oUCH- What could be done to prevent the loss?
I don't have any spare buckets but I just moved this past weekend and let me tell you: prepare. I lost 6 fish and countless corals in the move.
Frankie i have about 4 or 5 you can have i can try and bring them saturday for you.
Joe
If you want you can borrow my 20 long with a HOB filter. you can keep your fish and coral in there till you set up the tank. To be honest, I wouldn't trust a pet store... they have enough of their own fish to worry about. UNLESS, you know the owner pretty well.
Consider buying some rubbermade tubs to set up so you have larger tubs than 5 gallons and you can not worry about getting your fish in right away.
Good luck!!