Suggestions please on shipping my fish!

Foxxy · 01/04/2015, 08:20 PM

Aloha tank mates,
So we are moving from Hawaii to San Diego at the end of the month, and I'm a bit lost on moving my fish and friends. I don't personally know anybody who has shipped their fish for a move: they just got rid of them, and that's really my last resort as I have no desire to give away these guys!!

I've got 2 clowns, a turbo snail, and a cleaner shrimp. Of course, live rock as well but that's fairly simple in comparison. Here's what I have found so far:
Local fish shop doesn't do domestic shipping (fair enough).
Aloha Air Cargo only ships to LAX so that's out.
American Airlines Cargo says they take tropical fish, but no other specifics.
I also know FedEx and UPS can overnight them, but not sure if that applies from Honolulu to San Diego...
Has anyone here done this move?? Personal experience with an overseas shipper I could use?

Appreciate any advice!
Trish & fish

Reef Frog · 01/04/2015, 08:46 PM

The big question would be: What do you do with them when you land? They would have to go in the proper tank right away. If you have a running tank available on the mainland with a competent person standing by to intervene if your flight is delayed, I would ship FEDEX via the fastest method and see if was possible to time your flight close to the arrival of the shipment. But this would be awfully complex and could go wrong from many different factors. Remember Murphy's Law.

If you decide to check it as cargo on your airliner, that's got to be awfully expensive. Also packing fish correctly is an art & a skill. Lots to go wrong there. The bags should be filled with oxygen. I guess it's possible, but I would just find them a good home and start again.

Whatever you do, please don't release them into the ocean. Not saying you would, but just in case

.... good luck with your move.

slief · 01/04/2015, 09:12 PM

Once upon a time, I used to import fish from Hawaii. They way I did it was counter to counter air freight. Essentially, we would ship the large foam crate via freight class though the airline. This was back in the mid 90's but I think I used Delta at the time. The crate would be ready for pickup within an hour of the plane landing. If I were you, I'd contact the major airlines that fly from Hi to SD or LAX and talk to the freight department. It faster than FedEx, safer than FedEx and cheaper too. You could probably even check them in via baggage much the same way you deal with a dog. I would search around to see if you can get foam containers/fish transport packaging. If there isn't a fish store around that has some from shipments, a seafood market that carries live lobster should. You may also need heat packs inside the box. If the fish go in the baggage compartment, it gets really cold and heat packs are needed. You wrap those in newspaper before putting them in the foam box.

You should triple bag each fish in it's own bag. Each bag individually sealed. You should use oxygen and not air to fill the bags. You should place all all of the bags of fish into a double bagged heavy duty trash bag so that if one of the fish bags leaks, it's contained. If the box starts leaking, the package will get flagged and more than likely delayed. Point being, pack them very well so they don't leak. Then take it a step further to insure that even if a bag does leak, the package won't. This goes for FedEx too.

Anyhow, that's where I would start.

Foxxy · 01/05/2015, 07:17 PM

Well, upon arrival I'd have a temporary set-up at my Aunt's house. Much like a quarantine tank/s.
FedEx seems nice because it'd be door-to-door transit, but it's pretty risky IMO compared to the actual airlines.
I did read about the heat packs for the foam boxes. I will ask my LFS if they'd give/sell me a leftover container.
Never considered straight freight but I'll check it out. Too bad the airline I work for doesn't take fish!! That, and they only fly from here to Canada lol.

01/04/2015, 08:20 PM	#1
Foxxy Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kapolei, HI Posts: 30	Suggestions please on shipping my fish! Aloha tank mates, So we are moving from Hawaii to San Diego at the end of the month, and I'm a bit lost on moving my fish and friends. I don't personally know anybody who has shipped their fish for a move: they just got rid of them, and that's really my last resort as I have no desire to give away these guys!! I've got 2 clowns, a turbo snail, and a cleaner shrimp. Of course, live rock as well but that's fairly simple in comparison. Here's what I have found so far: Local fish shop doesn't do domestic shipping (fair enough). Aloha Air Cargo only ships to LAX so that's out. American Airlines Cargo says they take tropical fish, but no other specifics. I also know FedEx and UPS can overnight them, but not sure if that applies from Honolulu to San Diego... Has anyone here done this move?? Personal experience with an overseas shipper I could use? Appreciate any advice! Trish & fish

01/04/2015, 09:12 PM	#3
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Once upon a time, I used to import fish from Hawaii. They way I did it was counter to counter air freight. Essentially, we would ship the large foam crate via freight class though the airline. This was back in the mid 90's but I think I used Delta at the time. The crate would be ready for pickup within an hour of the plane landing. If I were you, I'd contact the major airlines that fly from Hi to SD or LAX and talk to the freight department. It faster than FedEx, safer than FedEx and cheaper too. You could probably even check them in via baggage much the same way you deal with a dog. I would search around to see if you can get foam containers/fish transport packaging. If there isn't a fish store around that has some from shipments, a seafood market that carries live lobster should. You may also need heat packs inside the box. If the fish go in the baggage compartment, it gets really cold and heat packs are needed. You wrap those in newspaper before putting them in the foam box. You should triple bag each fish in it's own bag. Each bag individually sealed. You should use oxygen and not air to fill the bags. You should place all all of the bags of fish into a double bagged heavy duty trash bag so that if one of the fish bags leaks, it's contained. If the box starts leaking, the package will get flagged and more than likely delayed. Point being, pack them very well so they don't leak. Then take it a step further to insure that even if a bag does leak, the package won't. This goes for FedEx too. Anyhow, that's where I would start. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 01/04/2015 at 09:22 PM.

01/04/2015, 08:46 PM	#2
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	The big question would be: What do you do with them when you land? They would have to go in the proper tank right away. If you have a running tank available on the mainland with a competent person standing by to intervene if your flight is delayed, I would ship FEDEX via the fastest method and see if was possible to time your flight close to the arrival of the shipment. But this would be awfully complex and could go wrong from many different factors. Remember Murphy's Law. If you decide to check it as cargo on your airliner, that's got to be awfully expensive. Also packing fish correctly is an art & a skill. Lots to go wrong there. The bags should be filled with oxygen. I guess it's possible, but I would just find them a good home and start again. Whatever you do, please don't release them into the ocean. Not saying you would, but just in case .... good luck with your move.

01/05/2015, 07:17 PM	#4
Foxxy Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Kapolei, HI Posts: 30	Well, upon arrival I'd have a temporary set-up at my Aunt's house. Much like a quarantine tank/s. FedEx seems nice because it'd be door-to-door transit, but it's pretty risky IMO compared to the actual airlines. I did read about the heat packs for the foam boxes. I will ask my LFS if they'd give/sell me a leftover container. Never considered straight freight but I'll check it out. Too bad the airline I work for doesn't take fish!! That, and they only fly from here to Canada lol.