How to Move Pet Fish

If you are moving and have a fish tank full of fish, you don’t have to give them away before you move. It is not hard to move pet fish with you, but this is something you have to plan for in advance. Learning how to move pet fish is simple to do, and only takes a few minutes.

1. Quit feeding your pet fish 2 days before you plan to move them. This will not hurt your fish, as they can go up to one week without any food.


2. Remove the fish tank heater and aerator and then cover the fish tank with cellophane. You can use something like Saran Wrap, if you have it.  This will help in regulating the water in the fish tank.


3. Put the fish tank into a cooler large enough to hold it. If you do not have a cooler that large, you can use any type of Styrofoam container. This will help the water stay the correct temperature during the move.


4. Remove the cellophane from the top of the aquarium every 5 hours so the air can recirculate in the aquarium and to keep the fish healthy.


5. Remove the fish tank from the cooler when you arrive at your destination. Set up the fish tank as soon as you can, feed the fish, put the heater and aerator back on the aquarium. Your fish should do very well in their new home and should not be bothered by the move at all. Watch them close for a few hours, just to be sure.