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I am going to be moving pretty soon, and I need to know how to move my Oscars. The house I am moving to is less than a 5 minute drive. I just NEED to know how to keep my Oscars alive for that short period.

My 2 Oscars are about 7", and are in a 55 gallon. I was thinking of putting them into Totes, like I have read on here. Then I'd need to move my fish tank and fishies over there so I was going to take most of the water out of the tank but leave enough that I can carry it, and then set it up over there. I was going to fill it up and then treat it with all the chemicals. Then graudally add some water into the Tote(s) to get the Oscars used to it. Once the temps are the same, put the Oscar's in?

Suggestions please! I can't loose my babies!



Addition: My fiance's idea was to empty all of the water in the tank now into totes and bring that and then just fill it back up with the same water, and put the chemicals in it. Good idea or no?

10 gal Totes filled to just cover them + 1"  are the best way to go here.. Leave the air-pump running in the tote for them as you get the tank ready to move.. NOW NO chemicals should you have to add into the water IF you keep most of it to replace back in.. Chemicals I guess you mean in Water conditioners/salt ect... 

Your boyfriend is right.. I would save as much of the tank water as you can and take the tank all the way down to only the gravel. NO water as this will stress the tank seams and it might leak if you carry it with ANY water in it.. NOT worth it..  Water does weight in at 8+ lbs to a gal..

A tip thou, CLEAN THE TANK 2 days before you move it AND dont' feed the Oscars the day before the move!!.. This wil insure that when you add the water back in, NOT much  debri wil float up as you add in the water AND the Oscars wil NOT foul their water to fast if they miss one meal.. THE tank should be the first thing you MOVE and set back up... When you get to the new home, run the air pump/stone in the container until you can place them into the tank.. 

Here's a Copy/Paste from my Oscar website:

Moving Your Oscars
There comes a time in a fishkeeper's life when past decisions, no matter how seemingly justified when made, become sources of bitterness. We look back at these decisions with derision and despair: "If only I had gone the other road -- the one less travelled--
For an Oscar keeper, this time comes when we change residences. O How we long for a ten gallon tank or two, stocked with friendly but tiny Mollies and Guppies and the four minute drill of catching these unassuming fish and putting them in the jar; and then the blessed 15 minute tank breakdown and the simple move to the new home!

BUT NOT US!!

We are keepers of Oscars, twelve-inchers that do not like to be caught, that can only be kept successfully in aquariums the size of the average garage. Fortunately, the author of this piece has recently made such a move, without the accidental death or murder of any fish. With that experience freshly under my belt, I'll go through the steps I took to "get it did", so to speak, and hopefully you can look forward to the big move with a little less trepidation, and will look back at the experience with a bit less bitterness!

If You are Moving a Long Distance:
If you're moving a very long distance, the following procedure is applicable to you, too. While you are on the road, take special care to keep the water the fish is/are living in fresh and aerated; slosh it around a bit, and change it every few hours. If your Oscar is juvi, meaning less than three inches in length, I strongly recommend you not attempt a long distance move. It's safer to give him to a friend or sell him, and start over. However, if your Oscar is older, then he should be quite able to withstand the rigors of a long move. Mind you, he won't be happy, but should remain alive.
First, the Tools:
If you are moving merely across town, reserve an entire day for this adventure. Drink plenty of coffee, eat a good breakfast, and then get in your aerobics. Become confident and patient. Apologize in advance to family and friends for being short with them.
Here's what you'll need for the big move:

--A large enough vehicle
--A bath towel
--A siphon to remove the water
--Picnic coolers (to transport the fish in)
--Containers to transport decorations, filters, cover-glasses, etc.
--Water conditioner.
--A very patient friend.

Let's Get Started:
First, have the vehicle ready and array your containers around the aquarium. You'll need containers for decorations, filters, and anything else in the aquarium. Before going any further, make sure all power to the tank's heaters, filters and air pumps is disconnected! Siphon off about 25% of the water and toss it away. By hand, remove all aquarium decorations and place them in their containers, including the heaters and filtration. Leave the gravel, however. Go ahead and load the decoration/equipment boxes on the vehicle. Next, place the picnic coolers that are going to carry the fish close to the tank. Put a couple of handfuls (more if it's a long move) of gravel from the tank into each cooler. Now, siphon off the aquarium's water into each of the coolers until they are about two-thirds full. Continue siphoning until only one-third of the tank is full, discarding the water. Next, get the bath towel and place it in the bottom of the aquarium on the gravel, lying flat. With a friend, carefully remove the large fish one at a time by picking up the towel at it's corners and trapping it. Be very careful, because the dorsal fin on an Oscar is very sharp and can make very painful cuts on your hand. Place each fish in it's cooler. To catch your large Pleco, believe it or not, the best method is simply to reach in with your hand and grab him, then quickly place him in the cooler. Plecos are nocturnal and drift off to sleep in daylight. Once you catch one by hand, you'll never feel sorry for him again when other fish are nipping at him! He has quite a shell on his back.
After the fish are in their coolers, place them aside. Don't put them in the vehicle until you are leaving. Now, siphon off the rest of the water, leaving just enough to keep the gravel moist. This will keep your nitrosomonas and nitrobacter colonies alive so that cycling the tank at it's new location won't be necessary. Carefully place the tank and then it's stand on the vehicle. Lastly, as you are leaving, close the tops of the coolers and load them up.
Wrapping it Up:
Reverse the procedure to set up the tank at your new residence. Bring the fish in first, and once they are in the house open the coolers to let light and fresh air in. Set up the stand and the aquarium, and then fill it to 50% full, remembering to condition the water. At this time, pour the contents of the coolers -- fish, gravel, and water -- into the aquarium. Then install decorations and equipment, fill the tank up, and fire up the heaters and filtration.
After the move, your fish will seem despondent and will probably lie on the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium. This is absolutely normal Oscar behaviour. They've been through quite a shock, and it will take them a couple of weeks to begin acting normally again.

Now, sit back and have yerself a Diet Coke -- You deserve it!



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The URL for the Oscar Study Page is http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000. --Mark