purchases to you within 24 to 36 hours. The good ones will starve the fish or inverts for 24 hours before they
ship. This helps ensure there aren't excessive waste products accumulating in the bag during shipment.
Most suppliers will use Australia Post's “live animal” service for shipping which guarantees priority handling
through the transport chain and special treatment from package handlers. A few will use courier companies
that they know and trust. Never order from anyone who puts their livestock in the normal post – even if it is
“priority paid” or “registered post”. Not only is this a very bad thing for the livestock, it is also illegal.
Packing is just as important as the way things are sent.
A styrofoam container is mandatory and fish should be double bagged. Bags should normally contain only
enough water to keep the fish comfortable – about a quarter full is good. The air (or pure oxygen) in the
bag is as important as the water. The sytrofoam container should be tightly packed without putting too much
pressure on the bags, by using half-inflated empty bags or newspaper or some other material to stop things
moving around too much.
The shipper must include a heat pack or cold pack, depending on the season.
These are special sachets of chemicals that help maintain a constant and
appropriate temperature inside the box. DON'T LET ANYONE SHIP
LIVESTOCK TO CANBERRA WITHOUT TEMPERATURE CONTROL. We live
an an environment characterised by extremes of temperature and even a
styrofoam box cannot keep its internal temperature stable for more than about
10 hours. Remember that the box will be in the hold of an aircraft for several
hours and probably in the back of a truck for several more.
Finally, the box should be taped shut and labeled as “Live Fish”.
Buying Fish Retail and Arranging Shipping Yourself
I'm addicted to visiting aquarium shops wherever I travel. While I try to follow my own advice and
avoid impulse buying (I even have a little mantra I recite before entering shop away from home -”
don't buy fish, don't buy fish....”), there are times when, well, you know how it is. If I absolutely
must buy livestock and I'm driving back to Canberra, I'll arrange to pick them up on the day I'm
traveling home and tell the shop keeper what I plan to do, including how long it will take to get my
purchases home. I'll ask them to use large bags, to double bag and also request a styrofoam box
and lid. I'll purchase (or have with me) an aquarium thermometer so I can check the temperature
in the box at points on my return journey. I'll put the box on the back seat of the car, covered with a
towel to keep the sun off and keep the aircon set to the mid-20s.
If I'm flying, there are some airline rules to observe. QANTAS are pretty good about shipping live
animals (I don't know about the other domestic airlines) but they can be a bit inconsistent about
passengers traveling with a box of fish as normal luggage. The safest way is do a formal live
animal shipment