Breather Bags

[michael_cb_125]

I have three fish that I am going to be shipping in the next week. I do not have an oxygen tank lying around so I needed something else. I bought a few of the Kordon Breather Bags. They are supposed to act like a membrane, and release CO2 and take in O2. Well before I test them on really nice SW fish, I figured I would try them on something less expensive.
My brother raises Crappie and Bass Minnows for fishing. I took a crappie minnow and put it in the bag.(with water) I put the bag in a drawer in the kitchen, now it is waiting time. I want to see just how long he will last. I know it sounds mean, but if he last three day I will put him back in the pond. We shall see~Michael

[lcstorc]

I know Woodstock has used them and is very happy with them. Interresting experiment though.

[Woodstock]

Yep. I've used them a lot with great success. Given the correct temperature, the fish can live for days in them.
There are a few precautions to using them (bags can not be doubled or touching one another; and they are puntured easily) so you must use them accordingly.
I suggest reading this site at least twice Novalek - Kordon - Articles - The Amazing Kordon Breathing Bags For Shipping Fishes, Aquatic Invertebrates, and Aquatic Plants

[michael_cb_125]

I have read it a few times. I have cardboard dividers that will go in the box it will use. I have U-line styro coolers inside double walled boxes. Temp should not be an issue. Plus I have 18-20 hour heat packs. I wanna see how long the minnow will last.~Michael

[mps9506]

I know BrianE on here uses them to ship frags very succesfully.
Let us know how it works with the fish.

that being said... I can't remember if the chem guys still agree with this or not, but I was always taught that the buildup of CO2 is actually good in traditional bags, especially when shipping overnight. the CO2 depresses the pH in the shipping water and as ammonia builds up in the water it is not as toxic because of the low pH
This also makes acclimating tricky when getting fish that are shipped overnight because when you open the bag and CO2 is released if you acclimate the fish via dripping, you are increasing the pH of the water in the bag as well as causing some of the CO2 to work out of the water. This means the pH may change quite rapidly as well as the NH3/NH4 levels.

I don't know how this applies to breather bags, and I have no idea what kind of ammonia levels buildup in the bag overnight anyways...

[Witfull]

mike you are correct in the pH/NH4 area. when ever i was dripping tranships i used ammolock in the water.

best thing to do with the fish is to not feed them for a few days to "clean them out" this will help reduce waste. but some NH4 will still be produced through respiration.

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by Witfull

mike you are correct in the pH/NH4 area. when ever i was dripping tranships i used ammolock in the water.

best thing to do with the fish is to not feed them for a few days to "clean them out" this will help reduce waste. but some NH4 will still be produced through respiration.

Yeah, I always used amquel in the bags during the acclimation when I was working at the store. LAX to wilmington NC is a long flight. Especially when I would show up at the airport and the cargo people would be on lunch
the cargo dept wasn't very busy there as you can imagine, one or two people could handle it all year long...

I also think a few of the wholesalers would use methylene blue to ship there fish with.

[michael_cb_125]

Well, here is an update. The minnow is MORE active today than it was yesterday. It looks great. So far so good. You can see him sucking at the sides of the bag, almost like he can breathe through it. Awesome!!

[Woodstock]

In ONE box I shipped overnight, 5 fish and 2 shrimp to New Jersey a few months ago. All were in breather bags and were in excellent shape at the end of their journey.

Michael, test the PH and ammonia of the bag when you open it please

[michael_cb_125]

No Problem.
Also I am going to put another minnow in another bag. I am going to put a temp prope in the bag and seal it. Then I am goint o package the fish like I would to ship. Then I am going to sit it on the porch this Fiday around 3:00. Then I will check the temp, at regular intervals through the night. Then at 11:00 Sat I will check the temp again, and test the water. I want to see what the temp change is, and how everything holds up.~MIchael

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

Michael, test the PH and ammonia of the bag when you open it please

Yes that would be great! Inquiring minds want to know!

[mps9506]

Ahh, crap, wait... this is a freshwater minnow...

[michael_cb_125]

I know I know..but it is still a fish. He is still alive. Only 1.5 more hours before he has made it for two days.

I have a little Ocellaris clown that I could try the experiment on. But I think that would make some people mad. Hmmm......

[panmanmatt]

Originally Posted by michael_cb_125

I know I know..but it is still a fish. He is still alive. Only 1.5 more hours before he has made it for two days.

I have a little Ocellaris clown that I could try the experiment on. But I think that would make some people mad. Hmmm......

Damsel would be a good candidate for this experiment.

[michael_cb_125]

I have this little Ocellaris that I have had since I started my firt tank. He has not grown any, and has a dislocated jaw. I may try him out in a bag. I will bag him up tonite, and put the heat packs in and everything. He will be ok, and I will put him back in the tank when i am done.