Moving with pets is no easy feat, and fish are no exception. Some may think smaller pets like fish are easier to relocate, but these small creatures are delicate. To keep your fish (and their environment) safe, hiring professional movers in Plano, TX, can be the best choice.
Movers will give you the information you need to keep your pet healthy and they are trained to pack fragile items like fish tanks.
How to Move with a Fishtank
Step 1: Prepare
Moving a fish—and their enclosure—requires careful planning and a variety of tools, including a fishnet, a few 5-gallon plastic buckets, a siphon hose, furniture blankets, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, packing tape, and several medium-sized cardboard boxes.
You may already have some of these in your fish care kit, but you will have to purchase others. To lessen the stress on your fish, ensure the 5-gallon buckets are completely clear and spotless, ideally brand-new.
Step 2: Get Your Friends Ready
Stop feeding your fish about 24 hours before the day of the move. Don’t worry; your pet fish should be okay because they can survive for up to a week without food. The goal is to keep the water in the buckets waste-free while the house is being moved.
Leave disassembling your fish tank for last minute. This will ensure that your poor fish spend as little time as possible in unfavorable water conditions and inside mobile containers.
Step 3: Drain the Water and Remove the Fish
Once moving day arrives, it’s time to get the fish tank—and the fish—ready.
First, fill the buckets with some of the water from your fish tank. After that, carefully place your poor fish into the moving containers after catching them one at a time with the fishnet.
The idea is to use the same water to reduce stress for them. Afterward, cover the plastic buckets with lids and make tiny holes in them to let the fish breathe. Drain as much of the original aquarium water as you can into multiple 5-gallon plastic buckets. Additionally, every plant should be put in these buckets.
Step 4: It’s Packing Time
Take out all decorative elements and accessories, from rocks to sunken treasure chests, and water filters. Once they’re thoroughly dried, pack all those items in packing paper first, then add an extra layer of bubble wrap for maximum protection.
Step 5: Get the Fish Tank Ready
Now, it’s time to prepare the fish tank. Empty the tank of any leftover water, then remove any gravel. Place it in a slightly wet container to preserve the bacteria that live on it.
Next, dry the fish tank with a fresh towel or several paper towels that can be thrown away. When the glass aquarium is completely dry, cover it with bubble wrap and thick furniture blankets to safeguard the delicate glass structure while it is being moved.
We recommend filling the insides with newspaper or sheets, too, to provide extra support.
Find Movers in Plano, TX, to Take Your Fish Pets to Their New Home Safely
Moving with fish pets is no easy feat. Not only are the fish tanks extremely fragile (they are made of glass, after all), but the aquarium fish inside them are super delicate. They may not survive the move unless you know exactly how to guarantee their safety.
Hiring reliable professional movers is key to preventing accidents. Here at Pink Zebra Moving, we have the expertise and tools to safely transport your loved pet’s enclosure to its new home. Find a location near you and learn more about what we can do to help!