shipping during freezing temps
- Thread starter igot2gats
- Start date
jason2459
Well-known member
There have been some holds put in place recently. And when they do ship they don't let the fish freeze unless its to a supermarket.
violet21chewy
New member
I have had a coral shipment on hold for 2 weeks due to weather. Gotta love iowa
Just received a order from Live Aquaria on Tuesday. Temp outside was low teens.
Shipment was delayed on truck for delivery due to snow.
No heat packs in box. (what were they thinking) Water temp was around 50 deg.
Two of the fish were doa other 2 acclimated and seem to be recovering.
Shipment was delayed on truck for delivery due to snow.
No heat packs in box. (what were they thinking) Water temp was around 50 deg.
Two of the fish were doa other 2 acclimated and seem to be recovering.
devimik
Member
Just had an order delivered from Live Aquaria last Tuesday as well. Luckily, I was looking out for the delivery because it was single digits temps and the UPS guy just left the box on my front porch without even ringing the bell or knocking. Had I not been looking out, it would have sat there for hours and the fish would have died.
There was a heat pack in the box, which was a Styrofoam cooler with packing peanuts, so it was warm enough. Fish was acclimated ok and doing well now.
There was a heat pack in the box, which was a Styrofoam cooler with packing peanuts, so it was warm enough. Fish was acclimated ok and doing well now.
I advise my vendors that I want a hold on it. A 20 hour heat pack and a styrofoam container should work, but I never want to take a chance.
toothybugs
New member
I have a pair of Galaxy Clarkiis on indefinite hold until it hits 40. Courtesy of a major, major vendor.
gone fishin
New member
Just the other day I emailed a vendor asking how shipping was going. The cold and some delays have caused some issues. I will wait for a warm up to renew the CUC.
Too cold is better than too hot- when it comes to survival. If I dont have to have something, I avoid extremes. But when I was in business I had to ship and recieive all year long. I never had any issues with my shipping out, and as I recall the losses due to weather were not much more than any other shipping issues year round from other vendors.
Had shipment in the early January cold snap flight was delayed due to weather so package missed the sort at the local facility. Arrived nearly 3 pm. Heat pack nearly expired. Water temp very low but Huchtii Anthias alive. Very loagy. Floated 20 minutes then dropped into QT. He recovered but clearly winter shipping is extra risk.
unless it's something i simply can't live w/o, i won't have livestock shipped in the winter after losing 2 possum wrasses to the cold/delays last year.
i've been to the local pet store 3 times to pick up a few ghost shrimp, treats for my hawkfish and wrasses. i was told that every single shipment for the past month has been doa so they won't be getting any until spring.
i've been to the local pet store 3 times to pick up a few ghost shrimp, treats for my hawkfish and wrasses. i was told that every single shipment for the past month has been doa so they won't be getting any until spring.
That's pretty much where I am. Too many shipping losses during the really cold months. But there's always that one .....
Besides airline perishable embargoes, it completely depends on the shipper. There are shippers that won't use more than two heat packs in a box no matter where or when. We often use 4-6 in winter to cold areas depending temps. Good shippers watch the weather closely and know what and how to do it right. I've shipped Alaska, MN, NH, etc. in Jan. and Feb. without issues. We use 40+ hour heat packs, not the one day cheapies, in case something gets stuck on the way, especially important for connection flights. The airlines are often overly sensitive to freezing with their embargoes. Heat packs can't get wet and have to stay above certain temps or they quit burning. Besides a delay, a loss due to cold is simply a shipper that doesn't know what he's doing. A heat pack raises temps in a box about 10 dF per heat pack, use 6 long-burn ones and there are no issues. Yes it costs $5-10 more for the shipper, and this often sadly is why there are cold losses. Not because it can't be done. A number of shippers in LA ship every week, everywhere, without issues. Then lots of others have problems. Some have problems in good weather. It is not the air temps.
warmly,
warmly,
3FordFamily
In Memoriam
I have ordered a lot since christmas and they've all been fine. Styrofoam keeps temp well especially when you add heat packs. The more bags of fish the better the temperature holds.
