Moving Fish Cross-Country

[bombay_duc]

Hello Everybody,
I'm a new registered member to this community and I wanted to say "hello" to all. I've perused this forum previously during my "learning" and my "Oooo, I want THAT one too" stage and really got some good information from here.
I am now faced with having to decide what to do with my 110 gal marine and 46 gal tropical tank when I move cross country. I've pretty much decided to keep the tanks and other setups (I think), but have yet to decide what to do with the fish. I was initially gung-ho on moving the fish with me, but now as I put together the logistics of this 650 km move the less enthusiastic I am about it.
What experiences do people have with moving fish cross country? Is this something I should not attempt? Are there fish stores that would house my fish for a fee until I get setup in my new place? Should I attempt to sell them/find good homes for them other than giving them away to the LFS (who I'm sure would be rather thrilled to have free fish).
After much pondering I'm rather inclined to attempt to sell them to other fish enthusiasts and recover some of my expenses, but I'm open to whatever suggestions might be available. I am waiting to hear back from a possible future father-in-law (brownie points here I come!) if he might consider getting into the hobby since he's been talking about it for months, but with a new addition to the household (babyboy) he is currently fully immersed in the new role of grandfather. [On a completely different topic, any tips on what to say when the chatter suddenly stops and people look expectantly in your direction when the conversation takes a turn toward marriage and babies!]
Anyways, I'd love to hear about all you folks experiences in such matters as moving fish. I'm going to list what fish I have at the end of this communication. Here goes ...
Marine Fish
Yellow tang 3"
Fox-faced tang 3"
Coral beauty angel 3"
Royal Gramma 2"
Clowns x 2 (3" and 1")
Bi-colored blenny 3"
Hawkfish 2"
Mandarin 2"
Cardinal 2"
Assorted damsels x 7
Pencil urchin 3"
Coral-banded shrimp 4"
Emerald and hermit crabs
Bunch of snails
Tropical Fish
African ciclids - blue 3", albino 4", orange 4", yellow 2"
Tiger barbs x 4 (2")
Couple of tetras
Albino cory's x 4 (2")
Looking forward to many interesting ideas and responses to this little blurb.
Regards,
Bombay_Duc

 

[guineawhop]

i would sell your stock imo because those fish aren't anything special and can be easily replaced unless you have sentimental attachment to them. if you do decide to take them with you i would overnight mail them to your new place. i know how you feel because i am in a similar problem but i'm not moving as far so i get to not worry about getting rid of my fish.

 

[dogstar]

Is that only about 8 + - hour drive in a truck if i did the math right ?
You would have to devote a whole day to do it and take everything down with lots of buckets, bags ect. and I think the tempeture would be the main consern. I have never moved a tank myself and it seems like it would be a very long and tireing day. Well, I moved one to another in the same room and that almost took al day.

 

[harlequin]

I just moved accross town just a few days ago, it was a b!^ch. Literally using a big dodge ram it took 2 trips. One to move the tanks and stands, and one to move the big rubbermaid bins with the water and livestock. I didnt lose any fish or corals, but it also took about 6 hours to move the stuff + travel time and stand and tank placement. That doesnt count working again from 9-2am on setting the tanks back up. I didnt even start arranging my room and simply crashed on the couch. One thing I learned, if I was going any farther than what I did, sell the livestock. It is not worth that much hassel to have to rush to set things up, moniter temp, ect for anything less than rare fish. If you have a pair of mated $1000 angelfish, then keep them but your normal everyday stuff, bah.
Funnily enough I did not disturb the sandbeds in my tanks and left just a tiny bit of water in them to keep them from drying out. I appearently missed an electric blue hermit and it was still wandering around after two days of no circulation and maybe 1cm of water in the deep spots.

 

[ophiura]

Couple of questions:
How many hours/days do you anticipate?
Are you moving everything at once, or can you make a "tank trip" and then move other stuff?
I have moved some fish for several days. It is possible to do it. But it won't be easy at all.