How Long Can You Keep Fish in Plastic Bags?

Transparent plastic bags are often used to transport fish and other aquarium species from shops to their new tank habitats. In some cases, you may be able to transport more than one fish in a single bag. This will depend on the size of the species, the size of the bag, how much water the bag can hold, and if there’s oxygen added. Bags are perfectly fine for aquarium fish transport, but there are limits as to how long they can be used for.

Moving Fish in the Safest Way Possible

The best-case scenario for moving fish from one tank to another is to use a bucket with a lid. For example, all species in a ten-gallon aquarium can be temporarily placed in a five-gallon bucket. Just make sure to leave out plants, substrate, and decorations. Naturally, you don’t want to fill the bucket with water all the way to the top, and if you’ve scheduled a moving date, stop feeding the night before to keep the water as clean as possible. We always recommend a battery-operated air pump that we sell at Aquatic Warehouse for under $20. With this transport method, fish will be fine for more than 24 hours.

Using Established Aquarium Water

This is one of the most important factors when transporting fish. You always want them to swim in water taken from a healthy ecosystem, one that’s rich in beneficial bacteria, has gone through the nitrogen cycle, and is free of debris. Whether you use a bag or a bucket, make sure to leave enough space above the waterline so the temporary habitat will have air. Something else to keep in mind is the tank where the fish will be moved to. You must have access to established water, and this means you may have to save more than 50 percent of the aquarium water so it can be transferred to the new tank location.

Adding Extra Oxygen

In some Asian and Latin American countries, aquarium vendors set up shop at street festivals and town fairs with a stand featuring fish in bags. These vendors are able to stay in place for hours and return the next day because they’re adding oxygen to the bags. This is a common practice at the better aquarium shops like Aquatic Warehouse, and it allows fish to safely stay in the bag for more than 24 hours, but this cannot be recommended. You should limit the time fish are in the bag to no more than eight hours.

Welcoming Fish to Their New Aquarium

The water the aquarium supplier uses to fill transport bags is established, but it’s a good habit to never put water from an outside source (such as a store) into your aquarium. It’s best to acclimate the fish by adding small amounts of water from your tank—ongoing for 30 minutes. Pour as much out of the water in the bag as possible over a bowl (never over a sink because the worst can happen with drains) and slide the fish with the tiny amount of water into the aquarium. The less net contact, the better.

Fish tanks require several important supplies to ensure the inhabitants remain healthy and happy. From aquarium monitors and controllers to filtration and dosing pumps, Aquatic Warehouse has everything you need. Stop by our store located in Kearny Mesa, shop on our website for what you need, or give us a call at 858-467-9297.