Moving Fish

Hello first time poster here, This newsgroup looks really informative so
I'll ask you lovely people to help me.
I'm gonna be moving house soon and I'd like to know the best way of moving
my dear Isambard (he/she is a tank living, bog standard goldfish).
If you need more info feel free to ask any questions. I just don't fancy
strapping his tank in the front seat of the car :-)))

Heather

"Heather" wrote in message
...
Hello first time poster here, This newsgroup looks really informative so
I'll ask you lovely people to help me.
I'm gonna be moving house soon and I'd like to know the best way of moving
my dear Isambard (he/she is a tank living, bog standard goldfish).
If you need more info feel free to ask any questions. I just don't fancy
strapping his tank in the front seat of the car :-)))

When we moved from town out here we had several tanks. We drained them way
down and wrapped them in blankets, leaving the fish in the tanks. But then
we didn't have far to go.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Thanks KL,
I take it you drained them down to prevent spillage? Should I take out all
the gravel and transport that separately, ? it would cut down on the weight.
and give the fish more water.
How low did you go? in relation to the depth of the fish?
And why did you wrap them in blankets? were they tropical? mines cold water.
Unfortunately I'm travelling from the west of Ireland to London, England,
about 500 miles at a very rough guess.
Heather

"Heather" wrote in message
...
Thanks KL,
I take it you drained them down to prevent spillage?

Yes and to make them light enough to carry. One was a 55g tank.

Should I take out all
the gravel and transport that separately, ? it would cut down on the
weight.

We left the gravel in, with just enough water to cover the fish's backs.

and give the fish more water.
How low did you go? in relation to the depth of the fish?

The remaining water just covered their dorsal fins. If your fish are large
you can put them to something else to move them. Something like a cheap
tote from Wal*Mart or K-Mart.

And why did you wrap them in blankets?

To keep the glass from getting scratched or cracked.

were they tropical?

Most were goldfish. A few were tropicals but I moved in early summer so it
was warm here.

mines cold water.
Unfortunately I'm travelling from the west of Ireland to London, England,
about 500 miles at a very rough guess.

That's a long trip. I would put them in a plastic tote with a battery
powered airstone. Bring extra batteries. When I moved from New York to TN
I sold my fish rather than try and move them 1000 miles.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

http://weloveteaching.com/puregold/c...tm#MOVING_FISH

"Heather" wrote:

Hello first time poster here, This newsgroup looks really informative so
I'll ask you lovely people to help me.
I'm gonna be moving house soon and I'd like to know the best way of moving
my dear Isambard (he/she is a tank living, bog standard goldfish).
If you need more info feel free to ask any questions. I just don't fancy
strapping his tank in the front seat of the car :-)))

Heather




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Zone 5 next to Lake Michigan

Hi Heather,

So in fact you are talking about a sea crossing - hmmmm....are you
Northern or Eire?....there might be import issues between two EU
countries (shouldn't be but there might be)....there certainly would be
from mainland Europe.....as far as I'm aware....

Personally, I would look at finding a good home for Isambard....we are
at the time of year when sea crossings aren't brilliant - just look at
the last two days with the tail end of Hurricaine Gordon....Get your
removal firm to pack up the tank nicely and then start again when you
hit the UK...I don't think that he would survive the trip

If you are that attached - investigate getting a professional to ship
him but it will cost you....no way would I take a fish across the Irish
Sea in his existing tank (presumably to Liverpool) with our autumnal
weather conditions followed by a 200 mile drive plus to London - it just
will not work....

But hey, ho - JMO

Gill

Hi Ingrid,

I presume, just like Koi-Lo, you have missed the fact that this will
involve a sea crossing....at a time of year when you can describe the
sea as "choppy" at best.....Yesterday, wind speeds in this area were 80+
MPH....I wouldn't have wanted to be on the sea let alone transporting
fish across.....

My advice to the OP would be to find a new home for the fish or to get a
professional shipper if they are willing to pay....no way would I take a
fish across the Irish Sea at this time of year.....and I would be
reticent about doing it any other time of year as conditions are
unpredictable....

I have moved fish from house to house in the past....and did use much
the method that you advocate.....on a local move it isn't a problem and
in truth is the only way to do it.....but a journey of this type it is
not feasible to use the methods that we would advocate for a shorter
trip - even if we count 500 miles as a short trip....it is that many
miles, across sea, with the tank and fish sitting in the hold with no
control over what happens to it, a long, long wait to get on and off the
ferry.....you can add at least 3 hours onto the journey (believe me I've
just done it)......

The OP either needs to rehome the fish or pay big money to get it
shipped by air.....sorry, no other option

Gill