Moving Fish to Florida

[robnyc]

Hey All,
I'm moving out of NYC and planning ahead for my 1,100 mile trip to Tampa, Fl. Does anyone have suggestions for moving my fish on the long trip. I have a hippo tang, red flame hawk, CBB, diamond goby, clown, firefish, 2 Chromis, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Sand Sifting Star and a few hermits. I've saved some of the styrofoam shipping boxes that internet sites use to ship fish. I was planning on bagging them each up individually the morning of the departure date travelling the 800 miles on day 1 and then the afternoon of day 2 after the 300+ miles setting up a temporary tank. Any suggestions? Do the shipping places do anything special to the air/water the fish are put into? I appreciate your help....

Also I'm trying to sell half of my live rock 37lbs for $120. I paid $180. Check my post from a few days if interested.

 

[michael stern]

No offence, but your fish are easily replacable.
More than likely, they won't survive the trip.
And if you encounter any problem setting up a tank for them on the other end, they are finished.

Why be in a position of trying to set up a tank for them with a gun to your head?

Just my $.02.

If you disagree,
call me tomorrow if you want me to walk you through it, after 9:00.
IMO, not worth the effort.

 

[NYreefNoob]

agreed, you dontr have no $1000 fish. i would selll and replace once new tank is up and running

 

[marrone]

If possible you should try and get some buckets/pails and place the fish in them. Then get a couple of those portable battery air pumps, attach an air stone, and run one in each bucket. Try to use as many buckets/pails, so you can keep only a couple fish per bucket/pail. The weather is warming but you'll need to make sure the temperate doesn't get to cold.


If you can get someone to setup the temp tank in advance that would help. You may want to see if you can make contact with someone on the other end to hold you fish, maybe even another LFS, until you're ready to take the fish back.

No offense Mike but I've had my fish many, many years and I wouldn't just want to get rid of them just because they're easily replaceable. As a matter of fact when I move, 15 years ago, I transferred all my fish and I still have some of them.

 

[michael stern]

No offence taken.

Personally, I'd rather see my pets settled in a new home than risk being responsible for them all dying due to my poor decision.

Rob, if you want to do it, you are, IMO, much better off bagging them than putting in buckets travelling in a moving car.

 

[marrone]

Fish are usually shipping anywhere from 24 to 48 hours so if they're packed well there shouldn't be any problems. If he can get someone to setup the tank or hold his fish down in Tampa, until he's ready, even better.

If possible he could even ship the fish overnight to someone or a LFS.

 

[REEF MANIA]

I recommend leaving them with another friend in NYC and have them ship them to you once you get your tank setup in Florida. Good Luck

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

You must have a temp tank setup before your fish arrives there. Water chemistry changes quite a bit during those hours of travel if the water volume is low. However, if shipping by air, large water volume will cost you 1-2/lb by air cargo. AA and Delta do live animal shipment. You have to pick up from the air port with cargo. They don't deliver. There are rulz and ways to bag fish for air shipment, you should let a LFS who do mail order to do it for you. Air security will, for sure, open your box, so make sure they can see your fish.

 

[robnyc]

Trouble parting with the fish

I've had some of the fish for close to 2 years so we've become quite attached. I had considered the shipping method from A LPS, but me packing them up is pretty close to shipping overnight, but it might be a few hours longer. I'll give Mike the call in the morning to see if there is anythong special to do with the bag. I plan to carry some water taken directly from the working tank and have the battery powered backup available if if I see a problem at night.

I appreciate all your thoughts.

 

[Scion_TC2005]

Hey All,
I'm moving out of NYC and planning ahead for my 1,100 mile trip to Tampa, Fl. Does anyone have suggestions for moving my fish on the long trip. I have a hippo tang, red flame hawk, CBB, diamond goby, clown, firefish, 2 Chromis, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, Sand Sifting Star and a few hermits. I've saved some of the styrofoam shipping boxes that internet sites use to ship fish. I was planning on bagging them each up individually the morning of the departure date travelling the 800 miles on day 1 and then the afternoon of day 2 after the 300+ miles setting up a temporary tank. Any suggestions? Do the shipping places do anything special to the air/water the fish are put into? I appreciate your help....

Also I'm trying to sell half of my live rock 37lbs for $120. I paid $180. Check my post from a few days if interested.

Contact DHL I know they will ship overnight(need to fill out a waiver pet form) also fedex will do the same. You can also use delta AA but you must become a certified shipper first to do cargo which is a bit of a process and if you ever decide to fly down you can have them fly down on the same plane as you as cargo when your a certified shipper. I am going to flordia myself at the end of this year.
I have a massive 5 bedroom house in FT. Luaderdale. I am in the process of builing a 400 plus gallon Aquarium to have ready when I am ready to ship my prized fishes down.
I am going the Delta AA route and DHL

Regards,
Tim

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I've had some of the fish for close to 2 years so we've become quite attached. I had considered the shipping method from A LPS, but me packing them up is pretty close to shipping overnight, but it might be a few hours longer. I'll give Mike the call in the morning to see if there is anythong special to do with the bag. I plan to carry some water taken directly from the working tank and have the battery powered backup available if if I see a problem at night.

I appreciate all your thoughts.

Mike is exceptionally careful in packing, you are in good hands.

 

[rbtwo4]

I find this amusing and shocked at the same time. Now why would someone tell you to get rid of your fish that its not like you have a $1,000.00 fish? Or even say that they are replaceable? We as fellow reefers spend lots of money and time to make our fish feel as close to home as possible and we all grow attatched and form a bond with them believe it or not. I wouldn't give away my YCG for anything I love that little guy. Now correct me if I'm wrong but there are many online retailers who do ship fish overnight and the success rate would be say what maybe 99.99% that they live? So why couldn't you just have your fish stay with a friend or maybe a LFS and when you finally get settled in and have your tank up and running then have them shipped to you via fedex or ups? That would make more logical sense then bringing them with you in a truck or giving them away. Yes it will cost you but wouldn't you pay anything to keep them?

 

[robnyc]

Thanks all I decided to sell most of them..

Please see the For Sale Section if interested in the Fish or Live Rock.

 

[Scion_TC2005]

I agree with RBTW04, For Example, I have a hippo tang that I got when it was a size of a penny I paid only $25.00 for him 2 years ago and know he's 7" inches big and you can pet him on his head. Yes he is a fish you can get anywhere but I grown really attached to it and would definately pay the overnight shipping no questions asked.
The comment by Mike Stern is his opinion of what he would do. If you love your fishes take them with you don't give them up.
Remember Fishes dont' have to be high priced to be worth keeping. Then your a person that just want to brag about your livestocjk. It what make you happy that counts.

Tim

 

[rbtwo4]

Tim that's gotta be awesome! I have my goby come up to my hand and just perch on it when I put it in the tank. Funny guy I also feed my fish with my hand they come to it and grab it right out of my fingers. Anyway good luck with the sale.