Shipping

Is there a how to on shipping? i searched around but never found a full how to. If there is not one on the forum we should make one because i need to learn :)

What are you trying to ship. You need to known how long they will be in transit. Then you will have to determine the size of bag. You will need O2. The best way to learn is pack some fish and place in box for X amount hours and then check your packing. Its not that hard. Winter time you will need heat packs. I have shipping thousands of bags of fish.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2077924_ship-live-fish.html

dang nice article...

Nice article it is pretty much what I had always heard and makes lots of sense honestly.

Good article, but I dont agree with the 2 day wait on feding, I have always waited a day and its always worked out ok. Also, if your shipping, that article pretty much says it all, but might want to add you need to ship with express live parcel shipping or overnight. and insulation is key.

If you are buying fish being shipped to you, ask the seller how they ship ( overnight, express, ect), how they insulate, and when it wil be sent and expected delivery. It is always a good idea to ask them what their DOA average is. Most sellers should know this, or at least have some kind of idea. Obviously if they say they have had about 40% of thier shipments DOA, I wouldnt buty from them. But remeber, you are buying live animals, so DOA, unfortunetly, is just part of it so they will have a DOA estimate.

Very good tips :)

I always fast just 24 hours before shipping.

Keelo, do your research and then find a trial recipient and ship just a few fish. Have them call and give you a report on how they did.
Thats how I got over my fear of shipping them.

Nice article . Although I don't ship in solid plastic bags , and I only stop feeding for 24 hr's prior to shipping .
I Double bag with Kordon Breather Bags , therefore no Oxygen is needed . I also use Bag Buddies and a 1 inch piece of Poly Filter in each bag.I have heat packs and cold packs , depending on the season.
I also ship USPS Priority on Saturdays with live arrival guarantee .Most purchasers get their fishes on Monday or Tuesday . I have , on occasion , had fish in the " system " for up to 6 days and only lost one or two fishes.
Unless requested by the buyer , then I will ship express.
Have I lost fishes to DOA ? Yes , a few . But I can count on two hands the amount of DOA's in the last 5 years .
I wish nothing but good luck on your shipping methods , no matter how you decide to ship .
Ray

I personally hate the breather bags, they are insanely thin and sweat water out most of the time...... But if you can't get an O2 bottle I guess they are about the only way to go.

Personally I use 3 mil bags, the thicker the better! I always double bag them too.

Kordone bags are A+!! Just double bag them.

What makes these bags unique is that they are pretty much a small fish tank. No air in the bag is needed. Just water. The bag breathes for the fish.