DIY Shipping Fish

First topic message reminder :

I have had a bunch of people PM or ask me lately , What is the best way to ship fish? I love that question b/c that means more people are trying to reach out to one another and trade fish , ect. AMAZING! That's part of why I created USA Fishbox....was bored with local people

1st off this is all opinion. IMO the BEST way is Southwest Air Cargo. It's easy to get an account ...just have to be patience. Here is the link to get started with SW Cargo.
http://www.swacargo.com/swacargo/accountManagement-ApplyForAccount.shtml

If you do not have that option IMO the other best way is Fedex Air or ground depending on shipping location.

Some tools you will need to ship.

box (styrofoam is the best to keep the temp level around the same)
Bags (I prefer Kordone breather bags but not a must)
Heat packs (depending on time of year)
rubber bands ( for bags)
And sometimes I use newspaper or poppy paper for some extra padding.

SO THIS IS HOW I DO IT....Just so everyone knows. If Im not beggin Jojo or somone to Air cargo for me...

I Know that the Fedex man comes to the store and gets the cargo around 5PM. So I will wait until about 3-4PM to bag stuff up and head down there...that way fish are in the bag as least mount as time as possable. I get my tools that I need (listed above) I use about 1/4 maybe water 3/4 air. Usually a tad more then 1/4 water. I make sure that the fish can swim if the bag goes side ways or up side down. Make sure the bags are not being squuzed or squished. Don't want them to pop or loose air, however you dont want them to be to loose either and banging around. Box everything up and take it down there fill out a forum and ship it out!!! simple

A few things that u must know.

Your styrfoam box must be in a normal box, They will not ship out just the styrafoam box.
DO NOT, DO NOT put males in the same bag...or males and females in the same bag. Bag them seperate.
Double bag if you can!
Me personally I don't want an account with them so I never tell them what Im shipping , If they ask I tell them aquatic Plants. (they wont let u ship live fish w/o an account)

I just threw this up pretty qucik. I am sure I might have missed something so If I did , Please fill me in.

Just a few years ago I thought about shipping some fish and I had no clue how to go about doing it. I learnd from expermenting and practice shipping to friends. Others have practiced by shipping to me and just trying it out.

Like most things in life ...VERY SIMPLE just takes getting use to and doing it a few times.

Hope this helps for those that Have asked.

If you have any questions call me anytime 817 673 0028

KMX wrote:

cwhip now that you said it that way I have herd of that and not a bad ida at all.

it's done in freshwater fishing touraments as well.
they use black colored bags because it helps to keep the fish calmer and alive longer.
anytime we can do something simple to help aid in their survival
why not try it?

Dr. Who wrote:

. As far as shipping the only way to go is Air Freight.

The safest and best way but not the only way.

all i know is if you express mail them through the usps don't drop them off on a friday and check the weather.

All good stuff here . I've been shipping for 4-5 years now. I always allow peeps to request the way they want fishes shipped.
I have shipped 100's of times , and yes , I have had a few loses . But not more than 5 or 6 . I to use USPS Priority as my preferred means of shipping , and I always ship with a LAG that includes shipping cost.
And , I ship on Saturdays only !!
Why you ask ? Well The package leaves my local post office at 2pm Sat. and arrives at the shipping HUB in Saginaw that evening . The Post office does not work on Sunday but Fedex is contracted to move mail on Sunday. I live in Michigan and packages Will generally be delivered at destination Monday . Tuesday at the latest . Thats if you live East of the Rockies. And yes . I pack with Styro liners , Kordon Breather Bags , Bag Buddies , and Poly Filter. Line the box with old newspaper for padding and added insulation. I also wrap a paper towel around each bag .
Just my 2 cents . Ray

This is perfect, I just started another post right before finding
this one... So I read over it, and it seems you will put a fish in
a bag, 1/3 water (pure o2 or no pure o2) and it's good for
3 days?... how much 'water per inch of fish'?... and I could drive
them for three days? -peace JT