shipping threads

[moik]

Hello, I have tried to look at several sections to find a link or thread explaining shipping fish methods and I can not find anything. any help would be appreciated

[Apistomaster]

I don't know of any link on simplydiscus regarding shipping procedures. I have shipped and received many times.
Always choose overnight shipping. Fish are usually shipped individually bagged unless they are quite small.
It is always a bit stressful to all parties, including the fish; so many things can go wrong. Fortunately the methods work well enough that losses are somewhat rare. Heat packs keep up the temperatures in the winter inside polystyrene boxes inside cardboard boxes.

How you acclimate the fish is important. Don't float the bags. This can introduce diseases. Don't slowly acclimate the fish by drip methods. Plop and drop. Find out before you order what kind of water conditions they are being kept in and adjust yours to be close to the same. The shipping water becomes loaded with CO2 and ammonia. The result of the CO2 is to drop the pH and ammonia is less harmful. The increase in CO2 is also somewhat an anesthetic to the fish which is good. If you slowly acclimate the fish the CO2, rapidly leaving the water will cause the pH to rise which in turn makes the ammonia much more toxic. Ammonia burns are often the result of the slow method. This is why plop and drop is best.

Keep the lights low in their new homes and feed very lightly, live foods if possible for the first few days. Gradually increase the lighting and feeding as the new Discus begin to act more normal. It is natural for them to be very frightened at first.

[brewmaster15]

I've posted this on simply before and elsewhere...


Okay so you bred a whole mess of fish, now what ?by
Al Sabetta

Shipping is really not that difficult. You basically just need to provide the fish with water, air, and temperature control for at least a 24 hour trip.

This is pretty easy with any small fish...large fish require a little more care. Lets say you want to ship some 2-3 " discus from CT on the east coast to california on the west coast...You would first secure a shipping box with styro..If you are a fish fiend , you probably have these from receiving fish...if not stop off at you local Fish store...they always have them for free or at a cheap price...You can also check any medical labs or pharmaceutical companies near you. When I worked at one...many were just thrown out.

Okay you have the box...next you need the bags... I like to triple bag fish..so I always plan on enough to do that... I get mine at Jehmco.com , any fish supplies co sells them... I get the thickest mil I can.. and size the bag for the fish plus 1-2 ''..so for 3" -4" fish I shoot for 5-6" bags..be sure they are high enough to put enough water and air. For something like cardinals..I use about 30-40 pieces in a 10X 20 bag.

Heres the surprise to most..The waters not that important!..the air is... a big mistake is too much water...not enough air. generally I go with 1/3 volume water, 2/3 air.. and be sure theres enough water to cover the fish adequately....

Before bagging the fish , fast it at least 24 hours.(no food!).I usually go with 48 hours..This reduces wastes in the bag and reduces ammnonia stress and burns during shipping.

what about air.. In many cases you can use air from an air pump..and bag buddies..a product that puts air into the water...They are also found at Jehmco.com... I have shipped discus with just bag buddies and air from an airpump. If you plan on shipping more fish...pickup up a welding tank with oxygen and a regulator...I rent mine for $50 a year.. Then you can use straight oyxgen...This is the best way , especially for big fish or many.

next...you'll need heat regulation....fish like discus like it warm...so we use heat packs...These are basically hand warmers sold for winter sports. they cost about 50 cents -1 dollar at fish suppieshops like jehmco.com In the summer these are not that important...but in the winter..you'll need a few per box.

okay..now you need to pack the fish.. take 3 bags inside each other , you can use less if the fish are small or don't have too sharp spines... Sometimes a sheet or two of newspaper is placed between bag 1 and 2 ...This reduces spines piercing the bags and keeps in heat.

Place the fish in the bag with 1/3 water, add the bag buddy, restrict the top of the bag and add air, close tightlyby twisting, fold twist and use elastic bands to tightly tie.Place these bagged fish in another large bag used as a box liner, and again tie off. Use heat packs as needed. place inside the box and tape to the lid.

tape the styro shut, place in cardboard box and tape shut...

mark clearly which end is top.

Ship at fedex or airborne/DHL. Airport to air port is possible but requires some work since 911. American airlines, Southwestern are good bets... call first...They may give you a problem.

ship the fish...its not cheap, so be sure to figure freight. In some cases...your local post office will overnight if the locations are good..and they guarantee live arrival... Fedex and airborn do not...if theres a shipping problem..the fish are history and you are out of luck.

-al

[moik]

Hello, thanks for the help. I am trying to start shipping in the future. (MAYBE)Seems like my area is some what dead for discus and angel people. every time I come across people wanting fish, seems I am put in the situation of shipping. I am trying to do my homework first. Thanks again for the help.

[Discus-Hans]

Okay here are some pics, maybe that helps

We use for the heat packs THE CARY WAY and have very good succes with it, see pictures.

[Discus-Hans]

For packing we use clean never used water. normal we use 8 x 20" bags 4 mill.

2.5" 5 in a bag 2 bags
3" 3 in a bag 2 bags
4" 2 in a bag 3 bags
5" 1 in a bag 4 bags

Never close more as 2 bags at the same time with the same rubber bands.
Example 3 bags, first close the inner 2 together, fold the closed bags to the inside and close the 3th bag single.

[Discus-Hans]

I love to ship full boxes, not only for the money LOL LOL but if one of the bags start leaking for what ever reason, the water has not much space to go, there will 99% of the time enough water left in the bag. If the box (order) is not full, most of the time I fill the box with bags with only water to fill up.

If you fill with oxi, don't make baloons out of them, give some space or the bags will pop open in transport.

[seanyuki]

I love to ship full boxes, not only for the money LOL LOL but if one of the bags start leaking for what ever reason, the water has not much space to go, there will 99% of the time enough water left in the bag. If the box (order) is not full, most of the time I fill the box with bags with only water to fill up.

If you fill with oxi, don't make baloons out of them, give some space or the bags will pop open in transport.

Hi Hans ,

Your explanation in reply #5,6 and 7 are well noted.
In each reply are well illustrated.
Keep up the good work.

Cheers
Francis

[April]

i have to say..hans bags and boxes always come in great shape and thats even with fedex.
no wet bottoms.
he also puts a big plastic bag inside the box as a liner . actually i believe the airlines demand that now. up here anyhow.
cary of great lakes also used to have a thread on here..explaining how he put a hole wiith a heatpack over the hole for air to circulate or else the heat pack doesnt work for long. in the styro.
its not that hard..ive done it . if i can do it anyone can. i use clean water also..and i use bag buddies . one third water. two thirds oxygen. heat pack get the 48 hour ones if longer flights..and cold winter. theres always a chance of delay with transfers .
if small fish you can use small bags and one to a bag. 6 inch wide for small. 8 inch wide for larger discus. i put a layer of newspaper between the bags. helps wiht punctures and keeps them calmer. if large fish..i use three bags of thicker plastic and two layers of newsprint.