How to Transport Fish Safely - What to Do When Moving House / Moving a Fishroom

[@RandomOzzieVids]

G’day Blake, just thought I’d mention that if anyone is concerned about water sloshing around in the tub or container, especially if anyone is travelling on rough, or dirt roads etc. You can simply grab a polystyrene box, or box lid, and cut it to size, so it fits like an interior lid, so if you’re filling your 55L plastic tub, so it’s half full, you can just cut the polystyrene piece so it fits snugly. That stop water slap. Which can be pretty brutal. Another easy tip, is cut a piece of polystyrene, so it fits as a wedge, across the width of your transport tub. So just making a basic divider, wedge it in the middle, and it only has to be a few inches into the water. That’s exactly the same principle that ships use when they are transporting liquid. Without it, any vessel carrying any large volume of any liquid, will roll over in decent seas, and sink. But for your fish, it’ll give them a far less turbulent and far less traumatising ride. Hope that all makes sense lol ✌️

[@BlakesAquatics]

Great tips! Super interesting thanks mate

[@mrzmorphine]

Thank you so much for this! I'm moving 4 hours from current place and have had my tanks about 6 months...cycled nicely and everything thriving beautifully. Found out I was gunna have to move and I got so panicked and stressed on how I was gunna move everything and keep everyone happy, healthy and balanced. Your video is a top notch easy and low budget (cuz moving is expensive!) Effective method! Will update after move how it went. Until then new sub 💕🙏🏻

[@BlakesAquatics]

Good luck 👍👍

[@mrzmorphine]

@@BlakesAquatics thank you!!

[@DanielKeepingFish]

You forgot the two litre bottle of water to hydrate you when you drive for 40 miles with the car heater on trying to keep your fish warm. 😆😂

[@BlakesAquatics]

🤣🤣

[@herpdiversity9152]

Your tips were incredibly helpful for my move so i am glad others can use it now that it is in video format

[@BlakesAquatics]

Good luck mate 👍

[@clownfern]

I'm currently thinking of buying a used fish tank that comes with some fish and plants. I was fully prepared for all the fish to die in the process,, but this video has given me some hope!

[@BlakesAquatics]

Go for it!

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Moving is always stressful, sometimes I think more on us than the fish 😓 Unless it's long distance.! The USB pumps are a must 👍💯 Thanks for the tips and advice Blake!! I hope you're having a wonderful week my friend 🙏🌿🐟🌿💚

[@BlakesAquatics]

So true!

[@OutdoorsBritain]

Brilliant video, very helpful and informative. Thank you for sharing. 👍🇬🇧👍

[@BlakesAquatics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MsDragonfire1992]

I'm doing a house swap with someone in a few weeks so I don't have the option of transporting the fish beforehand. So what I was thinking is to put them all in fish bags and put about 90% of the tank water into barrels to go back into the tank again afterwards and to leave a little in the bottom so bacteria that's also on the gravel won't die and will put the ornaments, plants and filter into bags of the tanks water too.

[@BlakesAquatics]

no point in saving the water, its just going to be really heavy and cumbersome. Bacteria doesn't live free-floating in the water so better to refill the tanks, allow the temp to adjust and then reintroduce the fish. at maximum a few litres so you can drip in the new water in case it is drastically different to your current water but if you are only moving a few suburbs it should be very similar.

[@evie9239]

@@BlakesAquatics this makes me feel better. I can't prepare a tank beforehand either. I was worried I was going to have to transport 5 liters of tank water with me in barrels.

[@kathrineprescott]

I’m moving to Colorado from Florida and up in the mountains off grid. 😢 I hope they survive. I’m very nervous on what to do I’ve NEVER done this before. I’ve only had one beta and now I have 15 fish and three tanks. 2 ten gallons and one 20 gallon

[@BlakesAquatics]

Good luck!!

[@kathrineprescott]

@@BlakesAquatics thank you 🙏🏼

[@Shushfrrn]

What happened

[@kathrineprescott]

@@Shushfrrn sadly I had to give away my tanks to friends. Instead of back to the pet store…the one tank I took with me broke because the ride was soooo bumpy so I need a new tank and I’m thankful I decided to not bring my fish because they all would have probably died with all the bumpiness and lack of space in the car as we traveled with a handful of husk puppies and their moma and no room in the little u-haul they got for me. Luckily tho my fish are thriving in Florida and I kept my moss balls lol 😅 hoping to start a terrarium soon. Or some sort of eco scene with mostly plants

[@christinbreezy2284]

I'm moving from NC to Maryland and I'm moving 8 tanks. I'm so nervous!

[@MatildasMama]

love this ! thank you, Blake !

[@anselmmoro5795]

Thank you so much. This helps a lot.

[@theenduropest]

Cheers mate! Very helpful video, subbed 🤙

[@BlakesAquatics]

Thanks for the sub!

[@dcsafricancichlids7109]

Thankyou for the tips mate 👍

[@jpc486]

I'm getting ready to move across town as well. So this video was very timely. Thanks very much 👍.

