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Re: How to ship fish?



"R. Scott Page" wrote:
> 
> From: "Dick Powell" <dpowell at pclink_com>
> 
> > I can't believe no one has had any trouble with Priority Mail fish
> shipments
> > yet.  I also belong to the IBC and they have had some serious discussions
> > about problems arising from the Post Office getting a new air carrier
> > contract for Priority Mail.  They no longer carry their Priority Mail in
> > heated, pressurized cargo holds.  IBC members have had bags explode, fish
> > killed by cold, not to mention lost or severely delayed fish shipments.
> 
> That's a fact!  I have received several dead shippment of fish this year as
> a result of the changes in the USPS.  Most recently last week from S. Calif.
> They made it in two days, were packed correctly with a heat pack but by the
> accelerated decay it was evident they died fairly soon after delivery to the
> USPS.  I suspect it was the due to pressure change not temp.
> 
> My experience shipping fish is limitedd to Bettas.  I ship in 20 oz and
> larger gatorade type bottles wrapped in foil.  I feel these bottles provide
> assurance against dramatic pressure changes packages now seem to experience
> and they never colapse or leak if you screw the lid on completely.

Not overfilled bags don't pop and the fish are not sensitive to the normal
shipping pressure changes. Too little air is a common cause of problems,
tho. Air is compressible and water is not. The more air, the more cushion
against pressure change (and the less postage).

I never use heat packs, as they do tend to deliver rotting parboiled fish in
many cases. Much too unregulated, IMHO. Most heat is delivered while in the
heated PO and not on the dock, in winter.

The USPS has *not* changed carriers or procedures in several years (despite
the Betta hysterical rumors). Check it out, yourself. Emery does handle most
Priority, and they *do* have hubs in cold areas, like Minnesota and NH (?).
I just quit shipping in Oct. and avoid doing any until May, if the shipment
doesn't justify Express.

Rotting after 2 days says the fish were essentially DOA at the post office.
That often happens when they are shipped in tank water or shocked by sudden
tds change in packing. "Amquel" goes a *long* way to prevent such problems,
BTW.

Wright

-- 
Wright Huntley, Fremont CA, USA, 510 494-8679  huntleyone at home dot com

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