Shipping Monsters

[Melody]

I was just looking over the latest Massive Aggression pic's (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1294). He commented on how they all arrived in good shape and it made me curious about how one ships these things? You know, the big things with teeth, spines, etc? I don't even trust Loaches in bags.

I know you can buy heavy duty plastic and triple bag, etc, but even then I'd be worried about these creatures busting their way out. Any special procedures/precautions?

[jones]

i tuper ware everything and double bag everything...
i pack for worst case scenearios and hope for the best, hahaha

every fish (piranha wise) needs slightly different packing, but its pretty basic, i put them in hard plastic tuperwares that have holes in it to let the water threw, but not their teeth, haha

then i double bag with 3mil plastic bags, pretty much the thickest you can buy for them...

now shipping 14+ plus Rhom Piranhas is a different story, hahaha
those guys require special rigged up plastic containers and hypno to knock them out just a tad so they dont freak out...

a 14+ plus piranha is a sizable and strong fish, one not to underestimate... especially when preping it for transport... they get confused and scared and are very unpredictable.. so precautions are required, to say the least...

all the best
jones

[CACAdmin]

Yes, use precautions please... we don't want you losing any fingers... or any flesh for that matter.:Eek:

[Melody]

Very interesting. I'm going to stop saying that shipping is easy...lol. In fact, I think I'll add a note to our shipping thread. Thanks!

[jones]

yeah, something like a special order 15inch peru high back rhom can easily crush a hand or sever fingers with no problem...

they only really find it nessessary to use that force when they are out of water it seems...
you deffinitally dont move something like that with a net thats for sure...

i've read a story of an 11" rhom jumping out of a net, and when the fellah went to block the fish to kind of smack it in the bucket with his hand... the fish landed in the bucket, but it had chewed into his index finger and bit its way deep into the center of the knuckle... almost severing the knuckle in two, he said the firemen that showed up were amazed that it had such powerful jaws... and that was an 11" hahah

heres the story:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1034

its why we love them thou, hahaha

[Melody]

WHOA - proceed with caution...lol. I can see the panic setting in when they're out of water, like us if we're drowning I suppose. There is no greater strength than there is in someone who is panicing underwater. They say that a woman can easily drown a big man trying to save her, if she's freaking out underwater.

[jones]

yeah, other than being out of water, they will rarely 'attack' so to speak, its more out of a final act of desperation... so theres a few tricks to ease them into say, a big cut up rubermaid bin that fits in a bag, hahah
without lossing any fingers

no nets thou on anything like that... EVER!!! hahaha, it's just wrong for the git-go...
i use nets piranhas fish 5" or less, and even then i go threw them pretty quick... you can see them grinding the net in their teeth for the short time they are out of the water... some wont let go of it for a few secs when they hit water either... you yeah, i guess you could say it ruins their day, hahah

all the best
jones

[Melody]

Maybe its just a reminder that they COULD hurt you if they really wanted to. "I like you Ryan, ya bring me good food, ya keep my tank clean, but don't be messin' with me buddy..." type thing. :laugh:

[Toirtis]

i've read a story of an 11" rhom jumping out of a net, and when the fellah went to block the fish to kind of smack it in the bucket with his hand... the fish landed in the bucket, but it had chewed into his index finger and bit its way deep into the center of the knuckle... almost severing the knuckle in two, he said the firemen that showed up were amazed that it had such powerful jaws... and that was an 11" hahah

My fave is the one a couple of years back of the guy that illegally shipped some Caribe into the Philipines and lost a sizeable piece of his nose when he was unpacking them, and one jumped out of the box and bit him.

[jones]

exactly, i deffintally dont want to mess with them, hahah, they deffinitally know what they can do, but given the choice, they would rather swim away and avoid the hassle...

i get more and more respect for them each day i interact with these incredible fish...

all the best
jones

and wow, i never heard about the nose story... that sucks for buddy and his shnoz... haha

[Melody]

My fave is the one a couple of years back of the guy that illegally shipped some Caribe into the Philipines and lost a sizeable piece of his nose when he was unpacking them, and one jumped out of the box and bit him.


Well there's a lesson about illegal importation if I ever heard one - you should share that with the member doing a paper on importing....lol.

[Pamelajo]

Always wondered now I know.

[ChrissyFishy]

I shipped an adult oscar once because I was moving. I put him in a heavy plastic bag and then into a soft sided container. He was mad at me for weeks but he got over it.:wideeyed: :eek: :laugh:

[Melody]

LOL Glad to hear that he made it ok, if a bit upset.

[ChrissyFishy]

:yes: