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Re: Shipping temperatures extra water and express mail...
My shipments usually contain from 4 to 10 pr of fish in a single package
and priority mail cost is from $6 to $9 typically. I use about 1 to 2 oz of
water per fish except big guys like gularis then about 4 to 5 oz of water
per fish. (5 or 6 pr per box is all I can fit of this size.)
For a small shipment of fish say 4 pr, the priority postage is about $6 as
compared to $24 for express mail or adding more water, say $10 versus $33
express. I did express mail a shipment to Miami and it took 4 days- big
deal, I get my money back but I still need the box back and they don't
really insure fish at the post office.
The cost of extra water is a cost in box volume more than the shipping
weight cost of about $1 a pound(vs the AKA recommended 50 cents per pair
extra for shipping..) I like to use about an inch of water in a 3"X10"(as
sealed) bag per fish of typical Aphyosemion size. That is one tenth of the
bag size is water to give plenty of air. Now, going to a big bag with a lot
of water requires a lot of air, i.e., a bigger box which may only hold 3 or
4 pr of fish at $10 a box so $3 to $4 a pr shipping. If the water is in
with the fish, it is more inertia to hit the fish with the gentle handling
we know the post office gives. (oops, also need a second box to meet postal
size requirements)
The extra water is a heat source but not all that much. If a box sees 30 or
40 degrees outside for 5 or more hours, the water will not help much in my
opinion. See how long it takes a 2 gal tank(32- 8 oz fishbags, self
shielded!) to cool off, certainly not more than 8 hours!
I agree, priority mail is no good for expensive species, but I don't think
most people want to pay $24 shipping for 2 or 3 pr of australe that sell for
about $6 a pair. I am willing to ship any way people like(within reason)
but I won't honor a guarentee of fish and postage as express mail including
resending free express mail postage. I can eat the loss of $6 or $7 postage
and a couple pr of fish but not $30+ for a resend.
Bill Shenefelt
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