Help! Goldfish In Box For Days...

had 2 goldfish shipped to me overnight, they arrived a day late, and due to communication problems between me, seller and most crucial, UPS, my fish are sitting in a UPS office right now as they are closed today...they were shipped Wednesday evening and I won’t be able to get them out of there until 8am tomorrow morning. I’m assuming there is no hope of them surviving 2 days, let alone 4.5 days, but is there any hope? I feel so terrible for the poor babies

 

Anything is possible.

If they are still alive when you get them immediately get them out of that water. In transit the ph will drop due to fish waist and other factors turning the amminia into ammonium which is less toxic. However when you open the bag air will cause the ph to rise turning it back into ammonia.

 

Fish can survive up to a week when being shipped, but it does depend on extreme temperatue (hot/cold weather doesn't help) and the 'breather bags' also help ensure that the fish have access to oxygen.

I think that there is a high chance for them to arrive alive, especially if they haven't been exposed to extreme conditions.

 

However when you open the bag air will cause the ph to rise turning it back into ammonia.

Yes this thing. You can float the bag for temperature, but as soon as you open the bag, pour fish into a net over a bucket (no waste water in the tank), and add the fish to the tank. Someone will probably come online and go on about mixing water, but these arnt locally purchased fish. Drop and plop is well known for fish who were in bags extended time although some keepers won't do it under any circumstance.
Drop And Flop Acclimating

 

I dump water and all in. What could possibly be in the water that isn't in the fish already?

 

I dump water and all in. What could possibly be in the water that isn't in the fish already?

Concentrated ammonia, urine and feces, parasites the fish has managed to fight off, bacteria that fish has resistance to but your others don't, shipping chemicals, colour enhancing hormones and antibiotics from the farm... No shipping water except that which is on the fishes' skin ever gets into my tanks.

 

I dump water and all in. What could possibly be in the water that isn't in the fish already?

High levels of ammonia and co2. Getting the fish into a fresh environment and bringing in as few pollutants as possible. Minimizing parasites too maybe, but I understand what you're implying; that a parasite would be on the fish.

 

Thank you everybody for the replies. I have slight hope now... will get them out immediately, I believe that is better at this rate than any other options. Driving out first thing in the morning...

Will keep you updated!