Doing some research on cyanide fishing, need help!!

[PeterIMA]

Mr. Wilson,

Yes, the tests with nitrofurazone were done in the dark. Shipping bags with chemicals were packed in styrofoam boxes similar to normal shipping methods.

My experience with anti-malarial compounds available to hobbyists (eg Aquatronics products) for treating fish diseases was not too good. Most of the effective anti-malarial compounds need to be obtained from a doctor or a veterinarian. I found that quinine hydrochloride does work. I can't say the same for quinine hydrosulfate.

I also have had good experience with shipping coris wrasses with black sand (volcanic in origin) added to the shipping bags coming from Bali.

The paper you referred to about shipping goldfish without water appeared in Tropical Fish Hobbyist sometime in the 1980s (possibly 1984 if my memory on this is correct). Recently, someone from the Philippines claimed to have come up with a method for shipping groupers without water. It was even quoted in the newsletter that I obtained from the Florida Tropical Fish Farmers Association. Ferdinand Cruz spoke with the Filipino involved with groupers and found out that more than 80% of the groupers died.

Some fishes like goldfish as well as Ictalurid catfish and Clarias catfish can respire through their skin. Some also have accessory breathing organs (eg, gouramis). I have shipped bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) wrapped in wet rags in bags with oxygen from Ottawa, Canada to College Station, Texas by air when I was a Ph.D. student.
My point is that it is unlikely that a means will be found to ship regular marine fishes by air without water, since they don't have these accessory breathing capabilities.

Peter

 

[PeterIMA]

Gobies are often found in the intertidal region and also can respire across their body membranes (skin). I am not clear whether you are stating they survived for 3 weeks in a sealed plastic bag or that you found them in a puddle of water in an open box (open to the air).

Using Amquel can eliminate ammonium and ammonia in plastic shipping bags by binding it in solution to form a non-toxic compound. Some in the trade have used pieces of sponge from biological filters to control ammonia in shipping bags by means of the nitrification process (ammonia converted to nitrite and to nitrate by bacteria in the sponge).

For freshwater Ammo Chips can be used to control ammonia in shipping bags. Bags of Ammo chips can be purchased in mesh bags for addition to shipping bags. This only works in freshwater since clinoptilite (Ammo Chips) is not effective in seawater.



Peter

 

[Anonymous]

I also have had good experience with shipping coris wrasses with black sand (volcanic in origin) added to the shipping bags coming from Bali.

Not that that is a new thing (been done for many years now with more then just common coris)

 

[PeterIMA]

Greshham, For once we agree. I never claimed that shipping coris wrasses with sand added was my idea or that it was a new idea.

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

Some in the trade have used pieces of sponge from biological filters to control ammonia in shipping bags by means of the nitrification process (ammonia converted to nitrite and to nitrate by bacteria in the sponge).

This is also done for another reason, for inverts anyways. Giving them something to hold onto helps them expend less energy during shipping. Great way to save a cleaner shrimps life

 

[Shawn Wilson]

The Stonogobiops were still in the betta-like shipping bags after three weeks. They were overlooked while unpacking was carried out in the dark. Speaking of which, photo-shock is another huge oversight that needs to be corrected in the chain of custody, particularly in the retail sector. Matching PH with acid or Co2 is finally catching on after twenty years, but simple procedures such as using bags of ice to match shipping water, seems to be overlooked. Most of the retailers in my area still float and drip orders that have been in transit for over 24 hours, with no knowledge of amquel, or Prime detoxifiers.

Part of the problem is livestock wholesalers aren't frequent contributors to forums or periodicals; subsequently, their triumphs and failures go unrecorded by the industry & hobby. Many of them consider their acclimation & husbandry practices as proprietary trade secrets, thus broadening the collective learning curve.

I'm not a proponent of Zeovit, but would their variety of zeolite media work in short term shipping applications. Perhaps one large granule placed in each bag. The cost would likely exceed the value of the fish, but it could be replicated using a more realistically priced aggregate.