Safest way to transport fish when moving?

This coming up weekend I'll be moving to a new home. I was wondering what would be my safest route to transporting my fish without causing a lot of stress to to them? I have a 30 gallon bow front tank and the move will be mostly highway driving. Its about a 15 minute drive total. I currently have 4 rams (2 bolivian and 2 angel), 4 guppies, 3 platies, 3 glofish, and 2 snails.

 

If it was me, I'd bag them (like at the LFS), drain the tank, move everything. Then set up the tank at your new place and acclimitise the fish as though they were new, then return them to their tank. If your water comes from the same source (check with your supplier) then skip the acclimitisation step. Should be just like a BIG water change and clean out.

That's what I'd do, but if one of the others suggests something else, go with it, I'm still pretty new to this!

 

If its only a 15 minute drive, you won't need to do a lot.

Just drain your tank like half way. Use the old water to hold all your filter media, etc. Leave everything in the tank including your fish. Put a towel on the floor of the car just in case it sloshes around. Put it in between the front and back seat on the floor so it doesn't slosh too much. Drive as smoothly as possible. Set up the tank and leave the lights off for the at least 5 hours or so and they should be fine.

 

You got some great advice, I might add, if you have any fish that are jump prone(bettas, hatchets, loaches etch) put a damp towel over the bucket. I'm moving in a few weeks here, I may need to make a video/thread on the process I use (moved my tanks 6-7 times now)

 

Would they survive a 10 hour car ride ? (without putting oxygen in their bags like the pet stores do).

Also, I've seen small battery operated airstones that you can put in the bucket with the fish. Has anyone tried one?

Thanks!

 

The safest way to transport fish for long trip is get them to sleep. That what they do to ship fish from Asia to US. When the fishes sleep, they need less Oxygen and they don;t feel anything (no stress).
I worked at a big Chinese restaurant once, and saw them getting an Arowana from Asia this way. No water, the fish look so dead. Now after 3 years, I come dine- in, the fish grow big healthily.
READ HERE

 

Good morning,

I would recommend adding the fish into a cooler and adding the battery powered air pump you have mentioned. I have 6 of these battery powered air pumps attached to all of my tanks in case of a power outage. Link below:



Cheaper version and the one below does not plug into a 110 outlet at all like the one above.


Adding the fish into a cooler, will help to maintain the water temperature. You can drill a hole in the lid for the air tube, push it through and add the stone to the end. Close the lid to keep it dark for the fish.

I have traveled 7 hours with Goldfish using this method with a 100% survival rate.

Add some Prime or Nova Aqua + and Amquel + (these two in combination). This will reduce stress and prevent ammonia build up while traveling.

Ken

 

Foxhill- I just moved my fish and it took 12 hrs and I didnt lose any. I put them in half filled one gal ziploc bags and then put all the bags in a cooler. Theyre still alive. I'm hoping to make a thread soon.

 

Sorry about hyjacking the thread. It's for future reference. I like the cooler idea for maintaining temp. I guess Stress coat would help too? Thanks guys, good information, as usual!