FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have recently set up a second tank, and I'm considering transferring a few inhabitants of my origninal tank to the new one. As both tanks are filled with the same tap water, treated in the same way, measurements are pretty much the same (pH, ammonia and Nitrite are the same, slight variance of 5 in the Nitrate), set to the same temperature, is it OK to just net the fish out of one tank and transfer them to the new tank? Or should I bag them and them acclimatise them to the new tank as though I'd just got them home from the LFS?

The tanks are about 10 paces apart so the fish wouldn't be out of the water for very long. I worry that in tipping the fish out of the net into the bag, there could be problems with fins, feelers etc getting caught in the net. But if I can transfer the fish by lowering the net into the new tank the surrounding water will help the fish not get entangled (does that make sense?).

I would personally take the time to acclimatise them as if they were coming from the LFS. Bag them, set bag with fish in new tank and allow them to get use to the temperature for 10-15 minutes, add small amounts of tank water to bag every 5-10 minutes in order for them to get used to new parameters, and when done so and they look happy and willing... release them into the new tank.

Usually its better not to mix the bag water in with the tank water for health reasons.

If you are concerned on your fish's fins, etc. when netting try herding the fish with the net into a plastic container or bag. This is what I do with my clown loach. Some fish will cooperate some will be reluctant.

Good luck!

J.

I do it all the time. Just scoop them out of one tank and lower them into the other. Provided the older tank has had frequent water changes so the water is the same as the tapwater put in the newer tank it shouldn't be a problem. I think letting them sit in a bag instead of immediately being allowed to explore and hide in their new tank would cause more stress than any tiny differences in the water. I usually use a large measuring cup with a handle instead of a net. It's easier on the fish since nets are abrasive and they don't have to be out of the water for any length of time.

Whenever I move my fish from tank to tank I always bag them. They usually don't seem stressed and they can get used to the water that way. ^_^

Inky

I agree with sham, and that as long as the tanks are similar in all parameters and that there has been no indication of any disease in either tank then I would just catch them up and move them to the different tank.

I have personally done this without any problems on many occassions.

Jim

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

I have always just scooped them out with a net, then dump them in the other tank. I had pretty hardy fish, but that's just what i did.

†Aquapickle†

As Einstein would say: It's all very relative...

Water parameters, circumstances, situations, hardiness of fish, etc. Personally I try to keep it safe and avoid any unnecessary chances. Sure the tanks are very close together and similar in parameters so it probably will not be of consequence to just transfer them from one tank to the other.

I've heard of people bringing the fish from the LFS and just pouring the fish in with no waiting period, I've known people that don't even treat their water for chlorine, and their fish survived.

Not my choice of doing things as I like to be extra careful when dealing with livestock, but the experience of knowledgable individuals as the ones that have posted before, prove that they should be ok with just transfering them from one tank to the other. Given of course, that tanks are similar in parameters and no diseases have developed in them.

Best regards,

J.

mmmmmm,each to his own,i do both,if the fish are small and not real haryd, say tetras or loaches,then i will acclimatise them,but with my larger cichilds i just net out and whip em in,my tanks are pretty much all the same parameters too.my fh could be moved from his tank to toliet water and back again and he wouldnt care

I don't see how putting them in a bag is being extra careful. It adds stress and I would think runs much more risk than just moving them. I'm not being less careful or only saying it's unnecessary to bag them for awhile. I think it's actually better all around to move them without that waiting period provided the source water for both tanks is the same and you've tested all the usual parameters. You don't gain anything by leaving them sit in a bag for any length of time since even the slowest acclimating procedure would cause a fish you brought home from the lfs to experience faster change than moving them between 2 tanks using the same source water. No matter how you look at it leaving fish in a bag causes more stress than if they were in a tank. You can argue it's less stressful than a quick change in water parameter but there's no way it isn't stressful. A long acclimating procedure can sometimes be just as detrimentral as dumping them in if it's done wrong. I try to keep fish in the bag for as short of time as possible while still giving them time to acclimate. If I don't think I can get them safely into the tank as soon as I would like then I switch to using a dark sided bucket and drip acclimation so they won't have to sit in a clear bag with no hiding places and such a small amount of water. Anything that lessens keeping the fish in a bag for acclimating is good to me. If anything I'd stick them in a bucket with an even mix of water from the old tank and new tank for 5-10mins then add them to the new tank before I'd leave them floating in a bag any longer or more often than required.

Thanks for all the advice. I couldn't see any reason for not just switching them over, but wanted to check. The new tank has been up and running for a couple of months now, no disease in either tank (that I'm aware of) so it should be fine to switch. My Botia Sidthimunki are a bit boisterous with my Corys and DG's so I want them in the new tank. I'd already moved my DG's over there for a bit and want to bring them back. The trouble was I tried to bag one of them at the weekend and I just couldn't get him out of the net. After 2 attempts and failing I gave in - for a moment I was worried I'd killed him with stress, but he's fine now. I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to my fish and I'd hate to cause them stress. I think there's a lot less chance of it if they just go straight from tank to tank. I'll definitely try catching them in a large jug though. Should be easy, all of the fish I want to move automatically assume that anything entering the tank is food!