How long can fish stay in bags ??

[FishEs2978]

Hi all , so I’m going to get a few fish on Friday - some rasboras , plecos and barbs ( maybe some others ). They will be in their bags for probably around 6 hours or more ... the weather says 18 degrees Celsius , what do I need to do to make sure they survive - stay warm etc ??

 

[Slaphppy7]

Are they being shipped to you, or are you traveling with them?

 

[FishEs2978]

Travelling

 

[Essjay]

Use an insulated bag to put the fish bags into. If you have some of those mirowaveable blocks, heat them up and wrap them in an old towel and put that in the insulated bag with the bags of fish. Heat the blocks till they are warm rather than hot - you don't want to risk overheating the fish.

Make sure the shop knows the fish will be in the bags for 6 hours so they can use a large bag with lots of air space.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

They will be fine for 6 hours, as long as they are insulated and have plenty of oxygen in the bag.

Let whoever is getting the fish for you, that they will be in the bag for 6 hours.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Insulated bags are a good idea, as well as insulated styrofoam beverage coolers...many shops will inject the bags with pure oxygen for fish that won't immediately be unpacked, be sure to ask when you pick them up.

 

[FishEs2978]

Ok , I’m in the uk ... not sure how much of that they do ?? It’s not exactly a “ good “ fish shop as such but just a pet store that has fish

 

[FishEs2978]

Do I need to do the heat pack thing ?? I’m not sure I have any ....

 

[OliveFish05]

Depending on a lot of factors, fish can be in the bags for 3 days, such as when they are being shipped! I agree with what everyone else has said so far

 

[OliveFish05]

Do I need to do the heat pack thing ?? I’m not sure I have any ....

If you aren’t able to do a heat thingy, if the fish go straight into an insulated cooler or bag, I would think they would be alright

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Do I need to do the heat pack thing ?? I’m not sure I have any ....

Its preferred, but not necessary. If you put them in a cooler with some foam, they will stay pretty insulated.

 

[Sgooosh]

Its preferred, but not necessary. If you put them in a cooler with some foam, they will stay pretty insulated.

dollar store cooler perhaps?

 

[fish48]

• use a polystyrene box if you can some pet stores may supply them you can sometimes pick up polystyrene boxes from your local green grocer store.
• for insulation bubble wrap can be used, use plenty not only are you going to wrap the fish to help keeping them warm you need to make sure make sure you put plenty of insulation in between bags making sure that fish/ bags are not rocking back and forward while travelling has been mentioned there are many types of insulation that can be used including newspaper towels etc.
• during the summer months in the UK there is no need to use any type of heating such as heat pads etc as long as fish are well wrapped in insulation and put in polystyrene box or good insulation bag
• make sure fish are not too crowded in bags for example if you buy 6 barbs split them between two or if possible three bags the lower number of fish to each bag the less stressful for them

 

[PheonixKingZ]

dollar store cooler perhaps?

Doesn’t really matter, as long as it will keep its contents insulated.

 

[Sgooosh]

Doesn’t really matter, as long as it will keep its contents insulated.

well those are foam like you said, plus they're cheap and reliable
you could even throw a tiny air pump in there