Making a move? Bringing your fish along doesn’t have to be a hassle, but you do need to be careful. Tropical fish are susceptible to sudden changes in water temperature, so you need to take precautions to keep them safe.
Unless your tank is a small one (five gallons or less) you’ll need to take your tropical fish out of the aquarium for moving. If you are moving the fish in your small aquarium, be sure to take out anything that might shift in transit and break the glass: the aerator, heater, hood, and accessories. Take half the water out of the tank, then cover the top with plastic wrap to prevent splashing. Be sure to support the bottom of the tank when carrying it to and from the car!
For larger tanks, you’ll need to remove the fish. Here are some tips to help prepare your fish and tank for the big move:
- Don’t feed your fish for a day or two before the move. Don’t worry that they’ll starve; many types of fish can go without food for a week without any health problems.
- Don’t overcrowd the fish! Tropical fish can suffer when crammed into small spaces with too many other fish.
- Your best bet for transport may be placing a fish in a leak-proof plastic bag closed with a rubber band. Make sure the bag is about one-third filled with water from the aquarium; be sure to leave air! Open the bag every four or five hours to replenish the air supply.
- Double-bag your fish in case of leaks.
- Use a Styrofoam cooler to hold your bagged fish — the cooler can help keep your fish at a constant temperature for up to two days.
- Carry plants and snails (if you have them) in plastic bags with a small amount of water.
- Save aquarium water in jugs for reuse at your new location. If you don’t have room to bring the water, you’ll need to treat the new water before returning the fish to the tank.
- Empty your aquarium for transport. Pack it carefully! Try placing the tank into a cardboard carton and padding it with shredded paper or Styrofoam peanuts. Keep the carton from sliding during transport.