Courier Service For Sending Live Corals

[sandfire]

Hello

Marine hobby is turning out far to expensive and my partner is complaining (a lot) at the money I have to spend to keep the reef in perfect condition

I am thinking of selling my set up and have some live rock and corals to sell, but I would like to be able to offer a courier service.

Does anyone know a good courier company and what's the best way of packing and sending them? How do I get hold of heat packs/fish bags/poly box etc… I have never done it before so don't know whats involved.

Thank you

 

[littleme1969]

Few couriers are licenced to send anything live sadly. I have even mentioned it to parcel to go, but with no luck as the cost would not be worth it to them . There is a national company that has all the paper work in place, I'll have to check up the details for you. Poly Boxes /Fish bags/Heat packs ccan all be bought of ebay, but its not cheap. As for packaging. Live rock should go collection only due to what it is. Corals.. depending on size and how much they are worth, again collection only, but for smaller bits just wrap in filter floss, then bubble wrap , place in a fish bag with enough water to cover the coral. make sure there is no air in the bag and tie off with elastic bands, always double bag as couriers dont like leaks and its not good for the coral either. Make sure they are well packaged within the box and cant move around. The box should be clearly marked with both contents.. (live Coral In Transit, handle with care) and also a (this Way Up label) to ensure they dont throw the thing around. You can send smaller bits via Royal Mail special next day its not to expensive, and if properly marked, the contents reach their destination OK.

I'll try and find out that courier for you.

 

[Fatty]

Heat PAcks seem to be cheap enough here..

Your best bet maybe to register with a courier, as my courier would deliver anything from my address for £12 ish pounds maybe bit more next day, but if I'm asking them to collect from somewhere else then it ramps up to royalmail price of £20 quid.

(That's assuming a package of 3 Kgs)

I'd line a c/board box with polystyrene, and use a load of crushed newspaper to dissapate the heat evenly from the heat pack.

I bet you'd find people local to you who would pickup most of your stock anyway?

 

[sandfire]

Heat PAcks seem to be cheap enough here..

Your best bet maybe to register with a courier, as my courier would deliver anything from my address for £12 ish pounds maybe bit more next day, but if I'm asking them to collect from somewhere else then it ramps up to royalmail price of £20 quid.

(That's assuming a package of 3 Kgs)

I'd line a c/board box with polystyrene, and use a load of crushed newspaper to dissapate the heat evenly from the heat pack.

I bet you'd find people local to you who would pickup most of your stock anyway?

Thank you, my other half has caved for now said I can keep the tank, but can only spend £10 a month on it...what he don't know won't hurt him