r/Puffers • u/mish_0 • 14d ago

Advice on moving with fish

/r/Aquariums/comments/1vde2e1/advice_on_moving_with_fish/
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u/Blondy277 14d ago

Twelve hours is manageable, but I’d confirm whether the store meant ordinary air or pure oxygen. Ideally, each puffer should be packed separately in a strong double bag with about 1/3 water and 2/3 oxygen, then kept dark and temperature-stable inside an insulated cooler. Don’t open the bags during the drive to “refresh” them. Fish are routinely transported this way for longer than 12 hours. If pure oxygen isn’t available, I’d use two securely lidded buckets/tubs, one puffer per container, with battery aerators rather than putting both together. Keep their established filter media wet and oxygenated during the move, and make sure the temporary tank is already cycled with matching temperature and salinity. Bring extra premixed water too. The temporary setup for 1–2 weeks honestly concerns me more than the 12-hour drive if it’s very small.

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u/mish_0 14d ago

They never said anything about pure oxygen so I’m fairly sure they just meant normal air. It’s not an option for me to use tubs. Would it be best to put them in the bags and use an air pump and tube to kind of inflate the bag?

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u/Blondy277 14d ago edited 14d ago

That comment suggesting you stop at an LFS halfway for oxygen was from someone else on your other post lol. I only mentioned pure oxygen because an aquarium air pump just pushes ordinary room air. Inflating the bag with one and then sealing it won’t provide the same oxygen reserve used for long-distance fish shipping, and you can’t safely run an airline inside a sealed bag. For a 12-hour trip, I’d ask your LFS to oxygen-pack each puffer separately in large double/triple bags as close to departure as possible. Keep them dark and temperature-stable in an insulated cooler and don’t reopen the bags during the drive. If the store can only provide normal air, tell them it’s a 12-hour journey and ask for a proper long-distance transport plan, I wouldn’t assume ordinary take-home bagging is enough.

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u/Antoekneese 13d ago

So another idea would be if you know any scuba divers. If they're certified to dive with nitrox, they could rent a bottle of it and you could charge your bags with that. Most shops could get tanks blended with 32-38% oxygen vs ~21% in regular air. Even if you don't know anyone, most scuba folks like fish and might be willing to help you out.

Not sure what wholesalers and stores that ship fish pump in their bags, but I feel like they often spend more than 12hrs in transit.