All my local fish stores currently have sweet F-A for stock, but there is a great place with lots of good, healthy stock of everything, unfortunately it is on the other side of the country. The guy there tells me he ships all the time, usually takes 1-2 days from there to here, followed by a 2 hour round trip drive from the airport to my house.
I know it's a common thing to ship fish, and these fish have already traveled around the world, but I am still apprehensive to bag up a couple hundred dollars in living creatures, load 'em onto an airplane and flown out here, handled by who knows how many disgruntled employees along the way. So I just have a couple questions regarding shipping. Currently looking at 1-2 fish and a BTA.
To those who have shipped fish, how often would you say that you get DoAs or expire shortly after arrival?
Acclimating fish that have been shipped, I'm sure there is plenty of O2 left in the bag after even 2 days, but I am concerned about ammonia buildup. I've heard that ph changes from opening the bag can increase its toxicity or something like that? Could be wrong, but any special procedures to acclimate fish that have been in a bag for so long?
I usually Drip acclimate in the bag over a couple hours, but these fish spend no more than 7 hours in the bag (lfs is a long drive), and I have yet to lose a fish from acclimation issues.
I know it's a common thing to ship fish, and these fish have already traveled around the world, but I am still apprehensive to bag up a couple hundred dollars in living creatures, load 'em onto an airplane and flown out here, handled by who knows how many disgruntled employees along the way. So I just have a couple questions regarding shipping. Currently looking at 1-2 fish and a BTA.
To those who have shipped fish, how often would you say that you get DoAs or expire shortly after arrival?
Acclimating fish that have been shipped, I'm sure there is plenty of O2 left in the bag after even 2 days, but I am concerned about ammonia buildup. I've heard that ph changes from opening the bag can increase its toxicity or something like that? Could be wrong, but any special procedures to acclimate fish that have been in a bag for so long?
I usually Drip acclimate in the bag over a couple hours, but these fish spend no more than 7 hours in the bag (lfs is a long drive), and I have yet to lose a fish from acclimation issues.