Whether you are moving locally or long distance, moving pets demands planning and attention to detail, especially if you want to relocate your fish and other aquatic pets. The experts at Jay’s, your Calgary moving company have some advice to offer about moving aquariums.
Stuffing your (full) aquarium into an appropriately sized moving box will undoubtedly lead to disaster. Not only for your fish, the tank and its’ accoutrements, but sloshing fishy water all over the moving truck is likely to damage your other belongings. Most aquarists understand that their systems need dismantling and careful packing for relocation.
Successful relocation of fish is tricky; they can’t tolerate much stress or fluctuations in their environment. You might want to consider selling your fish before you move and purchasing new stock for your aquarium when you arrive at your new home.
If you want to keep your fish and relocate them you’ll need to move the tank ahead of time (a week or more) and have it set up for a while to re-establish water quality (off-gassing undesirable chemicals and regrowth of friendly bacteria). In the meantime what do you do with your fish? Perhaps a friend can babysit (fishsit?) them for you, or contact a local pet store, some offer boarding services for fish.
Moving your fish
If you are moving locally you may be able to move the fish in plastic bags, just as you brought them home from the pet store when you purchased them. Put the bags into a cooler to help maintain an even temperature. For longer trips you might need to use a battery-powered airpump and airstone. Don’t feed your fish during transit, they’ll be too stressed to eat and can survive several days without food provided they are in good health and previously well-fed.
Moving your aquarium
After emptying the tank and removing your aquatic plants, gravel, filter system and heater, put the tank into a sturdy box (the original if you have it) and stuff it with padding. Pack the plants into plastic bags (include air if they’re live plants) and all other bits should be packed into sturdy, leakproof containers to keep moisture IN preventing damage to other household items.
After the move, slowly condition your fish just as you would when introducing new fish to an established aquarium. At least you don’t have to worry about them running away like a cat or dog might in a new location!
Moving pets can be stressful, for you and the pets! Tips like these from the experts at Jay’s can help whether you are relocating cats or dogs, or moving aquariums.
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What a great post! Moving pets is such an important issue that also needs to be executed properly. The cleaning tips and very useful – we especially think it is so important to empty the tank and remove the plants and gravel.