We are Veterinary Qualified Specialists dedicated to the safety, health and comfort of your pet,
whilst in our care.
Moving fish can run very smoothly or it can be a total disaster.
Here are some suggestions to help you make a decision on whether to take the fish with you,
or find a home for then and re-stock at your new home.
To begin with, fish are not allowed into Tasmania.
So, if you are moving to Tasmania, you will not be able to take your fish with you.
Make sure the dates are all lined up correctly.
Have your fish collected the day before the packers come in.
Have them delivered at least one day after your furniture has arrived at your new home.
Prior to the fish arriving your tank needs to be set up and the water settled.
If your tank was set up for a long time in your previous home, you will need to check
the seals when you re-set your tank. Seals can become brittle and start to leak with time.
Condition your water, check pH levels and water hardness.
For tropical fish, make sure the water is at the correct temperature before the fish arrive.
In Perth, do not use bore water for your tank.
When the fish arrive, take them out of the polystyrene container, place the bag on the surface
of your tank water and leave there for 15 minutes. Open the bag and start by allowing small
amounts of water from the tank into the bag. This allows the temperatures and oxygen levels to mix
together, thus causing less of a shock to the fish.
Small goldfish and some tropical fish can be moved without too much trauma.
For large fish, exotic fish or tropical fish with sharp barbs or suckers, we will call
in an aquarium expert to pre-pack for the flight. Some fish need to be mildly sedated so that they are
less traumatised and travel better.
Regardless of the amount of care we take there is a chance that some will not make it alive or make
it through the first couple of weeks.
Unfortunately, the larger or more exotic the fish, then the greater the risk that the fish will not
survive the move.
