By Donna M. Recktenwalt
It’s not magic, and it’s not an art. If the big breeders and importers can do it, so can you, following a few basic rules. The fish must be healthy; they must have clean water; they must have an adequate supply of air; they must be protected from extremes of heat and cold while in transit; and they must be subjected to the stresses of shipping for the least possible amount of time.
Time and experience by a number of aquarists have proven the basic techniques for packing fish for shipment. Selection of the shipper is a subject open to vigorous and extensive discussion, but is usually determined by what facilities you have locally available.
Packing the Fish – the Bags
Although the large wholesalers and breeders often ship numerous (usually small) fish in groups, for killifish the norm is to ship fish in pairs, with each individual in its own leakproof plastic bag. Individual bags should be big enough to contain the fish without constraint, and contain water enough to keep them completely submerged at all times; fill the bag with 1/4 water and 3/4 air. Twist the top and knot; or secure with a rubber band, then double over the top of the bag and rubber band again. Two individual fish bags should be packed into a single larger bag, which should then be sealed, and marked with the appropriate species and location information.
An alternative is to use the new Kordon breathable bags. Fish shipped in these bags can be packed in more water, but the bags contain no extra air, since oxygen transfer occurs directly through the bags. Do not write on the bags, or affix labels directly to them. Labels should be attached only to the bag tops; to keep pairs together, tie or tape the bags together by their tops. The advantages of Kordon bags include better use of space in the shipping boxes, less stress to the fish during shipment, and better oxygen transfer. The disadvantages include higher initial price, somewhat higher shipping costs, and a different technique for acclimatization–the bags must not be floated in water, or the fish may suffocate.
Packing the Fish – the Boxes
The bags of fish, properly packed and labeled, must be placed into suitable containers for shipping. The usual preference is a sturdy Styrofoam box, often inside a cardboard box, although cardboard boxes alone with appropriate insulating material will also work. A good source for Styrofoam boxes may be your local veterinarian, hospital, or doctor’s or dentist’s office; they can also be purchased. Many killikeepers have extras, left over from shows or from trades with other fanciers.
Once the fish are packed into the shipping container, the remaining space should be filled with shipping “peanuts,” crumpled newspaper, or other lightweight filler material, to further protect the contents, and to prevent them from shifting during transit.
When to Ship
In warm climes, shipping may safely be done throughout the year. In colder areas, such as North America, most aquarists use caution when shipping from October through April. However, winter shipments are possible, if you know your carrier, can be assured of swift delivery, and if you take some extra precautions.
The single item that winter shippers agree on is the use of heat packs. These small chemical heat producing packets can keep the interior of a shipping box warm enough to assure fish survival in extremely cold conditions. Remember, however, that heat packs last only a short time, usually only 8-10 hours, and cannot compensate for a box left sitting for a long time on the cold steel floor of a truck, or out in a snowbank.
“I usually don’t like to ship in the winter,” says Ted Klotz. “One thing you must be careful of is to not allow the [heat] packs to touch the [fish] bags. This can overheat the fish and they’ll die. I usually wrap the heat packs in newspaper or packing; I’ve also seen them taped to the top of the box.” Some shippers place a small piece of Styrofoam between the heat pack and the box contents. Others wrap them in paper towels and place inside a plastic bag.
“We use heat packs when we ship fish in cold weather, but we also use a double box system,” says Mike Reid. “Each box is 1.5 in thick; we put the heat packs between the two boxes.”
Selecting the Shipper
Although fish have been shipped using almost every known package shipping service, most amateur aquarists agree that in most cases the best bet is Priority or Express Mail. However, selection of what shipper to use may be defined by the sources that are locally available. Whatever the shipper you use, attention to a few details may increase the chances for success.
1. Pack carefully, assuming the worst.
2. Ship early in the week. Shipments that leave from Wednesday through Friday may sit for a day in transit.
3. Make certain the address is clear and easy to read; if the recipient is in a hurry, write their phone number on the label and mark it for “Call Upon Arrival.”
4. Add a “Live Fish, Keep from Extreme Heat or Cold” label.
— G.C.K.A. Newsletter, November 1999