some ammo remover handy and I usually try to bring along plenty of batteries, just to make sure they have plenty of airI would really suggest if you can use a cooler even a cheap ( but big ) styro foam cooler to help keep the temp up , I am not sure if you would need hand warmers or not.

 

[Crazyfish88]

I was Hoping you would keep them!!!!!!!!!!!
I would keep some ammo remover handy and I usually try to bring along plenty of batteries, just to make sure they have plenty of airI would really suggest if you can use a cooler even a cheap ( but big ) styro foam cooler to help keep the temp up , I am not sure if you would need hand warmers or not.

Thanks for the advice. So just place the ammo remover in a sack and just place it in the cooler? That would work without flowing water through it? I've brought home big fish in styrofoam coolers before just I gotta make sure them coolers aren't leaking cuz I had one break on me before.

 

[rhodes_96]

I have moved asian aros about 500miles (8.5 hours) previously. Used a 30 gallon styrofoam container with lid(fish shipping ones). Container was lined with black cloth so as to help relax the fish and no need for a net when transferring the fish later. Just grab cloth on all the edges and pick fish up and lower the cloth and fish into new tank. No damage to the fish. I did this on two occasions. Once in the summer and once in spring. I kept the water about 2" above their back. Air flow via battery air pump and stone bubbler. No ac on when driving in summer just window open as it was like 105 outside. during the spring time just had the heater on in the car and kept internal temp around 80 degrees F. I think the most important thing is to try and keep everything as stable as possible to minimise stress, and make sure the new environment it's going into is cycled and similar to it's previous environment. Oh and drive carefully.

 

[Crazyfish88]

I have moved asian aros about 500miles (8.5 hours) previously. Used a 30 gallon styrofoam container with lid(fish shipping ones). Container was lined with black cloth so as to help relax the fish and no need for a net when transferring the fish later. Just grab cloth on all the edges and pick fish up and lower the cloth and fish into new tank. No damage to the fish. I did this on two occasions. Once in the summer and once in spring. I kept the water about 2" above their back. Air flow via battery air pump and stone bubbler. No ac on when driving in summer just window open as it was like 105 outside. during the spring time just had the heater on in the car and kept internal temp around 80 degrees F. I think the most important thing is to try and keep everything as stable as possible to minimise stress, and make sure the new environment it's going into is cycled and similar to it's previous environment. Oh and drive carefully.

I like the idea on the cloth method. Also I hope I can drive safely as I'm driving a 17ft uhaul back. Most likely be a bumpy ride.

 

[Cliff.W.]

I'm glad your keeping atleast a few of the beasts =)

 

[Biggfeast]

I dont have any experience transporting aros, but i did haul my cichlid on a 2 day journey with me... the drive was about 30 hours but I stopped at a hotel to stay the night, any ways, I just put him in a bucket and did water changes every third gas stop. I treated the water ofcourse and I ussually used water from jugs that were in the car. I would buy a new one and leave it in the car so that it becomes room temperature, so about 75 degrees.
I did not use any form of oxygen for the little guy, but he survived the trip with out a scratch!! Ofcourse, cichlids tend to be hardier than aros so you may not have the same results, but if you do take all the measures such as large enclosure, oxygen, water changes then you should be fine on a days drive imo