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I'm graduating from college this week and I need some advice on what the best way to transport my fish is. It is approximately a 2.5 hour drive and I already have a cycled tank waiting for them at home, but I'm not sure how to get them there. Thanks for any suggestions.

depending on the type and size of fish, would kind of make a difference in general here is what I would do:

Take them and bag them up in a ziplock bag (one that is clean, and doesn't leak), then I'd double bag it...place them in an icechest, with paper or something to keep them stable, and not rolling around (or a small insulated lunch bag works if you don't have many), drain some of the water from their current tank into some empty 1 gallon water bottles, and cap them (you don't want to totally freak them out in a brand new tank, even if it is cycled). And head on home. 2.5 hours is an easy trip...Oh and don't feed them the day before or the day of the trip. When you get home leave the lights off also, as this will help with the stress...

hml

PS Congratulations on Graduation!!! What is your degree in?

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Depends on what size tank you have. Bettas can stay in their tanks (drop water level down to avoid splashing) if it's a one or two gallon tank. However, anything else bigger requires complete emptying.

Easiest way (I just moved my sister's tank from school back to home) is to get a cooler - line it with a new garbage bag if you're unsure as to what's been in there. Syphon some of the water into the cooler. Make sure it's a pretty big cooler... you probably want about half of the water, or more depending on the fish you have. And depending on what size tank you have.

Hmm... rereading your post, you have another tank you're going to put the fish in? You're not taking the tank with you? I can tell you how to preserve the bacterial colonies.

Anyway, water in cooler, fish go in cooler, as well as any plants. You could either put the filter pad/biowheel in a plastic bag full of water or put those in the cooler as well. Put any rockwork or decor in a bucket. If you get one with a lid, you could put water in there, as well, to keep the decor wet and bacteria happy.

You could also use a bucket for the fish instead of the cooler, but the cooler keeps the temperature regulated and gives more room for air exchange. In a bucket, you might want to get a battery powered air pump and drop an airstone in. We drove an hour and a half home and the fish were fine. I've been taking care of them since my sister's not graduating for a couple weeks yet (it was either bring them home this past weekend or wait until graduation weekend, and it would have been too hectic).

One caution, find a pair of strong guys... we had ten gallons of water in our cooler, while is about eighty pounds. Personally, I would not have trusted myself to be on one side of the cooler while going down stairs. I could LIFT it and carry it, but I wouldn't test the theory while winding down a flight of stairs. *shrugs*

Congrats on graduation... where from and what were you studying?

Edit: I hate it when I'm answering and someone else posts! Hi heidi!

Edit again: We left the gravel in the tank after syphoning off as much water as we could. Just make sure not to twist the tank while moving it otherwise you could break the seams and cause a leak! That would be bad!

Last edited by Kitten at 03-May-2005 10:29

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Thanks for the help guys. I have a few larger fish (Jack Dempsey, Green Terror), so I might give that cooler thing a try. I assume I would have to find some pretty big ziplocks for these fish if I went that route. And I am taking the tank home too, so I would be interested in saving the bacteria if you would like to share your tips with me. Thanks for the congradulations too, I'm graduation in accounting from the University of Toledo in Ohio. Thanks again for your help.

Sorry, you already told me how to keep the bacteria alive, I just read too fast. Thanks again.

Hmm... I know someone going to Ohio for college... dunno that it's Toledo, though. Whichever college is known for fencing. She's a great fencer from what I've heard.

As for the bacteria, keep the filter pad (and biowheel, if you have one) wet. In the cooler would be your best bet... or keep it with you in the car and open the bag every so often if you put it in a ziploc bag full of water. You just want to make sure it's wet and kept aerated. We managed the trip with it sealed in a plastic bag, but it only takes a little over an hour to get from milwaukee to chicago. *shrugs*

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~