The internet presents countless opportunities to both buy and sell many species of tropical fish; both fresh and saltwater. Sometimes, these fish sell at amazingly low prices. Other times, we find species online that we just cannot find locally. Buying and selling in this manner usually requires shipping the fish to their new homes. However, Fish, extremely susceptible to diseases caused by stress in shipping, require use of quality materials and mandatory care. The following article teaches the proper materials and methods for successfully conditioning, packing and shipping your fish.

First, when shipping fish, we gather all the proper materials. This requires an insulated box capable of withstanding the rigors of shipping while maintaining a near constant temperature despite any weather extremes it may pass through. A good place to start your search is at a local aquarium shop. Many shops have their fish delivered in boxes suited for shipping. These boxes, made up of styrofoam chests inserted inside cardboard adequately keep temperatures steady inside. However, don't become disappointed if they charge you for it! Fish boxes, even used ones, are valuable commodities. Shops pay anywhere from $5.00 to $12.00 each for these boxes and sometimes get a credit when they return them to their distributors. Another possible problem with these boxes is their size. They typically hold four to eight (or more) bags of fish. If sending only one bag, these boxes are too large. Other good sources for boxes include hospitals, doctors' offices, pharmacies and veterinarians. These venues often receive samples or medicines in this type of box and, if they haven't thrown them away yet, will usually let you have them.

Let's say you strike out looking at the above sources. What can you do? A trip to the local hardware or home improvement store may pay off. These stores sell large sheets of styrofoam house insulation and cardboard boxes. These sheets come in varying degrees of thickness. Thicker sheets offer better insulation but cost more. Choose the box that best suites the size and number of fish bags you plan to ship and then cut the insulation to fit the inside of the box. Cut pieces for all four sides, the bottom and top. Be careful to leave room so the pieces fit snugly together. Once assembled, tape along the lengths of all the inside corners to further stop outside air from entering. For this, use heavy duty, preferably insulted, tape.

Next, insert a plastic bag that to line the inside of the box. Many carriers require this in case the box leaks during transit. This bag also helps further insulate the fish. A heavy duty trash can liner will work but thicker bags work better. Inside this bag carefully place your fish bags (we'll get to packing the fish in bags in a moment). Place them snugly inside without too much pressure so none pop or roll around during transit. Fill large empty spaces with fish bag filled only with air.

Now add additional items such as heat or cold packs. Be aware of weather and temperatures the package may pass through during transit. Most tropical fish can safely be kept at temperatures between 76 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In cold weather, place heat packs inside the box to keep the fish warm. Although heat packs may be difficult to find locally, numerous online resources offer – ranging in duration from 12 – 72 hours (a good source is www.MondoAquatics.com ). Be sure to purchase ones capable of lasting the entire transit time. It's better to purchase ones that last too long than not long enough.

When placing the heat packs inside the box, avoid direct contact with the bags. One method is to pack newspaper over the bags and then place the heat pack (or packs) on top. Another method it to place the heat pack inside a folded paper plate and then tape it to the bottom of the styrofoam lid. Larger boxes require more than one heat pack (more water requires more energy to keep warm).

During summer months and especially for temperature sensitive marine fish, cold packs in the box keep them from overheating. Standard frozen gel packs, the type used in coolers, work well. Wrap the packs inside newspaper to avoid direct contact with the bags. Using your judgment, make sure the cold pack is not too large. You don't want to freeze the fish.

Once everything is in the box, place the insulated lid on top. Seal the lid firmly down if it doesn't snugly fit. Then tape the box closed as well. It's important to properly mark the outside of the. You want to minimize rough handling and stress to the fish. Boldly mark the box in large letting “Live Tropical Fish – Handle With Care.” Also mark arrows pointing upwards with “This End Up” clearly stated in several locations.

You want to pack the box as close as possible to shipping time. If you drop off the shipment at 5:00pm, don't put the fish in the boxes at 10:00am! Try to drop the package off for shipping as late as possible without missing the cut-off time as regulated by the carrier.

Okay, let's step backwards and discuss conditioning fish for shipping and properly bagging them. The term 'conditioning' here describes the procedure for readying your fish for their journey. It really boils down to only a few requirements. First, don't feed the fish for twenty-four hours prior to shipping. This minimizes the amount of waste produced while in the bag, keeping the water cleaner. A product named Poly-Filter, sold in various size sheets, helps remove ammonia and nitrates from the water. Simply cut off approximately a one-inch sized square and put it in the water with the fish.

