I have been doing research, and I have an empty 20 gallon tank that I would love to have house a few freshwater dwarf puffers. My only issue is that in Septmember, I need to take a 7 hour drive back to college. Is it feasible that the puffers would survive the transport? Any suggestions for my situation? I have transported my male Bettas with me, but that's different since they do not breathe oxygen through their gills and water, they take breaths from the surface. Thanks in advance! Also, mods, if this topic is in the incorrect place, feel free to move it!!
you could put the dwarf puffer in a huge bucket and somehow get an air pump and stone in there for it. Maybe one of those ac adapters for cigarette lighters to an actual outlet. just a suggestion though.. i guess the temp could swing along in the ride aswell...
khoa.tran wrote:you could put the dwarf puffer in a huge bucket and somehow get an air pump and stone in there for it. Maybe one of those ac adapters for cigarette lighters to an actual outlet. just a suggestion though.. i guess the temp could swing along in the ride aswell...
I could somewhat regulate temp with hot water bottles and such. I did hear about some air pumps that can maybe be run off batteries? I hadn't thought about the outlet adapters for the cigarette lighter ports. That could work.
My Puffers: 1 GSP (Microfiche) RIP, 1 Monotrete Turgidus (Leon) in a 30gal. 1 Monotrete suvattii in a 40 gal FW. 120 gallon BW with 3 juvenile Dragon Gobies (so cool). 55 gal with a 2" GSP named Hank. 180 gallon being set up for a Fahaka in the next few months!
If you have a 5 gallon bucket you can just transport in there it should be fine. If you feel the need to warm them on the trip, Wal Mart or a local sporting goods store sell hand warmers that are air activated. You can put the fish in a bag inside the bucket and use the hand warmers on the outside of the bag. I have shipped fish by next day mail by double bagging them, adding a heat pack, and making sure they had an air pocket on top of the water and they have been fine.
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
You can definitely get a battery-operated pump. I've seen them in the Drs. Foster & Smith catalogue. Also, I've heard that a cooler is a great way to transfer fish. It's less likely to splash than a bucket, and it keeps the temperature steadier. Just make sure it's new, or else wash it out with Oxy-Clean (yes, laundry detergent!) and really, really rinse it. You could get the cheap styrofoam kind.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Yep, I've transported fish like that many times. A cooler is easiest IMO.
What I would suggest, if you know you are travelling ahead of time, is get a cheapy sponge filter (the kind driven by an air pump) and let it sit in your tank and get nice and full of bacteria. Then, for the drive, you can either run the battery powered air pump to run it or use a cig lighter adapter for a regular plug in one, and your fish will continue to have a nice, cycled filter to keep them comfortable for the trip (and once you get to your location, no worries about the filtration totally crashing).
There's also an article in the library about moving/transporting fish and tanks that might help.
