Shipping Fish/shrimp

I’m pretty sure I made a thread about this but I can’t find it and I need some help. I’m looking into the possibility of shipping platy fry and neocaridina shrimp. I’ve already bought breather bags from Aquatic Arts but I’m not quite sure about some other things. I am looking into insulation, but I may need to go to a craft store to buy styrofoam or something. Temps where I live will be in the high 90s and go over 100... will I need a cooling pack for that? I know I am supposed to fast the fish two days beforehand and the shrimp should have moss or mesh to cling onto. Also, I know that bags are usually blown up during shipping, but I don’t have an oxygen or anything for that. How much water do I leave in the tank if I were to put 5 or 6 platy fry in one bag? Also, what sort of shipping options are used for shipping fish? What size box and do I use overnight shipping? What price range is expected? I once bought shrimp online and I kept the box to use as a reference.
Thanks!

 

Lowe's has massive sheets of insulation (board style, they can cut it down to size, I get mine in 2x4 foot sections) about 12-14$. Regular pink or brown house insulation works as well. Anything in the 90s ice packs are needed, get the ones from Wal-Mart they are under 1/2lb so don't add as much weight, wrap that in a paper towel or newspaper then place it inside a sandwich baggie, make sure it is mostly frozen before use. Use a piece of insulation between this and the fish or the buyer will get fishcicles.
Use fresh dechlorinated water from your tap, not tank water. 2/3-1/2 air to 1/3-1/2 water depending on the fish, for breather bags use all water.

 

Lowe's has massive sheets of insulation (board style, they can cut it down to size, I get mine in 2x4 foot sections) about 12-14$. Regular pink or brown house insulation works as well. Anything in the 90s ice packs are needed, get the ones from Wal-Mart they are under 1/2lb so don't add as much weight, wrap that in a paper towel or newspaper then place it inside a sandwich baggie, make sure it is mostly frozen before use. Use a piece of insulation between this and the fish or the buyer will get fishcicles.
Use fresh dechlorinated water from your tap, not tank water. 2/3-1/2 air to 1/3-1/2 water depending on the fish, for breather bags use all water.

So breather bags do not require any air inside? They can just be filled with water? Also for the ice pack, does the bag directly touch the breather bag? And then insulation on top?
Thank you so so much!

Oops misread your response. Ignore the third question lol

 

Mcasella So I’m thinking of shipping neocaridinas, and the problem is that I don’t know if they are too sensitive to be placed in completely new water for shipping. Could I use tank water for the shrimp and new water for the platies?

 

Mcasella So I’m thinking of shipping neocaridinas, and the problem is that I don’t know if they are too sensitive to be placed in completely new water for shipping. Could I use tank water for the shrimp and new water for the platies?

Use half and half for the shrimp, they still need fresh water for shipping.

 

Mcasella so this is the box I used to get shrimp, so I’m using it as my model. How would I be able to cut this top part of insulation to use the cold pack. I want to make sure that it isn’t too covered to be useful, and I also need to make it fit.

 

Mcasella so this is the box I used to get shrimp, so I’m using it as my model. How would I be able to cut this top part of insulation to use the cold pack. I want to make sure that it isn’t too covered to be useful, and I also need to make it fit. View attachment 444829View attachment 444830

You can cut out a section inside the styrofoam to fit the ice pack in, then cover the ice pack with a small piece of insulation to prevent it from chilling shrimp to much ( same can be done with heat packs.

 

Haha just realized I got this box from you when I got the snails lol

 

You can cut out a section inside the styrofoam to fit the ice pack in, then cover the ice pack with a small piece of insulation to prevent it from chilling shrimp to much ( same can be done with heat packs.

Ok thx. I’ll try to do that when I get home.
Thank you so much!

Mcasella so I’m at Walmart not and these are the only kind of cold packs I can find. Would these work or are they too big? There is no weight measurement on it.

 

Mcasella so I’m at Walmart not and these are the only kind of cold packs I can find. Would these work or are they too big? There is no weight measurement on it. View attachment 445203

They should, they look to be about 1lb.

 

They should, they look to be about 1lb.

Phew, that’s a relief. I was worried that they would be too big compared to the 4 oz ones I see online. I bought a ginormous sheet of that styrofoam insulation and now I’m sorting out the measurements to cut it. Hopefully it all works out

Mcasella sorry if I’m asking too many questions but does this look ok? The edges are sort of rough because I used a serrated blade to cut them. I guess in the top I’m going to cut out a piece so the cool pack can fit. I hope I can do that right.

 

Mcasella sorry if I’m asking too many questions but does this look ok? The edges are sort of rough because I used a serrated blade to cut them. I guess in the top I’m going to cut out a piece so the cool pack can fit. I hope I can do that right. View attachment 445243View attachment 445244

Yes, if you can keep the top piece you cut out intact you can use to to reinsulate the ice pack (I would tape the insulation barrier over the ice pack so neither moves too much).

