Moving - Recs for Shipping

[waltercat]

I am going to be moving to the west coast and have a 55G reef tank, mostly filled with softies & mushrooms. I'm considering downsizing and just moving my two tomato clowns, their RBTA, a little bit of rock with some mushrooms and softies, and a couple of LPS. I'll probably take the skimmer, powerheads, heater and light.

 

I'll be parting with a Scopas Tang, a bunch of rock, and the tank/stand.

 

Couple of questions:

• Anyone know of a service that can help with the shipping? I would prefer a place I can drop off to a few days before.
• Would it be better to just pack 'em up and transport on the plane as a checked box? Is that even allowed and does anyone have experience doing that? I'm flying Alaska.

[YHSublime]

I know you can do it checking with tsa, but it’s hit or miss getting an agent that fully understands the scope of what you are trying to do.

 

Best case scenario, ship yourself to somewhere about where you’re going to be. Maybe get acquainted with your local club wherever that is? 
 

i don’t know anybody that ships for hobbyists like this. Maybe take the fish with you, and have a buddy mail everything post? 

[WheresTheReef]

Honestly, unless you're really emotionally tied to any of your livestock (or have something rare) I'd just sell and/or donate it all. Do you already have a tank set up and cycled where you're moving to? If not then all the more reason to not have to have that stress and added expense especially with fish. 

 

You should be able to travel with a limited amount of live animals, but look up TSA rules. Good luck with whichever route you take.

[waltercat]

Yeah, it's kinda an emotional thing. I have considered just selling/donating everything, but Having two clowns for over 10 years, they are part of the family. They just started mating this year. I think I may just do the fedex thing. Reef Exotic said they would help me with air and bags, but that I would have to ship myself. I'll have a home ready for them when they arrive.

 

TSA is an option (I didn't realize this), but I'd hate to get to the airport only to have an encounter with someone who doesn't understand.

 

I assume it is best to do overnight? 

[DaJMasta]

If shipping, overnight in insulated containers with appropriate heat packs is going to be the most reliable.  Animals are more tolerant of cold than hot, but too cold is also bad (maybe moreso for corals than fish.)  You would probably want to catch/pack in the early afternoon to get them to your carrier's drop-off site before the last truck for the day to help minimize transit time.  I'd say take as few as you can, you can get more at the far side, it's expensive, and the more animals in need of acclimation and appropriately ready habitat for that bioload, the harder it is to pull off.

 

People go through TSA with fish and even corals,  basically, the animal being alive is proof the liquid isn't dangerous, but it is potentially risky (haven't heard many horror stories, but it is their discretion), and you still want them insulated and physically protected. 

[YHSublime]

If you check out tigahboy.h20 on Instagram, he just flew his super nano aquarium across the country to a reefing show. Absolutely doable. 
 

if you have help packing the fish, I try to do it (shipping) directly before the last package pickup for priority overnight to minimize time in the bags and cooler. 
 

i know a few folks that have printed off the tsa rules to present at the airport if needed. Not to say you won’t get flack, but I imagine it’s helpful. 

[waltercat]

I did a little more research and feel comfortable doing a shipment. Seems like proper planning and keeping to a small amount of livestock, I can time it pretty well. 

 

My wife and I are flying our cats out and I don't want to add layers of complexity to an already stressful situation.

 

Appreciate all the input.

[YHSublime]

Best of luck! I can’t imagine flying with my cat, I hope they do ok!

[astroboy]

FWIW, three years ago I flew with a quart jar with two 2" clowns in it from Dallas to DC. The jar was in my checked luggage. In the bad there was a note from TSA to the effect that I was a bad boy but good luck with the fish. It is illegal to have live fish in your checked luggage, I'm sure that's true for carry on. 

[waltercat]

19 hours ago, astroboy said:

FWIW, three years ago I flew with a quart jar with two 2" clowns in it from Dallas to DC. The jar was in my checked luggage. In the bad there was a note from TSA to the effect that I was a bad boy but good luck with the fish. It is illegal to have live fish in your checked luggage, I'm sure that's true for carry on. 

Weirdly, TSA wants you to take it carryon and allows it, but does not allow it for checked baggage.

[astroboy]

That's surprising to hear, since you can't take a bottle of water or a tube of toothpaste through screening (last I heard). I guess Homeland Security figured that anything with a live fish in it is harmless. 

[Gatortailale]

Good luck with move.  We will miss you.

 

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/live-coral