Tell me some details on shipping fish.
- Thread starter AnDr3w
- Start date
If you are going to drive, it will be best to take them with you. Use a cooler with a battery powered air pump and a cycled sponge filter.
You don't want to ship anything large or extra cool. They often sustain damage and ungodly amounts of stress. Those who ship regularly use tranquilizers to minimize stress. I have found that over dosed fish will eventually die. Their health declines slowly to the point that they are floating gasping for their last breath.
You don't want to ship anything large or extra cool. They often sustain damage and ungodly amounts of stress. Those who ship regularly use tranquilizers to minimize stress. I have found that over dosed fish will eventually die. Their health declines slowly to the point that they are floating gasping for their last breath.
Sea World ships them way bigger than that 
Actually it depends on your budget and what size shipper you can get. Your best bet will to be find out what fish you want and then when you get home, search it online. Let someone else find the shipper and let them hold the bag if it dies in transit.
Besides, if you are the one shipping it, you won't be there to receive it. It is important to have someone who is knowlegable and who cares on both ends. Whoever receives it for you won't care the way you will and they likely won't be as knowlegable on what to do when they get it.
Actually it depends on your budget and what size shipper you can get. Your best bet will to be find out what fish you want and then when you get home, search it online. Let someone else find the shipper and let them hold the bag if it dies in transit.
Besides, if you are the one shipping it, you won't be there to receive it. It is important to have someone who is knowlegable and who cares on both ends. Whoever receives it for you won't care the way you will and they likely won't be as knowlegable on what to do when they get it.
You can reasonably ship fish up to about 12" I guess. That's with most styrofoam boxes and large bags you find at lfs'. Anything bigger gets harder and IMO would require more experiance shipping fish. But watch it as some fish such as cichlids have fins that can poke the bags and cause leaks.
I've received a few fish with leaky bags but alive fish and come to find out the reason was pointy fins. Also some place usually like a camping store should sell your heating pads. Air activated of course. Longest lasting I was able to find is 48 hour ones I think, might even been 24 hour ones. If you can find the the 72 hour ones then those are the heating pads to get.
Also larger lfs' might have a thing called "bag buddies" if they do and you're shipping fish buy them. It's a little container of blue pills, made by Jungle. They help reduce ammonia, and add o2 to the water. If you don't have a o2 source then don't breath into the bags but having a o2 source is best.
All that said you might find it easier to take a cooler with you and some battery operated aireators and some heating pads and just drive them home. Would save you at least 50.00 shipping charges.
I've received a few fish with leaky bags but alive fish and come to find out the reason was pointy fins. Also some place usually like a camping store should sell your heating pads. Air activated of course. Longest lasting I was able to find is 48 hour ones I think, might even been 24 hour ones. If you can find the the 72 hour ones then those are the heating pads to get.
Also larger lfs' might have a thing called "bag buddies" if they do and you're shipping fish buy them. It's a little container of blue pills, made by Jungle. They help reduce ammonia, and add o2 to the water. If you don't have a o2 source then don't breath into the bags but having a o2 source is best.
All that said you might find it easier to take a cooler with you and some battery operated aireators and some heating pads and just drive them home. Would save you at least 50.00 shipping charges.
cichlaguapote;861787; said:
But how much would it lose me on gas?
Too much is the answer. lol.Also my friend would recieve them for me. He is also a member here on MFK, so he knows what he is doing with them. If I got a fish with "lungs," Like a polypterus, would I still need a bag buddy? I mean if they're there I'll get them, but if there not do I really have to stress over it?