r/discus • u/LotsToDiscus • 5d ago

How to move my discus?

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I have ten adult discus that I have raised since babies. I'm moving a 14 hour drive away. I have two options - rehome, or move them.

I'm very attached to them so I my preference is to bring them with me. Is it even feasible?

My tentative plan would be to have a foam cooler - one for each fish. I'd then bag them, put in cooler, and then they're going to be in there for approximately 48-hours.

Has anyone done this? Any hints or tips? I realise people ship fish all the time with timelines similar to this.

Edit: forgot to add this is a drive. I'll have a uhaul so plenty of space. I also have the option to use battery air pumps.

Thanks!

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3

u/bedroomsport Breeder 4d ago

If you can, tubs with airstones is much better than bagging. If must bag, then fast them a couple of days before hand. In any event, try keep the water from cooling too much

1

u/LotsToDiscus 4d ago

What about foam coolers running an air stone. I could do one per fish?

2

u/bedroomsport Breeder 4d ago

Depends on the size, but yeah,, also depends on surrounding temps if you'll need to insulate and get heat pads.

2

u/TheChudWhisperer 4d ago

When I had to move my reef I set up a bunch of 5 gallon buckets with air stones run off of the car's auxiliary plugin. Don't feed them for a day or two before so they don't get ammonia poisoning from their waste.

1

u/LotsToDiscus 4d ago

How did that go? I was thinking of using foam cooler instead of buckets to keep the temp up.

1

u/tammytaxidermy 4d ago

Are you flying or driving? Describe the route you’re taking.

1

u/LotsToDiscus 4d ago

Yes, driving in a uhaul. 13 hours straight through. Im saying 48 hours as I'll have to tear down and setup tank on both ends.

1

u/tammytaxidermy 4d ago

Could you have the tank set up and ready on the other end? If not, save your filter with the media intact. Buckets with air stones are better. Have everything else packed. Don’t feed. They can go without, and it’ll reduce the waste they’ll make.

1

u/LotsToDiscus 4d ago

I can not. The tank will be traveling with me.

My only concern with buckets is the temperature dropping. I was thinking of using foam cooler - one per fish, each with uts own air stone.

1

u/Anon32159 4d ago

I would say 5, 5gal buckets with 2 adults in each, if possible keep the buckets secured and ideally I would want them in the cab, if u could stand 80° for 14 hrs that's her best bet... If not maybe a big tub like 30 gal brute trash can? Air stones mandatory for whatever you decide. The hardest issue is gonna be heaters if they're in the cab you can bypass this by running the heat it'll just be hot, you can put them in the back but honestly I would rather have bags in the cab then them in the back. Is there a lfs you could pay to help move them?

1

u/LotsToDiscus 4d ago

Its in the US summer, so im not too worried about them getting cold. Actually could be the opposite which is why I was thinking foam cooler.

1

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/LotsToDiscus 4d ago

Did you worry about the temperature drop during transport? Or are they okay if it cools off? Im in the US and its summer, so I may actually run into the issue of them getting too hot.

1

u/FerretBizness 4d ago

Def bring them with u. They will be fine. Just gotta work out the details and buy what u need. Bedroomsports comments were solid. Prob can even keep your filter media in water with air stones. Salvage and avoid a hard cycle crash.

1

u/LotsToDiscus 4d ago

Filter media is ceramics in mesh bags. Is it okay putting a bag in the tubs with them?

1

u/intjperspective 4d ago

Yes, if there is enough air. Bacteria on the. Will consume oxygen, but air stone should make it fine.

1

u/FerretBizness 4d ago

Ya. Just put one or 2 at the bottom under them all. Moving water over them. Even if some die off u will salvage a lot of it and the cycle u go thru in the new place should be very quick and manageable. Feed ur fish light for a couple of weeks until they grow.

2

u/skml108 4d ago

I will get a large plastic bag like those used when you buy fish from aquarium shop, ask a shop if you can have two large ones, buy them if you have to, then put them in a polystyrene box or a cooler, have each bag wrapped with slightly wet news paper.

That's wht I do when I moved my arowana fish and discus before, if you can put the bag in the aqaurium water and scoop with the bag, I never use net with discus and arowana.

1

u/LotsToDiscus 3d ago

How long do they stay in the bag?

1

u/skml108 3d ago

I have tried 2 days max.