Keeping fish is a fun hobby, and fish are great pets for many people. Of course you will be placing your pet fish in the aquarium and don't want to move them. However, when you are about to move house, of course you don't want to leave it. Don't worry, you can safely transport your fish by placing them in the right containers and putting them back in the tank as soon as possible.
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Method 1 of 4: Ensuring Fish Safety Before Traveling
Step 1. Design the fish carrier
Unlike other pets, you can't just put an aquarium or fish tank in your car and go. You have to know the right way to transport it. Most fish survive about 48 hours of travel. If it exceeds this time, the fish's chances of survival will decrease.
- If you stop to sleep at night, take the fish with you. Do not leave it in the trailer or car unattended.
- If you must fly with fish, contact the airline to find out the requirements for transporting fish.
Step 2. Change the water a few days before traveling
Some of the water in the tank will need to be changed before you go out and transport it. This is to ensure that the water in the aquarium remains clean. Every day, about 20 percent of the water in the aquarium should be replaced within 5 days before you leave.
Step 3. Avoid feeding the fish one to two days before you depart
When traveling, of course you don't want the water in the aquarium to be dirty. Fish can survive for one week without food. So, the fish will be fine when you move. do not feed the fish within 24 to 48 hours before you depart.
Step 4. Wait until the last moment to pack the fish
Pack the fish when you're ready to go. Don't pack fish when it's still a long way to go. Do the packing before you leave to transport it.
Plan to unpack the fish as soon as you arrive at your destination. The first thing to do is to unpack the fish
Step 5. Avoid taking fish on trips, if possible
Fish are not easy pets to carry. Don't take fish with you when you go on vacation, or when you ride for fun. Fish are fragile animals. So, you should only take it with you when absolutely necessary, for example when you move house.
Method 2 of 4: Choosing a Container for Transporting Fish
Step 1. Put the fish in a plastic bag
One way to transport fish is to place them in plastic bags, which can be purchased at pet stores. Fill two-thirds of the plastic bag with water from the aquarium. Next, put one fish into a plastic bag. Do not put more than one fish in one plastic bag.
- Place the second bag on top of the first bag for added protection. This is just in case the bag leaks.
- Tie the plastic bag with a rubber band to prevent the fish and water from escaping from the bag.
- If you plan to keep the fish in the bag for more than an hour, add pure oxygen to it. You can get pure oxygen at pet stores.
Step 2. Put the fish in a 20 liter bucket
With a 20 liter bucket, you can place several fish in the same container. Buy a new bucket and don't use an old bucket that has been exposed to chemicals. Used buckets may contain residual chemicals that can harm or kill fish. Cover the bucket with a tight lid so the water doesn't squirt out.
Fill the bucket with water from the aquarium
Step 3. Place the fish into the container
Another way to transport fish is to use a covered container. Put the water from the aquarium into the container. Make sure the lid is very tight so that the fish don't fall out and the water doesn't squirt out.
These are suitable for sharp-finned fish or have the ability to jump out of plastic bags
Step 4. Bring the aquarium if it is small
If the aquarium is small, you can take it with the fish in it. Do not transport large aquariums in one unit. If you are transporting the aquarium with the water and fish, remove all other objects. Take out the rocks, decorations, and water filters. These objects can float in the water and injure the fish. You should also reduce the volume of water in it. This is useful to reduce the risk of water spilling out, and also to reduce the space where the fish might hit the walls of the tank.
- However, even small aquariums can be difficult to carry because they are heavy and break easily. If the tank falls and breaks, you could lose all the fish in it.
- Aquariums filled with water are also more prone to cracking and breaking.
Step 5. Transport the fish in an insulated and secure container
Once the fish have been put in a bag or small container, pack them all in a safe carrier. Place bubble wrap (plastic that has air bubbles) between the fish bag and another container or bag. Make sure the placement is solid and does not slip. Fish can die if the bag falls.
