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Hello everyone. I need some info on how to ship fish. What supplies are needed?

Well, I have never ordered fish by mail- so not 100%

However I have seen the shipments come into my LFS and assume you would need a similar approach. They are sent in large cardboard but sturdy boxes labeles as Fragile and Live Animals. They are packed in large plastic bags placed upright about 1/2 - 2/3 full of water. and stacked close together so they do not fall over. They also come in boxes indicating which side is up. Not sure if all carriers will read and adhere to all the markings. It would also depend on how far you are shipping them. They usually only have a couple of fish per bag.

For more details, I would visit a local LFS- you trust - And ask them for advice as well.



http://www.fishprofiles.com/site/aquarank.aspx

Depending on the length of travel you will have to add a mild sedative and for sure water quality stabilizers. There are also oxygenizer tablets available that can be added to the water. Google around and you will find more information.

What sort of fish?

It should be getting cooler on your side of the globe, so a 48hr heat pack would be advisable if they are tropicals. Other than that, fill the bags sparingly, as few fish as you can to reduce ammonia and fighting (and bodyslamming with box movement).

Find someone with an O2 bottle if you can (oxy welder, disabled grandmother, lampworker etc, there are a fair few around) and bag the fish using that. DOUBLE BAG. Couriers and postal workers get very cheesed off if your parcel starts leaking water.

Box them in a polystyrene cooler, stuff it to stop the bags moving, and tape it closed. label it in big bold print "LIVE FISH - URGENT" with your name and phone number in case something goes wrong. I'd add a "top load only" and "fragile". You can add a "this way up" but usually that isn't too much of a problem as the water will move about in the bag and cover the fish even if the box is standing on it's lid.

I don't tend to add much to the water, but the choices here are limited so maybe you'd have better options. I do add an ammonia product, usually Ammolock, but sometimes loose zeolite or ammochips.

I've had some come swimming in furan, or aquaseptic, or even indian almond leaf, and all arrived fine, but it is a bit 6 of one, half a dozen of the other as to if they helped with stress-related problems, or added to them.


Get overnight delivery, and post on a Monday or Tuesday, no later. And pack as if they'll be stuck in a cold depot for 5 days, just in case

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Thank you. They are clown loaches from another member on here.