Store to house?

[Shea]

How long can they (the fish) survive the drive in the little plastic bag?

The reason I ask is........ their are plenty of store's around here that have fish. However I've found species I like/prefer 60 miles (45-50min drive) away.

How long can they last in their plastic travel bag?

[Wild Turkey]

45 minutes is probably fine. If its cold i usually but the bag between my legs on the ride home. Ive done 45 before with errands coming into play and traffic

[Shea]

45 minutes is probably fine. If its cold i usually but the bag between my legs on the ride home.

Alright. Cool

[Northernguy]

That should not be a problem!
A strafoam cooler to stop them from getting squished won't hurt either.
Tell the lfs you are concerned about it and they will put some Co2 in the bag.

[Shea]

That should not be a problem!
A strafoam cooler to stop them from getting squished won't hurt either.
Tell the lfs you are concerned about it and they will put some Co2 in the bag.

Thanks for the tip!thumbs2:

[Brookfish]

Get your self an old poly fish box, the lfs will have some lying around,
line with newspaper (great insulator) 45 mins won't be a prob.
if it's really cold add a heat pack.

[piper_chuck]

That should not be a problem!
A strafoam cooler to stop them from getting squished won't hurt either.
Tell the lfs you are concerned about it and they will put some Co2 in the bag.
Co2? Did you mean O2?

[korith]

I leave a cooler in the the back of the truck. On the off chance I end up going to a fish store and getting something. It's nice keeping the fish from experiencing too many temp changes.

[Northernguy]

Co2? Did you mean O2?

Oxygen:22:

[Crispy]

So 45 mins is no problem... but whats the farthest you've traveled with your fish?? I dunno if I'd trust them after maybe 3 hrs or so.... anyone????

[Shea]

So 45 mins is no problem... but whats the farthest you've traveled with your fish?? I dunno if I'd trust them after maybe 3 hrs or so.... anyone????

After a little more research on how they are shipped from the farms to the stores/homes I found for trips longer then 45min you can put them in a cooler (cheap Styrofoam type would do) that's lined with news papers will keep it insulated.

There's 3 keys to transporting fish.....

1) Keep temp stable.
In a cooler lined with newspaper. Add heating pads if necessary (colder weather)

2) Make sure they have and oxygen.
Ask the LFS employee to put the fish in a bigger bag As it will have more oxygen present. If more then 1 fish per bag ask to have fish in separate bags so the oxygen isn't used up as quick.

3) Movement should be kept to a minimum.
When the fish are in the cooler add bubble wrap, bundled up newspapers, or foam of some type to keep the bag/bags from bouncing around in the cooler.

Hope this helps. Its what I have gathered within the last hour or so.

[TazManiac]

I often hear of people travelling two hours without any issues. Any more than two hours I would start to worry.

[korith]

You could always put a battery operated air pump with air stone in a cooler if you were gonna go a longer distance/time. Keeping the fish in dark should keep them calm too.

[Dave66]

I get fish shipped to me from wholesalers all over the world. Even though they are next day, they are in-bag much longer than 45 minutes.
When I bought only retail, since I've always lived in the boonies, fish spent hours in-bag round trip from decent fish stores. Never any problems with the time.

Dave

[rageybug]

So 45 mins is no problem... but whats the farthest you've traveled with your fish?? I dunno if I'd trust them after maybe 3 hrs or so.... anyone????


I travelled with over a dozen fish from Ottawa Ont. to Thunder Bay Ont in October. They were in their own bags inside styrofoam coolers. I put several heat packs in the boxes and closed them up.... every one made the 18 hour drive without a problem!

Just make sure that you acclimate them longer if they travel longer than normal.

[Poofaye C.]

As a few of ya'll know, I used to travel for work with my fish. (one 8gal. tank) On one trip, my tank broke during the 5 hour+ drive. I had just barely left from my destination. (I was younger and dumber...just wanted my fish with me, so did what I thought I had to.) Trying not to panic too much, I put them in my fish bucket I had with me and put my battery operated air pump on. Rest of the five hours was a breeze.

So I hear 45 min. is no prob. I agree, but if you really wanted to be safe I would put them in a small cooler with battery op. air pump.

[rageybug]

As a few of ya'll know, I used to travel for work with my fish. (one 8gal. tank) On one trip, my tank broke during the 5 hour+ drive. I had just barely left from my destination. (I was younger and dumber...just wanted my fish with me, so did what I thought I had to.) Trying not to panic too much, I put them in my fish bucket I had with me and put my battery operated air pump on. Rest of the five hours was a breeze.



.... wait a minute.... you take your fish to work...?

[Poofaye C.]

.... wait a minute.... you take your fish to work...?
Stupid I know now. I used to. I didn't trust anyone else to care for them so I took them with me. I would be in other states for three to four months at a time. Did that for about four years. Never really lost many fish either. Still have three fish from when I started, some six years ago. No more traveling for them anymore....they live fat, happy, settled lives now.

[korith]

Stupid I know now. I used to. I didn't trust anyone else to care for them so I took them with me. I would be in other states for three to four months at a time. Did that for about four years. Never really lost many fish either. Still have three fish from when I started, some six years ago. No more traveling for them anymore....they live fat, happy, settled lives now.

That shows a lot of dedication to your fish. Makes me wonder what I'm going to do when I move back home once I'm done down here.

[lovleeko]

I get fish shipped to me from wholesalers all over the world. Even though they are next day, they are in-bag much longer than 45 minutes.
When I bought only retail, since I've always lived in the boonies, fish spent hours in-bag round trip from decent fish stores. Never any problems with the time.

Dave

I was just about to mention next day shipping thing. Good point

[Heliwyr]

I travelled with wolf_eyes' fish all the way from Savannah to Atlanta, GA. That's a 4 hour drive. In both cases all of her fish were alive and well. We put them in a styrofoam cooler filled up 1/3 of the way, got a car adapter for the air pump and let it run while it was wedged somewhere where it wouldn't tip over. I've done the same trip with a betta in a 1g pitcher filled halfway.

So yes, they can survive travelling as long as you make sure there's enough water and enough air in the water (the vibration from driving is usually enough to push oxygen in there).

[rageybug]

Stupid I know now. I used to. I didn't trust anyone else to care for them so I took them with me. I would be in other states for three to four months at a time. Did that for about four years. Never really lost many fish either. Still have three fish from when I started, some six years ago. No more traveling for them anymore....they live fat, happy, settled lives now.


Maybe take a picture of your fish and keep it in your wallet...!?!