How To Properly Bag Fish?

[fry_forever!]

Hey guys! I'm volunteering at my LPS, and I am allowed to catch and bag fish for people there.

The question is, how do you bag a fish so the bag is solid, and firm?

The both times I got to bag a fish that day, it was very saggy.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[ThePiggy]

You fill 2/3 of the bag with water and 1/3 with air. Some pet shops have an air hose to put some air in the bag, if not, then hold the bag completely open once the water and fish are in it, pinch off the top of the bag quickly, not letting too much air out, then spin the bag until the air pressure makes the bag firm enough. Also, practice

 

[Tolak]

Sorry, but that is backwards, 1/3 water, 2/3 air. Don't spin the bag, twist the top, fish don't like carnival rides.

The easiest way to describe it is to ignore the fact that it is a fish and water, pretend you are tying a balloon. Twist that top until you get some stretch out of the bag, it's real hard to make one pop, I've never had it happen. Get there early, and practice with a couple of empty bags.

I'm going to try to get one to pop, I've got a couple of thousand around, and have never had one accidentally pop or spring a leak when tying. You've gone & made me curious now!

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Volunteering!? Make them pay you!! The way I am looking at it, they are taking advantage of a kid getting free employment. Volunteering should only be done for non profitable organizations who are tight on cash, your LFS definitley isn't and you should get paid for doing what any other employee does.

As for tying a bag, I normally spin it until the top makes a long "rope" like part and then folds on itself and creates an "O" or loop (don't force it into the loop.) Then take a rubber band and put it over the loop, pull it tight and begin to wrap the band underneath the loop (make sure to spin the same way you span the bag.) After the whole band is wrapped as far is it will go take the other end and put it over the loop again like the beginning. Hopefully that makes sense.

it's real hard to make one pop

Lol it happened to me. Poor fish luckily non fell out of the bag.

 

[Tolak]

Man, did I have to squeeze the third one to get the bottom seam to start leaking. I never really thought about the process until now, been doing it for so long. I did notice a couple of things I do, these may help.

I have the bag standing with the sides straight up, parallel all the way to the top. I make a quick grab leaving about 4" above my hand, and squeeze down on the bag, this is where the tightness starts. I give the bottom fish part of the bag a half turn with my other hand, 180 degrees, then begin twisting the top.

Twisting tightens it as well, once it is twisted to the top I have about 6" of bag that was really nicely just described as rope. I then knot it as you would do a balloon, and leaving the knot slightly loose slide it down towards the fish end, making the knot tight and the bag firm. This is where it took 3 tries to get a seam leak, tighter than I have ever tried to do one.

This is using 8x20 2mil bags. I have some smaller odd size ones around, the process is basically the same.

I like this topic, thanks for making me think!

 

[ThePiggy]

oh, really? i could have sworn i was told the other way... but you're the expert, not me

 

[Schmill]

One thing I would add, as I've seen it done, and really wish my LFS would do it, is to fold the bottom corners of the bag over, just a couple of cm or so into a triangle shape and tape it to the bottom of the bag.
So many times I have seen fish put into a bag that is floating in a tank, and it's fine in the tank, fine when carried to the counter to pay, the fish are in the bottom of the bag trying to hide, and as the bag is placed down the corners of the bag are squashed and the fish all struggle to get out of the now collapsed corner

 

[lizvenables]

I put 1 third water in (approx) then place the bag on the counter so that the water flattens out to create more surface area, then i pull the bag loosely closed opposite the bag seam lines and fold over the top twice.
Then holding it at the corners (opposite those bag seam lines) and kind of scrunch it inwards, letting a little air escape at that point isn't a bad thing.
Then you grab that scrunched bit with your left and twist the bottom of the bag with your right to make it nice and tight, then you put an elastic band around it twice. Then holding it up from the top in your left and the elastic band end in your right run it around the bag several times (this is really difficult to explain!) twisting the bag and band while you go, when you almost cant go around it any more at all, slip the band over the top of the bag again.
Oh, and they should be paying you. Your being taken for a ride.

