EricV
- #1
As promised I've finally gotten the time to put together a step by step guide on how I pack fish and shrimp for shipping.
1. The box.
I use USPS priority mail for all of my standard orders.

2. Insulation.
I use 1/2" foam insulation board (available at most home improvement stores in 4'x8' sheets for approximately $10) cut to size for a box liner.

3. Heat
For cold weather shipments you'll need to use a heat pack.

4. Prepping the box.
Use the pieces of insulation to line the bottom and sides of the box.


5. Remove the heat pack from its packaging and wrap it with a paper towel and rubber band.

6. Lean the heat pack against one side of the box.

*I'm going to have to break this into a few posts due to the number of photos but perhaps the mods can recombine them at some point*
7. Time to pack the fish.
Today's test subject is a juvenile male fundulopanchax gardnerI killifish.

Always bag in fresh clean water and fast the fish for a day or two prior to shipping.
8. The bag.
I use either LongLife or Kordon breather bags.

I always add a bit of moss or other plant as it reduces stress on the fish.

9. Bagging the fish
Pour the fish into the bag. You don't need to use a lot of water.

I also add Prime (1 drop), seachem stability (1ml) and Kordon fish protector (.5ml) to all fish orders (the shrimp don't get fish protector) although the stability and fish protector aren't strictly necessary.

Be sure to leave some slack in the bag when you're tying it. You want there to be plenty of give in the bag. The firmer it is the more likely it is to burst or leak.

10. Protect the bag.
I use small Tupperware type containers from the dollar store.

Put a bunch of small holes in the lid (~25-40)

Put some crumbled packing peanuts the bottom of the container for a bed as it will help with air circulation.

Next add the bag

More packing peanuts on top of the bag to hold it in place then seal the container and use rubber bands to secure the lid.

11. Packing the box
Set the container towards the opposite side of the box from the heat pack

Then cram it full of packing peanuts. Nothing should be able to shift around in the box. You don't want the fish sloshing around any more than necessary.

12. Finishing up.
Put the insulation lid on the box

Seal up the box

Now just label it and it's ready to go to the post office and your fish will arrive alive and well in a few days
Hope this helped. Any questions feel free to ask.
1. The box.
I use USPS priority mail for all of my standard orders.

2. Insulation.
I use 1/2" foam insulation board (available at most home improvement stores in 4'x8' sheets for approximately $10) cut to size for a box liner.

3. Heat
For cold weather shipments you'll need to use a heat pack.

4. Prepping the box.
Use the pieces of insulation to line the bottom and sides of the box.


5. Remove the heat pack from its packaging and wrap it with a paper towel and rubber band.

6. Lean the heat pack against one side of the box.

*I'm going to have to break this into a few posts due to the number of photos but perhaps the mods can recombine them at some point*
7. Time to pack the fish.
Today's test subject is a juvenile male fundulopanchax gardnerI killifish.

Always bag in fresh clean water and fast the fish for a day or two prior to shipping.
8. The bag.
I use either LongLife or Kordon breather bags.

I always add a bit of moss or other plant as it reduces stress on the fish.

9. Bagging the fish
Pour the fish into the bag. You don't need to use a lot of water.

I also add Prime (1 drop), seachem stability (1ml) and Kordon fish protector (.5ml) to all fish orders (the shrimp don't get fish protector) although the stability and fish protector aren't strictly necessary.

Be sure to leave some slack in the bag when you're tying it. You want there to be plenty of give in the bag. The firmer it is the more likely it is to burst or leak.

10. Protect the bag.
I use small Tupperware type containers from the dollar store.

Put a bunch of small holes in the lid (~25-40)

Put some crumbled packing peanuts the bottom of the container for a bed as it will help with air circulation.

Next add the bag

More packing peanuts on top of the bag to hold it in place then seal the container and use rubber bands to secure the lid.

11. Packing the box
Set the container towards the opposite side of the box from the heat pack

Then cram it full of packing peanuts. Nothing should be able to shift around in the box. You don't want the fish sloshing around any more than necessary.

12. Finishing up.
Put the insulation lid on the box

Seal up the box

Now just label it and it's ready to go to the post office and your fish will arrive alive and well in a few days
Hope this helped. Any questions feel free to ask.