If you have an insulated container, try transporting fish using it. Several types of containers that are suitable for this purpose include picnic coolers (containers for storing food and drinks during picnics) and styrofoam coolers (food storage containers made of styrofoam)
Step 6. Use a container large enough for the fish
Regardless of which container you choose, use a container large enough for the fish to swim around the perimeter of the container. Fish don't need too much space, as long as they're comfortable. Also make sure to use a container large enough so that the water has sufficient oxygen for the fish.
You should fill 2/3 of the container with water, and leave the rest filled with oxygen
Step 7. Put the aquarium plants in a plastic bag
If you have live plants for your aquarium, place them in a plastic bag filled with water from the aquarium. This is to maintain the same conditions as in the aquarium and to help keep the good and important bacteria alive on the plant.
Method 3 of 4: Keeping Fish Safe on the Trip
Step 1. Fill the container with water from the top of the aquarium
You should place the fish in the water that comes from the aquarium, not the fresh water from the tap. Fill the container to transport the fish with water from the top of the aquarium. The water in this section is indeed the cleanest. If you take water from the bottom, the dirt that is there will be carried into the container and potentially spread the bacteria that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank.
Step 2. Avoid putting objects in containers containing fish
Do not add rocks or fish favorite plants to the bucket or container where the fish is transported. The container should only be filled with fish and water from the aquarium. The objects you put in can move in the water and harm the fish.
Step 3. Set the temperature
Fish should get a normal water temperature. If the water temperature fluctuates, the fish can get sick. Keep the water temperature in the container as stable and normal as when in the aquarium. This means, place the container in a part of the vehicle that allows you to use air conditioning or heating.
- You also use insulation (a kind of insulation) inside the container. This can help regulate the water temperature.
- Check the fish's temperature to see if it's too cold or too hot.
Step 4. Put the fish in a dark place
Placing the fish in a dark place can help keep the fish from stress. Fish are active and awake during the day when it is sunny, but less active at night. Place something on top of the fish tank to block out the light during the day.
For example, you could place a cloth or rug over the fish tank
Step 5. Avoid feeding the fish during the trip
Fish will feel stressed on the way so you shouldn't do anything that can add stress to the fish, for example by opening a bag or container to feed the fish. By not feeding, you don't need to do the cleaning. Fish food makes the water dirty.
Step 6. Put the fish back in the tank when you arrive
If you are using a bucket to transport fish, pour the water with the fish directly into the tank. You can also use a scoop to transfer fish from the bucket to the aquarium.
If you are using a bag to transport fish, place the bag above the water and let it float. This helps regulate the temperature of the water in the bag. If the water temperature in the bag and tank is the same, you can move the fish into the tank
Method 4 of 4: Handling the Aquarium
Step 1. Pour the aquarium water into a fish-safe container
Once you've secured your fish and aquarium plants, pour about 80 percent of the aquarium water into a fish-safe bucket or bag. The water should be drawn from the top, not the bottom of the tank. This is to limit the amount of dirt that is carried by the water.
Step 2. Place the decorations in the aquarium water
If you have rocks and other decorations in your aquarium, place them in a bag filled with water from the aquarium. This is to protect the beneficial bacteria that grow on these objects.
Do not place ornaments in the aquarium. Aquariums can crack if the ornaments inside move
Step 3. Pack the water filter properly
How to transport the water filter depends on the distance you travel when you travel. For short distances (when the filter is removed from the aquarium for a short period of time), place the filter in a clean, tightly closed, chemical-free container. Do not clean the filter.
If your trip takes a long time, you can clean the water filter and put it back in the tank when you arrive at your destination. You can also throw it away and buy a new filter
Step 4. Restore the aquarium as it was
When you have arrived at your destination, return the aquarium to its original state. Place decorations and rocks in the aquarium, then add the water you took from the tank earlier. Replace the water filter, heater and pump. Next, put the live plants back into the aquarium.