 

[Gill]

I have seen A Few different Methods of Tying Bags, and Practised a Few in the LFS i Worked for.

AS Stated the Best is 1/3 Water to 2/3 Air.

Grab the Top of the Bag and Trap as much air as you can, but still allowing for you to make a decent knot in the top.
Twist the top a few times and push down so that the Bag is very Tight.
Keep Twisting the top.
Using an elastic band Loop it over the top and Tie it.
Next fold over the excess Plastic left from twisting.
Now Continue to wrap the Elastic band around and around the Folded over untill nice and Tight.
Job Done.

You could also repeat the same method but also tape up the corners of the bag, so that fish do not get trapped.

I preferred to tie with an Elastic band, Tape up the Bottom Sides and then turn the bag over and Double bag it, just to be safe.
Not doiong much today, so might do a picture walkthough

 

[pirate monkey]

One thing I would add, as I've seen it done, and really wish my LFS would do it, is to fold the bottom corners of the bag over, just a couple of cm or so into a triangle shape and tape it to the bottom of the bag.
So many times I have seen fish put into a bag that is floating in a tank, and it's fine in the tank, fine when carried to the counter to pay, the fish are in the bottom of the bag trying to hide, and as the bag is placed down the corners of the bag are squashed and the fish all struggle to get out of the now collapsed corner

I always turn the bag upside down after knotting - no corners for fish to get stuck in. Just have to make sure it's done up really well, and/or double bag it

 

[fry_forever!]

Volunteering!? Make them pay you!! The way I am looking at it, they are taking advantage of a kid getting free employment. Volunteering should only be done for non profitable organizations who are tight on cash, your LFS definitley isn't and you should get paid for doing what any other employee does.

As for tying a bag, I normally spin it until the top makes a long "rope" like part and then folds on itself and creates an "O" or loop (don't force it into the loop.) Then take a rubber band and put it over the loop, pull it tight and begin to wrap the band underneath the loop (make sure to spin the same way you span the bag.) After the whole band is wrapped as far is it will go take the other end and put it over the loop again like the beginning. Hopefully that makes sense.

Actually, it's for my school. You can volunteer anywhere you want, as long as you're not getting paid, and your family doesn't own the business. I'm not too worried about not getting paid, because I'm only 13 years old.

I will get an actual job there next year. (Where I get paid)

For now, I am just volunteering for fun, AND you can earn an extra school credit!

Okay, for the bags..... Thanks for all the help! BUT.... Okay, I have no problems GETTING the air in.... I have problems KEEPING the air in! When I tie up the bag, all the air comes out! Any good tips on how to tie up the bag very quick, so no air escapes?

Thanks so much!

 

[Tolak]

The trick there is to have the top "rope" part twisted so there is as little loose bag at the top as possible. Tie it loosely at first, keeping it twisted up, and roll the knot down as you tighten the knot. I noticed grabbing the bag and getting the twist started is a very similar motion to how you would grab the top of a 2 liter pop bottle with one hand.

Double bagging, with the first bag inverted into the second is the best way, and how I do it for all fish I bag. Bottom dwellers such as corys will congregate in the corners, put the bag down and they get trapped. Leave it for any length of time & they have a problem.

 

[MewMew42]

ahhh i had problems with getting air to stay in at first!

its a lot easier with elastic bands, so that may be better? also if youre turning the bag upside down there is less chance of water escaping as well lol

 

[GuppyGoddess]

In one of the fish books I read, it said to rest the bag on its side so the fish doesn't get squished. Also, put a second bag around just in case there is a leak in the first AND put the fish bags inside a paper bag (I read in the same book that by doing so, the fish are less stressed.)

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Okay, for the bags..... Thanks for all the help! BUT.... Okay, I have no problems GETTING the air in.... I have problems KEEPING the air in! When I tie up the bag, all the air comes out! Any good tips on how to tie up the bag very quick, so no air escapes?

Thanks so much!

Glad to here it's extra curricular then. I think the trick is to hold tight and don't let go until it is completely tied. It takes some work to get, and everyone has a different method of tying, but you will get the hang of it eventually. Ask the other employees to help you if you need it.