aaron

hi guys,
I recently purchased four multies off aqua bid. So when they arrive do I do the usual acclimation process or is there some other steps for shipped fish? You guys have any tips for shipped fish?

They are shipped priorty mail so will they be in my mailbox?

Aaron

10gallonmadness

Nothing is different. It's just like when you buy a fish from a store. but you might want to dim the lights in your tank and the room your tank is in. When fish are shipped it's usually dark, and making them jump for a dark box to a bright tank is a big shock for them.
My cousin bought a couple fish online, and his were on his step in a box. It's was first class shipping. So I was all nicely packed and stuff.

aaron

I am worried about priorty shipping. What if I am not home and the fish get too hot if left outside.

harpua2002

This is one of the only times I'd recommend it, but I'd plop and drop after floating the bags to equalize temperature. There's going to be a pretty heavy ammonia buildup in those bags after Priority shipping and IMO it's best to just get them out of there asap.

aaron

From california to south carolina will be atleast what two or three days on the lucky side? Hope these little guys make it. I know they are supposed to be very sensitive to water conditions. So harpua, you would float the bag ten or fifteen minutes and then get them out?

I still cannot find out what the delivery guy will do with them if I am not here. Its hot here so hopfully I will be home. I am scared to leave the door unlocked with instructions to leave package inside.

harpua2002

I'd float the bag as long as it takes to match the temp. I don't know exactly how long that will be.

btate617

I agree with Harpua, match the temp and put em in.
They will probably use a product like cloram-x in the bag, it is suppose to nutralize ammonia for up to 72 hours or so. Do you have a neighbor who is home during the day? If so leave a note on your door to leave all packages at their house, if they would agree to that. that way atleast they could take them inside.

And if these are the fish we talked about you ordered, they had a live arrival guarentee. If they show up dead take a picture and email it to the seller right away. If he/she lives up to what the say they will ship more fish to you, you will probably have to pay shipping again though.

Don't stress....fish get shipped everyday!

Brian

Robin4

Hi Aaron,

Do you have a neighbor that can accept them for you if you are not there? I just got a shipment of red cherry shrimp and paid the extra for next day shipping. That way, I knew I'd be at home and I knew for sure when they would arrive...

Good luck!
Robin

aaron

One option would be to ship them to my moms work. They would be in the AC, but that still does not solve the problem of them sitting in ammonia.

My classes vary each day so hopfully they will arrive on a day when I get home early.

aquarist48

Good afternoon. Just so some of our other members don't get confused about acclimation procedures, I'm posting a message I got from Slug concerning the "drop and plop" and why shipped fish should be done this way.
Best of luck aaron!


"Drop and plop is basically what it sounds like....though correct terminology would be Float and Plop/Drop. Float the bag then plop the fish straight into the tank.

That Drop and Plop method should be used for longer trips, as drip acclimating them will not be good due to gas exchanges and such. It will cause a toxic bath basically. Lots of ammonia burns if you drip after a long trip in the bag.

Short trips, drip acclimation is perfectly fine.

This is all assuming your pH isn't something crazy that will shock the fish. Generally anything equal to or higher then the bag water will be fine." __________________

Thanks Slug Ken

Hope this helps you aaron and others.
Ken

SWilkins

Aaron if it makes you feel any better I did a shipment of snails that went out Monday evening and I sent the guy a surprise of two trios of endlers. They went from GA to CA and they got there yesterday by priority mail and all were alive and well. I did use an insulated box and an ice pack in the bottom of the box. If you have a tracking number you can see what day they will arrive and if you know what time your mail arrives hopefully someone can get them for you possibly a friend or neighbor.

aaron

Aquarist.

The pH is what I am worrying about with the plop method. I will be keeping these fish on the low end of there PH scale. So best case scenerio the guy I am buying from is doing the same. More likely they will be taking a drop in PH

Red1313

Hmmm... Maybe you could comprimise with the drip and the plop method... Get a container that will be larger then the bag their arriving in and add them water and all so that the container holds 50% bag water and 50% your water. That way you could dilute the ammonia and hopefully ease the ph shock before you add them to thier new home...
Just an idea.

aaron

Sounds like a good compromise.

Anyone think this will work?

btate617

Don't stress Aaron......

Do what you think is the best way, and there you go. The key is getting them out of the bag and into the tank. They are going to be stressed from being in the bag for a few days, nothing you can do about that. One thing working for you is cichlids are a little more forgiving with ph, temp, etc. than say tropicals.

Brian

harpua2002

As I understand it, the pH in the bag will drop as the CO2 level in the bag rises. When you open the bag and the CO2 gases off, the pH will rise, along with ammonia toxicity. I'd still plop and drop, but that's just me.

aaron

alright guys,
Im just going to chill and do the plop and drop.
appreciate it. Ill let yall know how things work out.

Red1313

Good Luck!

peacemaker92

Wow! Good info there. I gain a lil' something here

aquarist48

I had never heard of it either Peacemaker until I questioned Slug about it a while back.
Thanks again Slug!
Ken