Long Distance Shipping

[baobao]

I need to ship some fish that will be in transit between 24 to 48 hours.
As an example, let's say this fish is 7 inches.
How much water would I need?
I am planning on using bag filled with 1/3 water and 2/3 oxygen.
Please provide insights, references on this topic.

Thanks in advance.

[leebca]

I have no references I can provide on this.

I used to have tropical marine fishes shipped to me from overseas, however. The rule is exactly as you have stated: 1/3 water, balance oxygen. The thing is, when the bag is tied off the 'bag space' is reduced. So even if you use a gallon bag, for instance, the actual space inside is about 2/3 of a gallon.

A 7" fish will need room to turn around in the bag. So when there is sufficient water in the bag, the bag dimensions would need to be no less than 15" long and 10" wide. The fish should then have another 7" in depth as a min. So far, this is 4.5 gallons of just the water. That would make the oxygen part of the bag about 10 gallons. My guess would be that the bag would have to be a 20+ gallon sized bag of considerable thickness and double bagged (to hold the water and not leak should the fish fin stick into the inner bag).

[baobao]

Lee,
You mentioned, "A 7" fish will need room to turn around in the bag. So when there is sufficient water in the bag, the bag dimensions would need to be no less than 15" long and 10" wide. The fish should then have another 7" in depth as a min."
1) How do you determine the depth needed?
2) So let me see if I understand - a 3" fish would it need 6" length x 4" width x 3" depth?
3) Key Question - in the example discussed, is it ok for the fish to be in transit for 48 hours? If not, would it be ok if I add more water & oxygen? And if so, how much more water and oxygen do I have to add to extend the transit time to 48 hours?

Thanks.

[leebca]

The jump to the conclusion to scale the bag from the 7" fish is not a good one.

If you go back to the stocking limit post, you'll note that the length of the fish is not a good indicator for the bio-load. A 4" fish does not have twice the bioload of the 2" fish. Right?

A 3" fish, without knowing its particular scientific name, is about 1/5 to 1/6 the bioload of the 7" fish. Now do the math.

The 3" fish for that long of journey should be in no less than a 3 gallon bag: about 1 gallon of water; balance of oxygen. This fish is more 'flexible' and can turn around fairly easily in a small bag, still I would not press it. The box with Styrofoam lining, could be a 12" cube.

1) The depth for that large of fish should be about 2/3 its length as a minimum. I don't like it that tight for that length of time.

2) See above.

3) The time would be okay if the outside temperature will not impact the contents. That is, the box must be properly insulated and additional insulation added if the fish will be passing through or going to a cold or extremely hot place. If hot, then a cool pack might be needed. If really cold, a heat pack may be needed. You see, there are many variables here. However, my original reply was based on the 48 hours. (I avoid working with mins when a life is at stake). I'm assuming that, at its destination, it will be handled quickly and diligently (not kept another 12 hrs in the bag).

[baobao]

Thanks!!!