[@BlakesAquatics]

Good luck 👍

[@andrescastaneda5362]

Hi Blake. This video is great, I learned how to transport fish when short distances. We spend Christmas with relatives in Texas and we drove from Chicago. Santa gave one of my kids a 20 gal fish tank with 20 cebras and 6 tiger barbs. We have to drive back to Chicago and I am super concerned for the wellbeing of the little ones. The entire trip will take 3 days driving 10 hours for 2 days and 6 hours the last day. We will be spending the night at a hotel the first 2 days. My plan was to transport them in bags and each night place them in the fish tank carrying the stablished water in a separate container. Will the fish survive in the bags for 10 hours each day? If my plan is not good what would be the best set up to travel for three days. I love the container idea with the bubbler, can I do this moving the fish around in the container for all three days? Thank you in advance!

[@BlakesAquatics]

10 hours a dat is no problem however i dont like the idea of stressing them rebagging them every day etc. If it was me id probably keep them bagged for the first 2 days and only do 1 rebag / refresh in the middle of the trip

[@BlakesAquatics]

Re: the second question yes you can id just do a 20% water change daily

[@edstar81]

great information as always

[@BlakesAquatics]

Cheers mate 👌

[@Sunshine-pr4tu]

So I am moving to a new apartment, it is a 5 min drive. I have a 20 & 10 gallon tank. Unfortunately I do not have a spare tank so I can set up. How would I go about moving them? Do I just take them out in some bags and drain the water? I'm mostly worried about having to cycle my tank again. Should I put them in the tank once it's set up even though it is not cycled yet?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Ok so save the tanks until the last thing of the day, those sizes arent bad just drain the tanks to have enough water to cover the substrate and yep just bag them up as normal. Keeping the substrate wet for 10 mins or so will keep plenty of the bacteria alive and keep the cycle

[@frespiritduc]

Great tips - do you have any additional tips if I am moving over 20 hours drive time to my destination?

[@BlakesAquatics]

20 hours should be ok, not uncommon for fish to be shipped for 3 or 4 days

[@kimmylou1965]

That was my question. I have to drive 20 hours/1,440 miles. I got my fish during the pandemic and I enjoyed watching them. I really can’t bear giving them away.

[@BlakesAquatics]

@@kimmylou1965 best to bag them up, 1/3 of the bag maximum water 2/3 air and theyll be fine as long as they dont get too cold

[@danfrench2008]

I’m moving about 500miles 7-10hour drive, how best do I do this and get the tank set back up. I’ve got a canister filter, and portable power station should I run an air stone and heater into a bucket?

[@TomWri-tk5nn]

Moving out of state by September got a large Oscar how can I transport

[@MAGA_trump1234]

What if you could drive 53 hours to get to a whole new state about two days with the fish be ok?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Yeah thats fine, they were likely in a bag longer to get to the shop in the first place

[@dustinhokanson9336]

How do you move fish if you don’t have another tank how long does it have to sit b4 I can put them in it

[@BlakesAquatics]

If the sponges or substrate are kept damp straight away because the bacteria shouldve stayed alive

[@apss5736]

awesome video

[@TripleJAquatics]

Awesome vid!

[@BlakesAquatics]

Thanks 🙌

[@sophiie1877]

Hey thank you for filming this, it’s really helpful. Would you say it was okay to keep my red cherry shrimp in the tank and reduce the water to maybe like 10% and then put my cardinal tetra into a bucket with the water? I’m only moving like 20 minutes away, but I really don’t have a clue how to move the tank and whether I can keep all the substrate still in the tank 🙈

[@BlakesAquatics]

Ive definitely done that yes

[@frenchyfruuu9752]

I live in NSW and plan on moving to SA, I have a large flowerhorn and she is my cherished, I love her so much but I’m so scared to move with her… will it be cheaper to put her in a plane with me if it’s allowed ? Driving will take 2 days

[@MAGA_trump1234]

I got the same problem, but I’m moving to a different location than you

[@br8ve490]

Ok So we’re moving and I have 2 fish and I’m gonna try to transport them and I don’t have any heavy duty containers or ice chests I can drill a hole into so can you help? I was thinking maybe putting them 2 in a small container for the drive (10 min drive) and have conditioned water in a bigger container at our new house for them to stay in until we get settled in but if I’m wrong just tell me how to transport them through a 10 min drive pls and thank you

[@BlakesAquatics]

Might as well get a couple of fish bags from your local fish store 👍

[@fishstyx5945]

I'm picking up a fully set up 29gal with a couple of angelfish, some glowlight tetras, some cory cats, and some kuhli loaches this Wednesday. It's 2 and a half hours away. Should I separate the angels from the others? And if so, should the two angels be kept together?

[@BlakesAquatics]

I wouldnt bother, if you have a transport container that will be dark it wont be a major issue

[@sar-dwwn]

Hey Blake, a little unrelated to this video but needed to ask you as im about to head to bunnings . I am making a slate tile background for my 6ft and need to know what to mount it on…. It will be heavy… ill use sellys glass for glueing and will wait till it cures. Would the core flute be a good idea inside the tank?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Interesting one. Silicone wont really stick great to corflute and youd need to seal the edges. Maybe best just another sheet of glass to reinforce things

[@sheridanford5080]

Thanks Blake! About to move, with my 22 year old catfish. Any info on keep cycle alive? That's what worries me. Thanks

[@BlakesAquatics]

Dont worry about transporting water or anything like that, just keep any substrate or filter media submerged with some water movement and youll be all good

[@sheridanford5080]

@@BlakesAquatics cheers mate. I did get advised to move water- 400 litres is a lot!! Glad you don’t agree. Never have before and it’s been good, just worried about the age of the catfish!!!