Fish on a plane...?

[deangelr]

Alright so I am relocating for a job from Austin, TX to Kennewick, WA. A bit too far to just throw everthing in a bucket and drive.

I am really only concerned about keeping my Platinum Clowns (I call mine panda clowns cause platinum is just a stupid name). Anyway..

I am actually considering two options. First since I will have to drive, I could throw the clowns in a bucket with LR and a airator for 3 days. The other option that I think may actually be less stressfull is to put them in a shipping container (fill bag with 1/3 h2o and 2/3 o2 the ususall stuff) and just put them in animal cargo on the plane... I already have a new tank set up in WA.

Does this seem possible..?

im too lazy to post pics photos are under the thread "One year old platinums!!"

 

[shifty51008]

i would talk to Samuel L. Jackson cause I know he hates snakes on a plane lol.

anyway I think I would do the plane route, as that would only take 1 day as to the 3 days of sloshing around in a bucket. if you can find someone to ship it to that can put it in the new tank for you that would prob. be the least stressful on them.

 

[crvz]

you can check them, but I may find someone local to ship them to you. I've shipped stuff regularly enough that I'd have confidence doing that. Fedex priority overnight is my preference.

 

[OrionN]

You cannot take the fish onto the plane with you. You know the 3/3/3 rule regarding liquid. All you can do is pack them up and FedEx them to you in WA. You may be able to ship them as luggage on your same flight. I would call and check with the airline first.
Many years ago, before 9/11, I flew on southwest. I called ahead of time to make sure that I can take 4 live clams on to the plane with me from CA to Texas. Everything was "OK" per the person I talk to but when the times come I was not able to take them with me on to the plane or ship them as luggage. My brother have to go to LAX pick up the clams and bring them back to Jeff's Exotic Fish and have them ship overnight to me. Of the 4 clams, 2 did not make it through the ordeal.

 

[deangelr]

Yes I understand that I am not able to take more than 3oz of liquid through security. However, i have checked with the airline and I am able to pack a small box with the fish and place them in the animal compartment. This is a pressurized temperature controlled cabin.. So I feel that is a pretty safe bet

??

 

[JeF4y]

Fedex brought me a box of livestock yesterday all the way from CA to GA. Got here via aircraft...

Livestock flies all the time. That's how it manages to get to the US from Fiji, Australia, etc.

Visit your LFS and see if you can buy or get a livestock shipping container. Generally just a styrofoam cooler inside a cardboard box. FWIW, my stuff came with no heat packs or cold packs and the overnight temps in GA were in the low 40's. It was below 50 degrees when the stuff arrived, and it was still plenty warm enough to stay alive...

 

[deangelr]

That is really what I am leaning towards.. My fish cam from WI to TX.. over 30 hrs of travel in a box.. I feel they can certainly handly a 6 hour plane trip.

 

[deangelr]

where can I get 02? medical supply?

 

[albano]

How much extra will they charge for 'animal compartment'? I often bring fish and corals from LA to NY...they are in coolers that are put in 'regular' baggage comp (also pressurized/heated)....I check them in at the special handling/oversize desk, and never had a problem ($15 checked baggage fee)

 

[OrionN]

Yes I understand that I am not able to take more than 3oz of liquid through security. However, i have checked with the airline and I am able to pack a small box with the fish and place them in the animal compartment. This is a pressurized temperature controlled cabin.. So I feel that is a pretty safe bet

??

If you can do this, they would be fine. You can get O2 at the LFS but this really is not needed for 8 hrs-10 hrs trip. I would make sure that you triple bag the fishes, use two or more rubber bands each time to tight the bag. Pressure change as the plane go up and down may rupture the bag and can cause leak. Breakage of one rubber band will not unravel you bag. When I shipped my fish or corals, this is what I do. I used to ships a lot of my fish and coral selling them over the internet. Doing triple bags and two rubber bands maybe overkill but none of my shipments ever have problem with lost of water or even leakage. Consider bag each fish separately. This will improve survival rate of the fish.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Look at the dangers of o2 as well. Ammonia is far less dangerous at a higher ph where it is ammonium. When you add pure o2 to the bag, the ph drops, and makes any fish pee much more deadly. It works well for short trips from the lfs to your house, but many recommend against it on a 18+ hour flight.

 

[deangelr]

scuba steve.. not sure what you mean... I am planning on using Oxygen Just in case the plane get delayed or something.. I have to change planes in salt lake so who knows if a flight gets dealyed.

Ive never heard adding oxygen as a bad idea for longer trip?

 

[deangelr]

also my flight is only 8 hours no 18

 

[CJO]

Look at the dangers of o2 as well. Ammonia is far less dangerous at a higher ph where it is ammonium. When you add pure o2 to the bag, the ph drops, and makes any fish pee much more deadly. It works well for short trips from the lfs to your house, but many recommend against it on a 18+ hour flight.

? Oxygen raises the pH. Carbon dioxide lowers it.

CJ

 

[deangelr]

CJO are you then agreeing with me that I should put O2 in the bag?

 

[OrionN]

O2 does not change pH. Just the CO2 put out by the fish lower the pH. Short trip like 10 hrs or so should not be a problem. O2 in never a bad idea, but the two clowns should not need it.

 

[overklok]

I have done this. I have an aquarium collectors license from the state of Hawaii. When I was in Kauai this summer I came back with convict tangs. I put them in Fiji water bottles filled half way with fresh seawater, packed them in my checked luggage. They made the trip with no issues. This is a flight from Kauai to Washington DC. I have done this two times and have had 100 percent survival rate. You should have no problems

 

[CJO]

O2 does not change pH. Just the CO2 put out by the fish lower the pH. Short trip like 10 hrs or so should not be a problem. O2 in never a bad idea, but the two clowns should not need it.

Sorry about that. You're correct.

CJ

 

[deangelr]

alright look like im gonna put them on the plane.. I plan on packing them up the same way they came to me.. In a big bag, tripple bagged with o2. Then in a stryofoam box full of peanuts and then in a regular cardboard box.

Someone spoke of it earlier, but should I seperate the fish? I understand how that could increase survival, less waste more space.. But, together they always seem less stressed.

let me know what yall think?

 

[jeff@zina.com]

When shipping fish, individually bag them. Same in your case.

Jeff