|
| |
|
OVERVIEW |
|
Shipping fish: A brief overview:
-
Bagging: shipping
fish begins & ends with proper bagging. no amount of care or
insulated packaging can overcome poorly handled livestock As a rule:
-Always provide enough water to cover the fish regardless of
the bags orientation. - Air (plain atmosphere) should
account for at least 2/3 of the total bags volume. -Always double
bag- and orientate & tie the 2nd (outer) bag opposite the
inner bag. Make sure there are no corners or creases to trap
the fish -never blow exhaled air in the bag - use the
cleanest <de-chlorinated> water possible.
-
Insulation:
Tropical fish have a much narrower range of temperature
tolerances than the potential environmental conditions the
box in transit will be exposed to; in other words: insulate
all shipping boxes regardless of weather conditions. 1"
Styrofoam has a "R-Value" (insulation value) of 5, and is
probably the best insulator with regard to price, volume and
ease of modification. 3/4" sheet Styrofoam has a "R-Value"
of 3 and so on. Alternatively there are pharmaceutical type
boxes used for transporting lab specimens, medicines, et.
These are excellent for 3-4 bags of fish. There is also a
"industry standard" fish shipper available at most pet shops
for free or at a small cost.
-
Packing: Depending
on your local postal regulations, there are usually minimal
guidelines for the shipment of liquids and perishables. A
absorbent material of some type is often required, and plain
shredded newspaper fills this requirement admirable; in
addition to providing cushioning and additional insulation.
A liner of some type will lower your risk of your shipment
being delayed should a leak occur; a large plastic trash bag
fits the bill.
-
Shipping &
Labeling. Again this will vary depending on the particular
tolerances of your shipper. At a minimum you should mark the
box as containing a liquid, and in many cases it is
advisable to mark your package as "perishable" with a
temperature range clearly visible (you wouldn't want the
contents mistakenly refrigerated!). Clear and legible
addressing is probably the most important consideration, as
a wrong address totally defeats all your previous efforts.
|
Shipping Do's
-
Always double bag,
even if using Kordon "Breather Bags"
-
Always insulate
your package, regardless of the current weather
-
Always double
check & confirm your shipping address. Provide a return
address
-
Always mark your
package "No stack" or "No top load". Apply any other
markings as req. per your shipper.
-
Always inform your
recipient the package is on it's way; provide package # if
applicable.
-
Always add a
absorbent material inside your package. Even a minor leak
could cause undue delays if not a return of your package
|
Shipping Don'ts
-
Never blow exhaled
air in the bag, normal atmosphere is adequate for most
transits
-
Never package more
fish in a single bag than can survive for less than 72hrs.
One fish per bag is optimal. Provide enough air for the
projected transit time + 48hrs
-
Avoid packaging
fish with plants. Without light, plants are more of a
liability than a help
-
Never assume your
package will remain at room temperature during the entire
trip. Package as if it will be exposed to the elements until
the end of the workday
|
|
More Assorted
Musings
-
Some killies are
not the hardiest shippers; the Nothobrachius come
to mid here . Plan accordingly, package to minimize
"sloshing" and in some cases you might want to avoid the
traditional 24hr fasting (search the Killietalk archives
using keywords "Notho; wasting; & disease")
-
Under certain
conditions, some species eggs are even less temperature
tolerant than the fish. Treat eggs as living specimens and
insulate accordingly.
-
Along the same
lines; the eggs container can become oxygen depleted if
sealed "air tight" during long transits. Adjust your
packaging accordingly (air tight containers or certain
plastics may not be the best choice.
-
For Domestic (USA)
shipments, USPS "Priority" is often the most cost effective
shipping choice. Weigh the cost of shipping against the
value of the contents. It may make sense to have "guaranteed
delivery" for 2 pair of diapterons, whereas it might be
cheaper to take the risk and simply replace losses for 2pair
of gardneri.
-
You can now print
shipping labels online for USPS "Priority" & "Express"
shipments, the advantage (other than a clear bar coded
label) is you get free delivery confirmation. Here is the
link to sign up:
USPS; New User Sign In Page
-
Often it is
cheaper to go ahead and pack a few extra fish if the request
and/or payment is large enough to justify it. Moreover, it
just makes good business sense.
-
Ammonia buildup is
equally as hazardous to fish in transit as oxygen
depravation. Better to bag using individual fish in smaller
bags than to risk a entire shipment should one fish die
|
| |
|
