Help: Shipping Fish 101

[Domboski]

I am shipping a small fish tomorrow and wanted to make sure I have everything covered.

I'm shipping a Bristletail Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) to PA. I am using a box I just got a shipment of corals in so it is completely insulated. I also have peanuts and shipping heat pads. My main concern is oxygen. The 3" fish will be in a bag from about 7:30PM until 9 or 10AM the next day.

If I ship the fish in about a half gallon of water in a gallon bag will it have enough oxygen? or Do I need to add oxygen to the bag?

Thanks for the help!

 

[rgun2515]

I believe that all suppliers add oxygen to their shipments. Even the local pet store (jaws for one) uses oxygen now. I I am only going 10 minutes...

 

[ming]

Adding oxygen definitely helps, but I would say it depends on the size bag you are shipping it with. I was taught that more then half the bag should be full of air (oxygen or not) to help the fish get more air

 

[Domboski]

So it sounds like it is necessary. Now I have to figure out how to get oxygen :scratch:

Any ideas?

 

[ming]

Go to any store and ask nicely if you can fill a fish bag with their oxygen?

 

[Domboski]

Adding oxygen definitely helps, but I would say it depends on the size bag you are shipping it with. I was taught that more then half the bag should be full of air (oxygen or not) to help the fish get more air

So if I shipped with a large bag... say a two gallon bag and only had half of a gallon of water I should be ok? I'd much rather add oxygen but I am not sure where I can get some in Manhattan. :scratch:

 

[Domboski]

Go to any store and ask nicely if you can fill a fish bag with their oxygen?

Well I am assuming Petco, Petsmart and Petland do not have oxygen as I've never seen them use it. Samething for New World Aquarium. Where else could I go?

 

[prattreef]

I bet New World has O2.

 

[ming]

I'm not sure who has oxygen as well, but when I moved from upstate, I found a nice store which allowed me to use oxygen on my fish bags when moving.
But if you can't find one,
I'd say use almost a gallon of water and leave the rest with air. Also, make sure to not feed the day before shipping so it doesn't poop in the bag

 

[aznt1217]

Dom. New World Aquarium has Oxygen they inflated my bag with it.

 

[nijunet]

I am pretty sure New World has also..

 

[aznt1217]

Worst case scenario if they refuse to fill it up for you like... b4 you close up the bag put a rubber band around it and hook it up to like a standard air pump that is used for like basketballs or something

 

[rgun2515]

So if I shipped with a large bag... say a two gallon bag and only had half of a gallon of water I should be ok? I'd much rather add oxygen but I am not sure where I can get some in Manhattan. :scratch:

This may work...

http://www.oxygenpod.com/index.php

 

[ming]

Problem solved!
The consensus is New World.

 

[ming]

Worst case scenario if they refuse to fill it up for you like... b4 you close up the bag put a rubber band around it and hook it up to like a standard air pump that is used for like basketballs or something

If you capture air in the bag without using your mouth to blow into the bag, it works the same. I guess I should also note don't blow into the bag with your mouth because you expel co2.:lol:

 

[Domboski]

Ok I called NWA and they said they would help me They usually charge but hopefully they wont as I am sure I'll buy something while I am there. If not, I don't mind paying either.

Thanks for the brainstorming help :cheers:

 

[ming]

Ok I called NWA and they said they would help me They said they usually charge but hopefully they wont as I am sure I'll buy somethign while I am there If not, I don't mind paying either.

Thanks for the brainstorming help :cheers:

One more thing! Its a lot easier if the fish is already in the bag when filling with oxygen. Might seem pretty obvious, but it may not be so apparent until you're actually doing it.

 

[prattreef]

Charge for a 1x shot of O2????? :frown:

 

[Domboski]

It sounded more like a CYA for them. It is hard for them to understand exactly what I am doing. If I show up with a little bag I'm sure they wont charge. Time will tell.

 

[Killerdrgn]

if you're into science experiments you could just get some hydrogen peroxide and put like a piece of liver or something into it cap the bottle/whatever with an airline and then slowly fill the bag with the resulting oxygen.