Need To Move 9 Year Old Plec 300 Miles And Clueless. :o(

[S3m4n73x]

Hi all

I have recently moved over 300 miles away from my fish tank and need to go and rescue my one plec in the next week (friend currently looking after it). I am a bit of an amateur fishkeeper but have had this plec for about 9 years however he is older than that. Thing is, I'm really concerned about his welfare whilst travelling for 6 hours. Is there any special equipment I can get that will make this move less stressful for him? It's come to the point where I may have to look for a new home for him rather than transport him this distance. Do fish shops take fish?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Simon

 

[littleme1969]

Hi simon...
How big is he?
6 hours correctly packaged should not be a problem.
Depending on the size of him I should be able to supply all you need to move him for about £5 + P&P That includes polly box heat packs and bag buddies.
Yes some shops will take them, depending on what he is and how big he is. Large common plecs however are harder to find homes for.

Nikki

 

[Tolak]

Get a large cooler, fill it half way with water, and transport in the heated interior of your car. Large plecs & cichlids are often sold at auctions in styrofoam coolers, and do just fine like that for a dozen hours or more.

 

[S3m4n73x]

How big is he?

Thanks for the replies. Feeling more reassured already so thank you. Nikki, he's a large common plec of about 10 inches who's been through some rather stressful times in his life - when we got him he was recovering from a rather bad heater injury. Anyhow, never encountered a hardier fish in my life but would rather keep the stress of the move to a minimum. Do you have an online shop I can buy this from?

P.S. He's called Marcellus.

 

[Tolak]

A 10inch common plec in a bag is a bad idea. The breating bags & bag buddies aren't the problem, the spines on the plec are. A plec that size will puncture any 2 or 3 mil bag, if you double bag with 6 mils you may be ok. I wouldn't risk bagging a plec that size, you will have a shredded bag & a fish with no water.

Don't try a net either, plecs get tangled in nets due to those same spines, and are a real pain to get untangled, a stressful situation for the fish as well as the aquarist. I use leather palmed gloves when having to move my commons, a 10", a couple of 12", & a 15". Those spines will cause some nasty wounds. Gloves for catching, and a large cooler for transport are the least stressful way of moving these fish.

 

[S3m4n73x]

Gloves for catching, and a large cooler for transport are the least stressful way of moving these fish.

Thanks Tolak - really appreciated. Cooler and gloves it is.

Simon and Marcellus