Use a fish bag large enough to hold plenty of air, yet small enough not to require so much water your shipping costs skyrocket. The amount of water to put inside the bag shipping fish causes confusion for many. Contrary to common belief, the importance of air in the bag is higher than a lot of water. As a general rule of thumb, put no more than four fingers high (with your hand placed horizontally in front of the bag) of water inside the bag. Use dechlorinated fresh water (as in new and clean, not as in unsalted for marine fish). If possible pack the bag with oxygen, but if you don't have access to this, air is fine. Another type of bag called 'Breather-Bags' also work well for shipping. These bags allow air to transfer through them, removing worry about the fish running out. When using breather bags, fill them to the top. Remember not to float Breather-Bags in their new tank before releasing the fish. If air cannot get through the bag (because it is blocked by water), the fish inside will 'drown.'

Sedation during transit raises another issue when shipping fish. Sedating fish conserves air in the bag, keeps fish calm, and reduces stress. A good product, named 'Bag-Buddies,' both 'calms' fish and oxygenates water. The tablets are easy to use; just place a tablet in the bag and let it dissolve. Countless other sedation products also exist. Some are quite strong and, if used wrongly, may be fatal to your fish. Some of these products paralyze the fish and only wear off when the fish is removed from the bag and placed in fresh water. As to whether or not to sedate, you have to judge for yourself. Some fish are very active in bags. Others, especially larger cichlids, can easily puncture bags with their fins (we usually double or triple bag our fish when we ship in order to avoid this) .

Finally, there's the question of the best method of shipping. All the arguments in regard to this usually boil down to two criteria: 1) well-being of the fish, or 2) ease on the pocketbook. Fast methods and less expensive methods both exist. Carriers, such as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), U.P.S., and FedEx sometimes claim they do not ship live animals. Most of the time, you have no problem shipping them via these carriers. It varies by location and shift manager whether they accept the package for shipping. Over time, you learn which carrier to use if you begin to ship fish regularly. The cost for shipping via these carriers varies slightly with the USPS usually being on the lower end and FedEx the upper (which is the opposite of reliability in our experience). If you ship regularly, you can negotiate a contract with FedEx for a discount in order to make up for this difference.

Now you (or the buyer) must decide whether to ship fish for overnight or second-day delivery. Overnight delivery often costs approximately twice as much as second day, but obviously lessens the risk to the fish. Some carriers give you the option of how early the following day the package will arrive. We find that arrival before noon the next day is usually safe (depending on weather) and discourage second day delivery in all but the most perfect of weather conditions. Of course, the number, size and type of fish also plays into this. Smaller, younger fish tend to ship much better than larger, older ones.

Some people prefer to ship fish the least expensive way possible. We feel these methods often place fish at much greater risk. For example, the USPS offers second day delivery on 'flat-rate' boxes which they provide. These boxes, however, are inadequate for safely shipping fish. The cardboard is not thick or strong enough to support the bags and the box lacks sufficient room to properly insert styrofoam insulation. Shippers often give buyers a 'live guarantee' to replace the fish for free if they arrive dead (minus the cost of reshipping). Although easy to offer when selling fry of species that produce hundreds of babies at a time, fish are living creatures and not a commodity with which one should play to odds.

If you become a regular shipper, another method is gaining popularity – shipping air freight via commercial airlines. An entire case of live tropical fish sent via carriers such as SouthWest Airlines may cost well under a hundred dollars (many times closer to fifty dollars!). Some carriers offer three tiers of service: 1) Next Flight Guarantee (NFG), 2) Priority, and 3) Freight. The most expensive (and still affordable) is NGF where choose which flights the box flies on -arriving at its destination often within only a few hours! Priority guarantees arrival within twenty-four hours and Freight within forty-eight, although the shipment usually arrives by the following morning with both. The only difference when shipping air freight, the buyer picks up the shipment at their local airport (in the air cargo terminal) rather than have it delivered to their door. This method also allows the buyer to pay for shipping at the time of pick up rather than have them send the seller funds in advance.

Shipping via this manner, however, requires the seller undergo a pre-approval. This means a security inspection of their facility as well as collection of some background information. The inspection, carried out by either the airline or TSA, carries a fee based on time and distance from the shipper. We highly recommend shipping via air freight and cannot persuade buyers enough to use merchants who ship this way.

Hopefully you now possess a better understanding of how to ship fish. The importance of quality materials, methods, and choice of time sensitive delivery all play an equally important role when choosing how to ship. The fish you purchase become prized possessions, so don't start your experience off trying to save money in lieu of maintaining safety standards. Try to ship your fish via a method that keeps them at a steady temperature and in bags for the shortest length of time possible. While the cost of shipping may seem expensive (and it indeed is expensive), remember that you will often find fish at much lower prices online than you will at the big-box stores.