They say the world is smaller than it ever was before. When it comes to buying and shipping fish this is true. I live here in Texas and can get fish from all over the world, but especially all over the nation. A breeder in New York can send me some great fish the same day I get great fish from Florida, California, and other places. The great news is that you can use this same idea to share great fish you have bred with friends and family, you can use shipping to get your fish in a cross country move, and you can even sell fish to others all over the nation. The only thing you need is a great plan for shipping.
The box.
The first place to start with any shipping project is the box. You want a box that is big enough to put all your fish in after they have been bagged. You will also need room for insulating the box to protect the live fish from temperature changes and extremes in hot and gold. At the same time you don't want your box to be too big. A box that is too big will make it hard to make sure that your fish don't do a lot of moving around and could cause damage to the fish.
In addition to finding or buying the perfect size box you will also want to make sure that you are buying a very sturdy box. Most of the time the carrier you choose to use isn't likely to know or care that you have live fish in there. Your box will be stacked up, pushed around, and pressure will be put on it. Make sure that your box can handle all of this hard handling.
Insulate the box.
Once you have your box you will want to make sure that you insulate it. This means that you should place a Styrofoam cooler or similar set up inside the box. You can always use a cooler if you have one or want to buy one. There are also some other Styrofoam boxes available. However, if you are looking to save money you will want to make your own. You can buy a large sheet of Styrofoam insulation from your local hardware store. Cut this into the perfect size to fit into the box on each side (including a lid). It can be a good idea to tape up your edges because if there is a water leak the Styrofoam will protect the cardboard box.
Bag Your Fish.
Now that you have a great box that will protect your fish from shipping hazards and hot and cold temperatures you will want to bag your fish. There are two options for bags. You can choose a thick plastic bag that is at least 1.5 millimeters thick (or thicker). These bags come in a wide range of styles, seams, shapes, sizes, and so on. Your best option is to try a few different bags and figure out the ones that you like best since it is usually a preference.
The other option is to choose a Kordon breather bag. These bags are made of a special material where they are supposed to let the carbon dioxide out of the bag and let oxygen in. There are a few good points about these bags and a few disadvantages to them as well. First you are making sure that your fish has plenty of oxygen and you don't have to worry about a large bag because you don't need 2/3 of a bag of air. It also makes it possible to ship in a smaller box. For most fish these bags work great though there is a lot of debate as to whether fish shipped in them do better than fish shipped out of them. At the same time some fish shouldn't be shipped in them including those that breathe from the surface of the water (bettas, gouramis) and those that use surface air to move up and down the tank (corydora catfish). It is best to make sure that the fish you are shipping can be shipped safely in these bags. These bags also cost a lot more than other types of bags. These bags are currently only available in a large size and a small size, which can be hard for medium size fish and shipments.
Now its time to bag that fish!
Ship Those Babies Out!
Once you have your fish all ready to go you should ship them out as soon as possible. Don't leave them laying around the house waiting, because the sooner you get them out the sooner they can be processed and on their way.
Shipping can be done by Priority mail if the weather permits it. If it is really hot or really cold you should avoid shipping fish Priority. Express costs more, but will get your fish there faster because priority can take more than 3 days! You can also ship fish via UPS and FedEx for fast options, but often times these are expensive options.
Make sure you send it with a confirmation and that you let the people who will receive your fish know that it is coming. This will make it possible for them to be there when the package arrives.
Sit Back and Relax.
You have done a good job and now all you can do is sit back and relax. Your job is done and in most cases that will be plenty to insure that you have fish that arrive healthy. The only time that isn't true is when the fish aren't very healthy to begin with so make sure you are selling healthy fish and you have it in the bag!
Shipping fish does take a little work. However, it can be rewarding, both in knowing that you are sending your fish out there and even financially if you are selling and making money with your fish. There are many different choices and you are going to have to figure out what works best for you and go from there!
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