Corals on airplanes as carryons?

[brog]

Anyone know if this is allowed? Would like to transport corals in a carryon bag if they will let me. If yes, any special packaging tips?

 

[FishBeard]

Here is the liquids regulation for carry-on luggage.

http://www.tsa.gov/311/

I'm not sure if having a coral in a 3.4oz container would be wise depending what you want to carry on, and you would be limited to however many containers you can fit in a 1qt clear bag.

 

[Russellaqua]

They might allow it, but the TSA places a 3 oz limit on liquids containers, and all containers with liquids must fit in a 1 quart bag. The most you could carry is a couple very small frags as carry-on.

 

[reefkoi]

I've carried on a single chalice frag in a 4 ounce cup without issue, if you bag it you are screwed, it has to be factory marked how many ounces are in it. Just put it in your checked luggage its much better and you can take several that way

 

[benjabba]

Just put it in your checked luggage its much better and you can take several that way

I have done this many times. Box it up like you normally would and put it in your suitcase or bag.

 

[dnov99]

Coming back from Macna in Orlando, security would not let us thru. Just place it in your checked luggage, I do this every time I come back from WWC in FLA. LOL.

 

[HappyHoney41]

I brought two boxes of live lobsters back from Canada as carry-ons, but they were not in water... They were yummy...

 

[KevinK1]

A wet bathing suit works great for SPS. Normally I separate the two going through security then rewrap the suit around the coral after Im through. I've gone 12 hours this way from taking the coral out of water through reacclimation and Im 3 for 3.

(dont forget to make sure your suit is wet with water from the tank/ocean):wink:

 

[Niño]

I did carry on's for my z's and p's that I picked up from Reef-A-Palooza in Oct. I just made sure my water amount in the containers were below the 3oz regulations, and TSA didnt bother me.

 

[Y-Diver]

I have done this several times with no issues. I used pill containers that had not been used before. The pharmacy was more than willing to give them to me1

 

[brog]

Great ideas. Thanks for all the tips. Since I am fairly new to this forum where would I post that I was looking for zoos and palys in the Ft Lauderdale area. We don't have nearly the selection that you east coasters have. Thanks again.

 

[Joe Knows Reefs]

I've read and heard a lot about this issue but have no first hand experience. From what I understand TSA can and does make exceptions for certain things, one of which is liquid sustaining life. If you can prove the liquid is sustaining life they can/will allow it through within reason. For instance its very obvious that water in a bag is vital to the life of the clownfish within in. BUT, how do you prove that saltwater is vital to a small coral frag that looks like a plain old rock? My friend had an idea to drop a few tigriopus pods in a specimen cup with a coral frag. Tigriopus pods swim freely in the water column so they're obviously alive...thus the water they're in is vital to sustaining life. I wanted to test this on a recent trip with some GSP and pods in an 8oz specimen cup but I managed to leave the GSP on my coffee table when I left. BUT, I did prove that GSP will be fine in a specimen cup for 3 days ;)

I've heard of several people carrying fish and other animals on the plane. In every instance the person notified the TSA agents immediately upon arrival at the security checkpoint and after some questioning they were granted access. Of course it would suck to buy that $500 chalice frag you've been looking for only to have it seized by TSA but I think with some tact and common sense you could safely transport a few frags on board the plane :)

 

[Salty Dog]

I always thought about doing this but to put in your checked baggage should you use heat packs

 

[RoughLSU Fan]

I was able to get Zoanthids threw TSA. I fly back and forth from Newark, NJ to New Orleans every 2 weeks. I just wrapped the zoas off of any frag plugs or anything in some paper towels that I wet with some saltwater. Put them in a ziplock bag and put them in my carry on. I had no water so nothing to declair. It worked like a charm. Zoas made it threw great as well. I dont see this working with other types of coral thogh being they need water to survive. Zoas are out of the water for hours when the tide changes in the wild so I took a chance and it worked great. That is just my experiance with it though.

 

[KoleTang]

Reef Hobbyist Magazine had an acrticle called: "Taking it home, flying with fish." It is on their site. The front of that issue has a lawnmower blenny on it.