OT: Moving fish

[betagirl]

This is way OT :)

I'm moving this week, and have a 30 gal. fish tank with 3 cichlids, a plecostomus and an algae eater. I'm trying to figure out the logistics. Have to drain the tank, keep the fish somewhere while maintaining the water temperature, move them about 25 miles, and set up the tank again. These are pretty hearty fish, so they can handle some stress. I was just curious if anyone has moved a tank and what you did.

Moving the cats will be so much easier.

[roughingit]

Oh boy did you come to the right place! At the height of my *ahem* "obsession" I had 18 tanks, two ponds and some buckets (but those didn't count...they were just baby fish honest!)...and I seem to move about two-three times per year...at least.

I'm assuming from the size of your tank that we aren't talking about foot long frontosas and a three foot long pleco here....so easiest ways to move them. For under five-inch long non-spiny fish, go bribe your LFS (local fish store) into giving you appropriately sized bags and some of those itty-bitty rubber bands. If they are nearby, you can give the fishling a hit of oxygen right when you are about to move them, but for such a short move, they should be fine in the bags. Practice closing it and trapping air at same times a couple of times with just water. For larger fish and spiny fellas, like good sized plecostomus, use five gallon buckets or even a cooler. Only fill one third of the way up to allow for sloshage. (For very long trips there are even battery-powered airstones, but you'll be fine without)

Test the water where you're moving to, if it is very different, you'll want to bring some of your old water or else you'll need to drip line them or do fussy things involving opening bag, putting in a little water...then a little more...etc. If you can't take enough water, ask me how to do a dripline, it the easiest acclimation method for you and the fish.

On moving tank itself. It's tempting to leave some water in, but don't do it! It might be fine, although *really* heavy, but there is a chance you might break the seal and that would be a pain... Also, scoop out the gravel and toss it in a five gallon bucket (or two). Put some water in there with it. If you resist the urge to rinse it off, you should be able to preserve some of your friendly bacteria crew that way. Use your old filter too and don't change it for the first week if it can go that long with the messy cichlids.

HTH!

[betagirl]

Oooo cool idea with the cooler. The cichlids are still pretty young, and are about 2 inches long. The pleco and algae eater are also babies (just got them a couple weeks ago). I'll definitely try to score some bags. The water where I'm moving is 100% lake michigan. Where I'm at now is a combination of lake michigan water and some sort of well. So it might be a little different. I'll try to bring some water from here in some gallon jugs or the like.

Thanks much for the ideas! :D

[roughingit]

Most stores will do free water testing, if you take old and new samples ;)

Just be careful when you net the plec once he's older. Their spines get caught in the net. Dunno how many of them I've had to cut out, the super big ones I just pick up, trying to lock their fins against their bodies so they don't stab me (and generally inventing new swear words in the process).

Have fun with the move!

[betagirl]

Am I the only one who is afraid of the plecostomus? I had one that was pretty big (about 5 inches). We named him The Highlander because he was able to survive several tank malfunctions that unfortunately killed off the other fish. One was when my heater went beserk and the water was 90 degrees. Nothing could kill him :D Unfortunately he did die this year, I think just from old age. I'd had him for years. I remember trying to net him and subsequently get him out of the net. Being afraid of him didn't help that process. I don't know why they freak me out so much, it's just a fish. I have no problems with the other ones. Maybe because the pleco looks so alien :eek:

[roughingit]

Hehe, did you know common plecos can get two and a half feet long?

http://aquanic.org/images/photos/ill-in/new/slides/slides%205/untitled32.jpg

I used to work in fish shops and plenty of people were afraid to net them once they got around the size of your old one, and about the time their head gets the size of a newborn baby *lots* of people got freaked out by them!

[betagirl]

I'm going to have nightmares tonight :D

[Nanci]

Plus those plecos can disappear into a tank, and you don't see them for a couple years, and when they reappear, like when you have to tear down the tank for something, they are like the size of King Kong! Very hardy fish.

Nanci

[DrBee]

I usually use a cooler. For very long trips I'll add a battery-powered airstone. Freshwater fish are usually fairly hearty (especially the pleco). If you don't get to set up the tank right away - just keep an airstone in the cooler once you get there. Air is THE most important thing. I've had success with this for weeks (yes weeks... don't ask) for both fresh and saltwater fish (damsels). Also - give the fish something to hind in during the trip, like plastic/real plants or other items that will not crash and squish them.