Shipping live aquarium shrimp is easier than you'd think when proper precautions are taken. I’ve developed a method over time that maximizes the chances of a successful, healthy arrival, and I’d love to share a bit about it with you. Here’s what goes into every order to ensure that your new shrimp thrive from day one in their new tank.
Prepping the Shrimp for Shipping
I start by fasting the shrimp several days before shipment, which helps minimize waste in the bag during transit. This step is crucial for keeping water quality stable, so I only ship on Mondays and Tuesdays, which lines up with my feeding schedule to allow for enough fasting time and to ensure packages don’t get stuck in transit over the weekend.
Using Breather Bags
One of the key components in my shipping process is using special breather bags. These unique bags allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through, keeping the shrimp well-oxygenated without requiring extra air space. In each breather bag, I include Purigen, a resin that helps absorb toxins released by the shrimp. Additionally, I add a small piece of mesh to give the shrimp something to hold onto, helping reduce stress as they travel.
Temperature Control and Insulation
To protect the shrimp from temperature changes, I wrap the breather bag in foam insulation. Surrounding the foam is cellulose insulation, which offers extra protection against any harsh temperature changes that might occur during shipping. In cases of extreme temperatures, I sometimes include a heat or ice pack, but I do so carefully, as direct contact with the bag could harm the shrimp. Balancing the position and number of packs is essential to maintain the right environment inside the package.
A Little Extra Assurance
Since shipping can be unpredictable, I always include an extra shrimp for every 10 ordered as a little insurance in case of an uncommon fatality in transit. Thanks to these careful measures, my success rates have been high, and it brings me real satisfaction to know my customers can expect lively, healthy shrimp on arrival.
