Moving & flying with fish...

[johnsmb]

Well, it looks like we are finally heading home in a few months. We are moving from Washington state to Minnesota. I am trying to figure out how (and if) I should attempt to bring some corals and possibly a few fish with. I currently have a 75 and a 15 gallon tank set up. My tentative plan is to dismantle the 15 gallon tank and set it up at a relative's house in Minnesota. I was thinking of bringing 10 to 20 pounds of liverock, a few corals and possibly 2 of my fish. Then I will sell the rest of my livestock and just re-start my 75 when we get permanently settled again.

We will be flying back and forth a few times over the next few months before we make the permanent move. So....am I allowed to bring some fish/corals/liverock on the plane? I suppose I should call the airline - but maybe it would be better for them not to know Has anyone ever done this? Did you just put them in your checked baggage, or in your carry on? I am hoping that will work, because it will be much faster (and cheaper) than if I were to ship them overnight. Beth.

 

[snobanker]

Johnsmb......I usually have them packed in ice in a styrofoam box...works great, I've brought many salmon back from Alaska that way......oh wait...you mean live fish...hehehe sorry . Hey seriously though, my wife works for an airline I will ask her if she knows anything about this.

 

[snobanker]

Hey Johnsmb, I just got off the phone with my wife....She said and I quote " hahahahahahaahahah someone wants to fly with their fish?????...you reefers are sick sick..." Ok what she really said was, as far as Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, they have no restrictions on transporting tropical fish and there is no fee to take them on the plane. There are no restrictions in any of the states they fly to for bringing them in. She said they just need to be carried on in a "leak-proof" container(duh). She said most airlines are probably the same, but that you may want to check with yours just to be sure. Good luck...oh and as former Duluthian myself, why would you want to move back to MN?? haha

 

[johnsmb]

Oh that is so awesome!! I will contact the airline - I expected much more resistance than that. That makes me so happy - I couldn't imagine being without my reef for months!!

Yes, I am having second thoughts on moving....but our family is all there. Just have to get through those 7 months of winter and then the rest is all good except for maybe the bugs and the humidity. Beth.

 

[dnjan]

And we want to see pictures of the new coral species that develop after they go through the x-ray machine at the airport

 

[NaH2O]

Here are a couple of links. If flying isn't an option, there are these hauling tanks:

Hauling Tanks

Also, Kordon breathing bags would be a great way to package up your livestock for the flight. I think you can get heat packs at Walmart by the camping gear?
Kordon Breathing Bags. You can get a styrofoam conatiner/cooler and keep the bags in it.

 

[johnsmb]

Well my bubble burst today. I called a few airlines and got bad news. We usually fly Northwest and they will not take the fish as any kind of baggage - they have to go cargo and the minimum price is $80. That aint going to work! Next I called Suncountry and they take no animals whatsoever. I have an email information request into Delta.... But, it is looking like this won't work Plus, my husband is the one that would be handling all of this and he said it better not turn into a hassle. uh oh. I am bummed, I love looking at my reef every single day, now I have to go reefless for awhile and then start over from scratch again. I know that I could still overnight a few things with Fedex or the post office - but I am sure that my husband will view that as a "hassle." Plus, it is more stressful for the fish and corals and there will be no one knowledgeable their to care for them if something goes wrong. Beth.

 

[johnsmb]

Ok, maybe I'm reaching here..... But, what if I were to just put some liverock in a plastic bag with no water and then put that in the suitcase? Liverock isn't an animal, so maybe that would be ok??? Or are you not allowed to put rocks in your baggage now And then, what if I just bagged up a few small corals and packaged them up and put them in a suitcase? Would they confiscate them????? I could imagine leaving the fish behind, but I just finally got a few decent corals and some of them I grew from little bits of nothing.......

 

[dnjan]

I doubt that there are many of the security personnel for domestic flights who would recognize corals as animals. Especially corals stressed from packing, etc. with their polyps withdrawn. Go for it.

Fish, however, would be different.

 

[gobie]

Yeah I Could See It Now, Im Taking Over This Plane With Corals And Live Rock. Take Me To The Tropical Indo Pacific. I Am The Coral Liberation Front