Moving A 6" Fahaka - Paul/cfc?

[chris_1127]

i unfortunately lost my 5" fahaka to what I assume to be an internal bacterial infection a week ago - lost bouyancy, eyes went cloudy and died after about a week despite all my efforts to save him (50% daily water changes, treatment with neoplex antibiotics and melafix) absolutely gutted about it as i'd grown him on from about an inch, was a stunning fish. no water quality problems before he died, ammonia and nitrites stayed at 0, and nitrates at 60ppm (tap water around 40 round here). whats more galling is that two weeks ago I had picked up and was cycling a 6 foot tank to move him into, out of his 240l grow-on tank (that was running the original juwel filter, an 1000lph internal and 800lph external filter)

have managed to locate another 6" fahaka down in Dorset, but its going to mean at least 1 1/2 if not 2 hour drive to bring it home. Ive got a poly box about 2ftx2ftx15" to hopefully keep the heat in, but just wanted some advice from someone who's moved one around this size before on a long journey really - am I better bagging the fish and tieing the bag, or would I be better to line the box with a bag but leave the box covered with a battery powered air pump going?

Any other suggestions or help would be very much appreciated

 

[Fella]

i unfortunately lost my 5" fahaka to what I assume to be an internal bacterial infection a week ago - lost bouyancy, eyes went cloudy and died after about a week despite all my efforts to save him (50% daily water changes, treatment with neoplex antibiotics and melafix) absolutely gutted about it as i'd grown him on from about an inch, was a stunning fish. no water quality problems before he died, ammonia and nitrites stayed at 0, and nitrates at 60ppm (tap water around 40 round here). whats more galling is that two weeks ago I had picked up and was cycling a 6 foot tank to move him into, out of his 240l grow-on tank (that was running the original juwel filter, an 1000lph internal and 800lph external filter)

have managed to locate another 6" fahaka down in Dorset, but its going to mean at least 1 1/2 if not 2 hour drive to bring it home. Ive got a poly box about 2ftx2ftx15" to hopefully keep the heat in, but just wanted some advice from someone who's moved one around this size before on a long journey really - am I better bagging the fish and tieing the bag, or would I be better to line the box with a bag but leave the box covered with a battery powered air pump going?

Any other suggestions or help would be very much appreciated

Glad to hear you've found another fahaka!

I transported mine for an hour in a polybox, in a large bag, with the box closed up, and didn't have any problems.

I hope you're able to collect yours ok!

 

[chris_1127]

cheers fella - sorry didnt deliberately leave you out of the title of the thread, just thought as CFC and Paul had both moved cookie in the past might be worth aiming at them.
do you reckon the extra hour will make much difference? How much air did you leave in the bag when you moved yours? cheers, Chris

 

[Paul_MTS]

the Minions originally had Cookie!

I bagged up cookie and put him in a box, be sure to double bag the puffer.

Cookie had a 2 hour drive with me then another 1 hour with the new owner before being placed in his new tank. Was told he sulked for a day or so but that was the only ill effect.

If your poly box is that big make sure you pad it out with newspaper and what not to insulate the bag better.

Oh and should bag the puffer same as anyfish, 1/3 water to 2/3 air in the bag.

 

[Fella]

the Minions originally had Cookie!

I bagged up cookie and put him in a box, be sure to double bag the puffer.

Cookie had a 2 hour drive with me then another 1 hour with the new owner before being placed in his new tank. Was told he sulked for a day or so but that was the only ill effect.

If your poly box is that big make sure you pad it out with newspaper and what not to insulate the bag better.

That's probably a puffer thing more than a moving thing. All of my puffers sulk for a few days after any moving (even if it's from one tank to another in the house).

Chris, when I moved mine, I adhered to 1/3 water 2/3 O2. It was oxygen added directly to the bag, rather than just air.

CFC has an FAQ topic on moving with fish, it might be worth checking if that has relevance to this situation (which i think it would)

 

[chris_1127]

oops sorry my bad!!

cheers for the pointers and help though - will also check out the faq. Re adding oxygen instead of air, any ideas on doing this? not exactly sure where i could source such a small amount, would maybe those oxygenating tablets be worth using?

 

[chris_1127]

cheers for the help everyone - did the move last night and all went well - journey was about 2 hours and another hour acclimatising him when i got back but no problems at all, and no sign of any sulking

can't believe how tame this one is though - he was actually letting the people I picked him up from lift him off the bottom and into the bag when it came to getting him out of the tank! My last one would have either freaked, or had my finger if I had tried that with him!

probably more like 4-5" but seems really healthy, and definitely has a healthy appetite!! pics to follow...

 

[Fella]

cheers for the help everyone - did the move last night and all went well - journey was about 2 hours and another hour acclimatising him when i got back but no problems at all, and no sign of any sulking

can't believe how tame this one is though - he was actually letting the people I picked him up from lift him off the bottom and into the bag when it came to getting him out of the tank! My last one would have either freaked, or had my finger if I had tried that with him!

probably more like 4-5" but seems really healthy, and definitely has a healthy appetite!! pics to follow...

Mine is the same, very tame, and was literally lifted out of the bag and into the tank when I bought him from wharf.

glad to hear it went ok, any photos?

 

[chris_1127]

only really iffy cameraphone ones - this is him after his first prawn meal, looking like hes about to burst!!