Re: [GSAS-Member] Fwd: Re: GSAS Inquiry

["Barbie" <barbie@fishaholics.org>]

Hi Harry, 

I used to ship fish from Anchorage frequently, with no oxygen to package them.  
Fasting the fish for a couple of days before shipment, using 1/4 to 1/3 water 
in the bag and the rest air, and making sure the heat packs get plenty warm 
before you tape them on the box, seem to be the important factors.  I now use 
oxygen when I'm packing them, but I didn't have losses to speak of before I 
switched to it, so it's hard to compare if there was a huge jump in benefit.

How are you going to ship the box?  I prefer shipping airport to airport, but 
you can't do that since 9/11 without being inspected as a known shipper 
usually.  Have you contacted the airlines?  It takes up to a month to get that 
process over with.  I've used FedEx and DHL with relatively good success.  Make 
sure to have them hold the package at the hub station, if the person can go 
pick it up.  That allows you to get the fish at 8 am, rather than noon or 3 if 
they don't want to pay the extra shipping charges, and then the fish aren't 
stuck on a cold truck all day..  You can also usually drop the fish off later 
at the hub station near you than any of the outlying offices to shorten the 
flight time.

I used to use Bag Buddies from Jungle for all of the fish I shipped, including 
the rare plecos.  I never had a loss with them, but I've been told that isn't 
the case.   They sedate the fish a bit and add oxygen, so they might be just 
the ticket for your cichlids.

Hope this helps.  Feel free to email me off the list if you have any other 
questions :)

Barbie

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob and Judy Holmes 
  To: gsas-member@thekrib.com 
  Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 9:45 AM
  Subject: [GSAS-Member] Fwd: Re: GSAS Inquiry


  Here's a potential new GSAS member who would like some fish shipping advice 
  and also has some fish to share. Can anyone help him out?
  Thanks
  Bob


  >Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2004 08:07:21 -0800
  >To: "Harry Tolen" <harrytolen@comcast.net>
  >From: Bob and Judy Holmes <jbholmes@nwlink.com>
  >Subject: Re: GSAS Inquiry
  >
  >Hello Harry.
  >
  >What I can  do, with your permission, is post your question to our GSAS 
  >member email list. I have never shipped fish cross country so I have no 
  >experience in that area, but I believe some of our members have done so 
  >and they may be able to advise you. I suspect that there may also be some 
  >interest in the other fish you have available.
  >You might consider joining GSAS even though you would not be able to 
  >attend meetings regularly.Many members are in the same situation as 
  >yourself and they participate mostly via email. I have found GSAS to be a 
  >great way to meet fellow hobbyists, exchange ideas and information, swap 
  >fish, etc.
  >The only other sources of oxygen that I can think of are health care 
  >facilities (doctors, nursing homes, veterinarians) or welding shops.
  >Bob
  >
  >
  >At 10:25 PM 12/1/2004 -0800, you wrote:
  >>Hi.  I'd like to introduce myself briefly and then ask a question.  My 
  >>name is Harry Tolen and I'm a local hobbyist.  Currently, I'm trying to 
  >>find a fish store that has oxygen available for use when bagging its 
  >>fish.  I've tried Fish Gallery & Pets in Renton, B&D Aquarium in White 
  >>Center, and Petco in West Seattle (I am located in West Seattle).  I have 
  >>about 30 3/8" juvenile Cichlasoma pearsei that I have been trying to ship 
  >>to a hobbyist on the east coast, but I can't seem to find a source for 
  >>the oxygen (I have the styrofoam cartons, the box, and the heat packs 
  >>ready to go, but have been held up by this one factor).  Although I 
  >>suppose I could just randomly start calling additional shops, I thought I 
  >>would ask if you knew of any.  Proximity to West Seattle would be a plus.
  >>
  >>I also have some larger C. pearsei, some Vieja synspila, and some 
  >>Neolamprologus multifasciatus that I would be willing to distribute 
  >>locally if anyone is both qualified to keep them and interested in doing 
  >>so.  I have enough room to keep these fish so I'm not desperate to unload 
  >>them, but am always happy to distribute some offspring to mix up the gene 
  >>pool (which is why I'm shipping to the east coast).
  >>
  >>Sorry I don't have time to come to the GSAS meetings and discuss this in 
  >>person, but between my job, my wife, our dogs, and tank maintenance, I 
  >>never seem to have an evening free.
  >>
  >>If you can offer me any help on the above I would be very 
  >>appreciative.  Thanks in advance for whatever you can tell me.
  >>
  >>Harry Tolen
  >>206-932-0354
  >><mailto:harrytolen@comcast.net>harrytolen@comcast.net

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