I'm just curious, how do people ship live fish, I mean I don't understand how they stay alive. Especially when its extremely hot out side. What about air for themto breath? Who delivers them? How do they survive?

What I do is fast the fish for 24 hours, then slowly transfer them to a container adding new dechlorinated water. Depending on the size of the fish on how many to a bag. Add container of water and fish to the bag, only needing to be 1/2 full. Add air to the bag and tie off with rubber band. Then I take the extra precaution of double bagging it, by putting that bag into another bag. For shipping I use a box from the post office lining that with insulation. I then put the bag/s into the box and stuff with either more insultion, newspapers or packing peanuts. Seal the box, and send it on its way.

__________________
SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

Bettas are just a little different than what Susan described.I fast my betta for two days,and when bagging them I use one third water to two thirds air,as with bettas atmospheric air is more important than water.That being said,the water needs to be enough to fully cover the fish,and some halfmoons are super finny.Also take into consideration,if the box tips,there needs to be enough water to keep the fish covered if the bag is vertical or horizontal.I add air with an air pump and standard airline.I tie mine of,just because of paranoia.When I tie them off,I leave a little play in the bag so it doesnt bust,then gently flip and place this in another bag.Tie this off as well.This leaves the first bag like a bubble,where there are no corners for delicate fins or heads to get stuck.Place in a box lined in styrofoam with newspaper padding.Heat pack taped to the top styro lid after wrapped in newspaper(in winter),tape the hell out of it,graffitti it with fragile live fish keep from extreme temps,all over,make sure to get a tracking number and have a nervous breakdown while they are in transit,lol.

__________________
http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

I have ordered several saltwater fish from supposedly reputable companies, and been very disappointed so far. Only two of nine have lived. Of the seven that died, five arrived DOA. The other two died within 24 hours. I don't know if my experience is typical, I hope not. It would be terrible if so many of these beautiful little guys are wasted like that. They were shipped overnight, packed in coolers, I picked them up first thing in the morning at the Fed Ex office, saving them being on the truck all day. But because we only have a couple local stores that carry saltwater fish, I don't really have much of a choice but to try again. Maybe I have just been unlucky so far?

__________________
90 gallon saltwater reef tank
2 clownfish (mated pair)
1 scooter blenny
1 saddled mimic puffer
1 garden eel
1 royal gramma
1 sabae anenome (purple tip)
1 brittle star
assorted corals and inverts

and growing

I think saltwater fish are more sensitive and needs more to shipping. I have shipped hundreds of fish, but always freshwater, and only once did I have to replace the fish. There has been only 3 orders that I have gotten in where the fish was dead. That was 1 from AZGardens and the other 2 were some very small starlight bristlenose which I paid a $125.00 for 4 of them and both times came in DOA. But blame that on the postoffice really. Took 4 days for express shipping.

__________________
SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

I am really hoping that I have just been unlucky so far. It just kills me to think of hundreds upon hundreds of fish dying this way. I am glad to hear of your postivie experience shipping freshies. I am hoping that some of the saltwater hobbyists will chime in and let me know of their experiences buying fish and having them shipped. Maybe I'll start a new post in another forum to see if I can get some more replies.

__________________
90 gallon saltwater reef tank
2 clownfish (mated pair)
1 scooter blenny
1 saddled mimic puffer
1 garden eel
1 royal gramma
1 sabae anenome (purple tip)
1 brittle star
assorted corals and inverts

and growing