 

Mcasella the ice pack is bigger than I expected. It’s bigger than the lid and I think it will be too thick if I folded it. Could I use this ice pack instead? If it’s too big can it cut out a certain amount of cubes?


Also is this a good amount of water or should I use less?


Thank you very much.

EDIT: I took some water out of the bag so that it could fit better in the box. Is this enough water? Also, I’m not sure if insulation between the cold pack and the breather bag would work very well because the cold pack seems barely cold while wrapped in a paper towel and a plastic bag.

 

Mcasella the ice pack is bigger than I expected. It’s bigger than the lid and I think it will be too thick if I folded it. Could I use this ice pack instead? If it’s too big can it cut out a certain amount of cubes?
Also is this a good amount of water or should I use less?

Thank you very much.

For shrimp I would use 8-10oz of water with something for them to hold onto (plant, piece of yarn, small mesh).
You should be able to use that icepack instead (I do not know if you can cut them, I just got in my order of 8oz ice packs, they look like this↓)

 

For shrimp I would use 8-10oz of water with something for them to hold onto (plant, piece of yarn, small mesh).
You should be able to use that icepack instead (I do not know if you can cut them, I just got in my order of 8oz ice packs, they look like this↓)

I plan to ship 6 platy fry in this order, maybe around the same amount of water?

So I went to the post office to check the weight of the box and the shipping price to the east coast, and the box was 2 lbs 6.5 oz. that means that shipping to the east coast is $17.30. They told me the could cut the price to $13.50 if I used a flat rate box, so I might have to try that instead. I don’t know how well that’s going to work though. Any idea on why it’s so expensive? Maybe I added too much water? I get that shrimp only need around a cup of water, do you think that 2 cups would be good for the 6 fry?

 

So I went to the post office to check the weight of the box and the shipping price to the east coast, and the box was 2 lbs 6.5 oz. that means that shipping to the east coast is $17.30. They told me the could cut the price to $13.50 if I used a flat rate box, so I might have to try that instead. I don’t know how well that’s going to work though. Any idea on why it’s so expensive? Maybe I added too much water? I get that shrimp only need around a cup of water, do you think that 2 cups would be good for the 6 fry?

Coast to coast is very expensive, specially when you can't use the flat rates or have to add heat or cold packs to the box. The last thing I shipped nonflat rate was a couple EBA out to Fresno, CA, it was almost 30$. If the flat rate works for you use it, the next thing you need to look at is if you are using USPS, it helps greatly to figure out weights and costs and what weights you want to aI'm for (the good thing is the post office can no longer make you pay up front for the difference in weight at the post office but will mail you a bill if it gets caught in the system -aka if the weight is close enough they aren't going to flag it- the next thing is getting some sort of scale to use to weigh the boxes, I have a small kitchen scale that is pretty accurate, before that I used a bathroom scale -get used to seeing your weight in that case lol).

 

Coast to coast is very expensive, specially when you can't use the flat rates or have to add heat or cold packs to the box. The last thing I shipped nonflat rate was a couple EBA out to Fresno, CA, it was almost 30$. If the flat rate works for you use it, the next thing you need to look at is if you are using USPS, it helps greatly to figure out weights and costs and what weights you want to aI'm for (the good thing is the post office can no longer make you pay up front for the difference in weight at the post office but will mail you a bill if it gets caught in the system -aka if the weight is close enough they aren't going to flag it- the next thing is getting some sort of scale to use to weigh the boxes, I have a small kitchen scale that is pretty accurate, before that I used a bathroom scale -get used to seeing your weight in that case lol).

Yeah I'm just confused because I bought snails from you, and they came in the same box that I'm trying to use. The shipping was a lot less expensive, around $12 or less if I recall it correctly. And it was pretty much a coast to coast shipment. Anyways, I'm going to try to give this flat rate box my best shot

 

It was also under 2lbs, once it hits a new pound number it ups the whole price until the next pound number (so 2lbs is going to be the same as 2lbs 14oz).
Some states cost more depending on the route it has to go.

 

It was also under 2lbs, once it hits a new pound number it ups the whole price until the next pound number (so 2lbs is going to be the same as 2lbs 14oz).
Some states cost more depending on the route it has to go.

Ah. My package was 2lb 6.5 oz for some reason. Good news is that I was able to cut out insulation for this flat rate box, and there’s plenty of space! I would be able to fit the bigger ice pack, but I don’t know if I should use it because 1. It might be to big, and 2. It will weigh more.

