Road trip question...packing fish/coral

[Joshua Jordan]

Hello...

I live in NW Arkansas abs am going to the Dallas-Fort Worth area the first week of April.

It is about a 5 hour drive. I am planning on visiting several LFS while I am down there. I was wondering if 5 hours is too long of time to keep the fish/coral in the bags that the stores pack them in? If not, what sort of precautions/preparations do I need to transport livestock for a 5 hour drive?

Thanks so much,

Josh

 

[homer1475]

I typically travel 5 hours to the LFS. I always tell them I have a 5 hour drive home and, typically the LFS will double bag them and add extra air and water. Just make sure you tell them.

I also travel with a styrofoam cooler, and heat pack/cold packs depending on the time of year.

 

[Retro Reefer]

You should be fine with a 5 hour transport, make sure they leave air gap in fish bags before tying them and a good idea to take a insulated cooler bag or similar to carry them in to keep temps stable.

 

[coralreefexotics]

Coral should be fine just ask for oxygen with the fish and keep the temperature good.

 

[Wide Eyed Coral]

A cooler is a must and maybe a heat pack depending on the temp in your car

 

[James Hopkins]

I usually bring a cooler and fill it 1/4 with water and add a heater.
Than any fish or coral i get i put in a fish bag and float it in the water in the cooler. IMO thats the best for long trips.

 

[Drizzieee]

One other thing is you can buy those battery powered air pumps for live fish and they’ll usually last up to around 20 hours to provide a considerate amount of oxygen while on the road. Simple airline tubing and an air stone and some double AA batteries and good to go!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Baby-Bubbles/37825661

 

[BGrand]

I just flew last weekend to SF from Indiana. Bought two coral in Sunnyvale, CA on Friday. Put the coral in a glass bowl at the corporate apartment Friday. I asked the LFS for an extra bag of fresh saltwater. Sunday morning before flying out I double bagged each coral in the fresh salt water (water-change). I carried them on the plane in my backpack. My flight home got diverted and delayed and then flights in Chicago got cancelled so I drove home. 24 hours after bagging them and carrying them around in my backpack I got them in my tank and they are doing great. 5 hours should be a piece of cake just make sure there is plenty of air, double bag them, and that the temperature stays good.

 

[Dlamont01]

I had corals last 26 hours on a drive home from Orlando Florida to northern Indiana. Had them packed in a cooler and had a heat pack just in case. Two weeks later and everything is still alive and doing well.

 

[Tennsquire]

I travel frequently for work and make a habit of visiting local LFS' to see what they have. I take insulated thermoses with me (the ones with the wide mouths and screw on lids). When I acquire a frag or two, I have the bags cut down to fit the thermos, then put a frag in each bag with water then place them in the thermos. They maintain temperature for hours and would easily handle your 5 hour journey.