ur furry friends don’t get left behind during a move, and neither should your scaly ones. Everyone talks about moving your dog and their doggy belongings but rarely do people think about moving a fish. Between the tank, the water, the plants, and the fish themselves, moving your fish can involve many more than you initially signed up for. These tips from moving.com make moving your fish tank quick and easy.
Gather Your Supplies
Unfortunately, you can’t just pick up your tank and go, water and fish in all. Store everything separately and properly.
- Use fishnets to get the fish out of the water.
- Depending on their size, use plastic bags, containers, or buckets to transport your fish. Use plastic bags for smaller fish, plastic containers with lids for medium-sized fish, and 5-gallon buckets with lids for larger fish. Packing tape or duct tape can be used on top of the lip for added security.
- Use buckets to transport underwater plants. Submerge these plants underwater in those buckets and fasten with a lid and tape to protect the plants during the move.
- A siphon hose gets the water out of larger tanks with ease
- A box can hold all other tank decorations, fish food, test strips, and whatever else you need to keep your fish happy and healthy.
Move Your Fish
Fish are prone to stress, and they must be handled with care. Help them adjust well with water from the tank. Use this to fill the bags, containers, and buckets with some air at the top to be comfortable.
Get Your Fish Tank Ready
Take everything out and store them carefully. Next, siphon out the water with the siphon hose. You can even put this water in a large, sealable bucket to refill the tank once you’re in your new home. Sand and pebbles can be transported with plastic containers of their own. After everything is out of the tank, dry it completely.
Pack Up Your Tank
Once everything is out, your tank needs just as much care as your fish. They are fragile, and any crack can be detrimental. Wrap your lid with bubble wrap and tape. Cut foam board insulation to fit the bottom of the tank and pack in with padding supplies. Once it is filled, wrap it up in foam board insulation and place it in a moving box.
After this, you’ll be ready to move to your new place with your fishy friends! If you have trouble fitting all of your fish accessories but want them out of the way, try self storage! Find a prone to stress!