 

Ah. My package was 2lb 6.5 oz for some reason. Good news is that I was able to cut out insulation for this flat rate box, and there’s plenty of space! I would be able to fit the bigger ice pack, but I don’t know if I should use it because 1. It might be to big, and 2. It will weigh more. View attachment 445790

Flat rates don't go by weight is the good thing. They are simply one cost and good to go.

 

Flat rates don't go by weight is the good thing. They are simply one cost and good to go.

Yay thx. So based on that do you know which ice pack I should use?

 

Yay thx. So based on that do you know which ice pack I should use?

I would use the smaller, but that is based on my use of the ones I have.

 

I would use the smaller, but that is based on my use of the ones I have.

Ok. I think I’ll use the small one and wrap it in the paper towel and plastic bag. However, I think putting any other insulation between that and the breather bag would be too much.
Thank you!

 

Mcasella So I’m thinking of shipping neocaridinas, and the problem is that I don’t know if they are too sensitive to be placed in completely new water for shipping. Could I use tank water for the shrimp and new water for the platies?

Ay how big are your platy fry? I wouldn’t recommend shipping them if they are under an inch. Especially in our heat lol

 

Ay how big are your platy fry? I wouldn’t recommend shipping them if they are under an inch. Especially in our heat lol

That's what the cold packs are there for, to prevent that heat from being so bad.

Ok. I think I’ll use the small one and wrap it in the paper towel and plastic bag. However, I think putting any other insulation between that and the breather bag would be too much.
Thank you!

Make sure you have enough insulation between the two, if the bag gets too cold the fish/shrimp will not be happy.

 

The prices for USPS recently went up. Which is why your price differs a bit from what you said you saw before, just to it you know.

 

Ay how big are your platy fry? I wouldn’t recommend shipping them if they are under an inch. Especially in our heat lol

I would say that some are just under an inch. But I’m using cold packs, so that should help with the heat.

That's what the cold packs are there for, to prevent that heat from being so bad.

Make sure you have enough insulation between the two, if the bag gets too cold the fish/shrimp will not be happy.

Ok thanks!

 

I would say that some are just under an inch. But I’m using cold packs, so that should help with the heat.

Let me know how it goes.

 

Let me know how it goes.

Ok! I think I’m going to ship them out tomorrow. I just hope nothing goes wrong on my first shipment ever lol

 

Ok! I think I’m going to ship them out tomorrow. I just hope nothing goes wrong on my first shipment ever lol

I have my fingers crossed for you! I'm looking forward to hearing about it.

 

Thanks

Mcasella I know for shrimp you said 8-10 oz of water, but would 16 oz be too much for the fry? I’m trying to get a good estimate for how much water to put in the bag.

 

Mcasella I know for shrimp you said 8-10 oz of water, but would 16 oz be too much for the fry? I’m trying to get a good estimate for how much water to put in the bag.

Since it is a breather bag you won't need much compared to a larger nonbreather bag. I would only put 2-3 platy fry in one bag at a time because they are messy even if they have been fasted. You can put as much water as you want to into the bag and still get it closed.

 

Since it is a breather bag you won't need much compared to a larger nonbreather bag. I would only put 2-3 platy fry in one bag at a time because they are messy even if they have been fasted. You can put as much water as you want to into the bag and still get it closed.

Ok. I should probably use 2 of the bags then. It helps that the weight doesn’t matter anymore. They should fit though. I hope lol

 

They should fit, I have used a box of similar size to a medium flat rate to ship two large angelfish.

 

Mcasella
If I put 2 cups of water in (what I would expect for shrimp), the weight is 1 lb 7.4 oz. This looks like a good water level for the shrimp, but I may double it for the fry.

 

Mcasella
If I put 2 cups of water in (what I would expect for shrimp), the weight is 1 lb 7.4 oz. This looks like a good water level for the shrimp, but I may double it for the fry. View attachment 446947

I put about 12oz in the two bags (bn pleco) I sent out this week. They made it. Two cups is 16oz.

 

I put about 12oz in the two bags (bn pleco) I sent out this week. They made it. Two cups is 16oz.

Yeah in that bag was about 2 cups of water.

It’s strange because it really doesn’t seem like a lot of water. Could I put 3 platies in a bag with that amount of water?

 

It’s strange because it really doesn’t seem like a lot of water. Could I put 3 platies in a bag with that amount of water?

I can't advise that, that is something you are going to have to see if they can handle it.

 

I can't advise that, that is something you are going to have to see if they can handle it.

Ok if it comes to it I think that I’ll double the amount of water so they can have more swimming space.

Mcasella I was able to purchase a scale and these individual cube ice packs. Do you recommend 8 oz of ice packs?
I was able to sell some shrimp on eBay, I get to ship them out tomorrow. Both nervous and excited

 

Good luck, I hope it goes well for you!