Bagging my fish

[Xtreme J]

I am going to return some fish to the LFS today. Too many fry with an overstock. The LFS gave me some bags last week so I could transport them. Now, I know I have to fill the bag up with Oxygen also, but one time I breathed into the bag and the fish died. Can I use a bike air pump to fill up the bag?

 

[yvez9]

you could
but i don't see why it would be necessary. Blowing in the bag would just fill it up with nitrogen and co2

Just try to tie it tightly like they do in the pet stores. It's not too hard

 

[Xtreme J]

wait, so I could blow into the bag? Do you think the death of the last fish I tried to transport had anything to do with it being in a ziplock bag? Cause this time im using LFS approved bags.

 

[bshockstubb]

No, because when you breath into the bags it's releasing CO2 not oxygen. You can just tie the bag tightly or use an aquarium air pump.

 

[newfishies]

there is some oxygen released when you exhale, it's not all carbon dioxide i've never bagged fish, though...

 

[fufanu360]

you breathed into the bag? not a good idea! that would be giving carbon dioxide not air, just use the air pump on the fish tank, if not that than jsut try to catch as much air in it as possible!

 

[sylvia]

Well actualy it would be 'air' you are breathing out - just with less oxygen in it. Anyway the point is that breathing into the bag is not going to help - more likely it'll make things worse.

As for using a bike air pump - that's the same as just tieing up the bag with lots of air in it if you know what I mean? The bike pump doesn't just pump out oxygen. It wasn't made for that.

Just tie the bag so that a lot of ordinary air is trapped in it. Fill it with water only about 1/3 of the way. You shouldn't have any trouble provided you don't leave them in there for too long. Too long being a couple of hours so getting them to your LFS should be fine.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

pumping air will make it easier to tie

 

[Tolak]

I've bagged plenty, they last 8 hours no problem. Use 1/3 water, the rest air. If you blow across the top of the bag to open it up a little, instead of blowing directly into it and then grab the very top you should be fine. Start the knot a little loose & slide it down, stretching the bag a bit. You will need more bag than you think for the knot.

Tolak

 

[Ben]

just a question, how far(in minutes) is your lfs from you?

DD

 

[Tolak]

Good question DD. If it's colder out you should put the bags in a cooler to insulate them. Warm up the car for a bit if it's really cold.

Tolak

 

[littlefishie]

You will need more bag than you think for the knot.

Sooo true. My LFS gave me their small fish bags to bring all my fish home over Christmas. Yeah, that was interesting. It took me a couple tries to get it.
If you can, try practicing it with just water and a bag, no fish. That way there's noone to hurt, and you can just untie the bag and reuse it.

 

[Xtreme J]

alright. Its done, I did blow into the bag before I read the responses, they did make it. The LFS isn't too far. Bout 10-15 minutes. ill remember next time I bag em to use the aquarium air pump tho. Thanks for the replies all.