Shipping Cichlids to Other States

[thebbqguy]

I have a question for those who ship fish to other states. How do you verify the fish you are shipping is lawful to own in the state you are sending it to?

[Regalblue]

GREAT question! 

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/restricted-species-lists.191893/

[thebbqguy]

As I suspected, its a tough question to wade through. A guy should probably make sure to research this thoroughly before shipping anything I guess.

[Regalblue]

It's the buyer/keeper's responsibility to know what they can/cannot keep.   

[mibwb]

It's the buyer/keeper's responsibility to know what they can/cannot keep.

So, right you are...especially plants and snails..premits maybe required to keep and ship said fish.  It's a crap shoot away...things always changing. Josh probably knows better than anyone else. 

[Hobbiest]

You may be able to call the DNR in the particular part of the state you would be shipping to if you don't trust the buyer to. If they did not know they should be able to help you find out. I wouldn't think too many species would be restricted. Snakeheads for sure, maybe crayfish too. The right DNR person should be able to help you.

[joe niemiec]

wow read that monsterfishkeeper about shipping out , years ago i had fish an plants trans shipped to detroit  from overseas got stop and destoryed buy customs because of snails were on the plants, fish came threw but not the plants, also all boxes where open because they put oxygen packs in the bags an xrayed they were wondering what that was, shipment was delayed but made all except the black piranhas bit holes in bags

[joe niemiec]

 shipping tropical fish threw the airports you can not unless you have an account which takes 6 weeks to get, ups you can but no guarantee you can send collect but if they don't pay you will , they don't collect till they get there, so its best to get all money up front  sent 5 boxes ups 647.00 2  day, that was just for freight  overnight is 400.00 more for this 2 of the boxes were doubles wow make sure pack right ,heat packs ,oxygen,an sedative for fish, that was to homestead florida an they all made it , called fedx an said they do not ship tropical fish. did not try us mail or dhl

[thebbqguy]

I think FedEx does ship tropical fish. A very popular internet vendor told me they ship using FedEx and it's their preferred method.

[GrizzlysDad]

I think FedEx does ship tropical fish. A very popular internet vendor told me they ship using FedEx and it's their preferred method.

FedEx will indeed accept live tropical fish as a general company rule. However, the manager (and sometimes just the counter jockey) will make their own decision and refuse to take the package.
The same situation happens at the U.S. POST OFFICE. Their regulations state that they do accept live animals for shipping (with specific strict requirements) but each individual location's Post Master General (aka the boss) can just make their own decision and refuse (even if you show them the written Postal regulations that allow it).
You are basically at the individual location's mercy whether they will accept your shipment.

I've been shipping live fish for probably going on more than 20 years now and my first choice is always air cargo through one of the airlines. In fact, I've even agreed on a regular basis to handle shipping through the airport for other hobbyists that do not have an airlines account. However, I have my own personal standards/requirements that have to be agreed on.
Since September 11th, 2001 ALL airlines require you to be what is called a "Known Shipper" which basically is they verify who you are and that you have to set up a shipping account with them.
There are certain specific circumstances when I will use UPS for a smaller shipment but I set a strict set of details I stick to.

p.s.
I gave up long ago using either the Post Office or FedEx   

[joe niemiec]

may be but when i called that day i asked an they said no but was shipping large amount, i seen adds to that's why i called, had all packed an ready to go called southwest airport they said yes bring them down and got there that's when they sad had to have account, since 9/11 things changed evened ask about cargo flight same thing poor planning on my part but live an learn do a lot of reseach first sure it can be done but had no time,  if the other end had  an account may be but he did not he called to  long day lot of running around

[GrizzlysDad]

may be but when i called that day i asked an they said no but was shipping large amount, i seen adds to that's why i called, had all packed an ready to go called southwest airport they said yes bring them down and got there that's when they sad had to have account, since 9/11 things changed evened ask about cargo flight same thing poor planning on my part but live an learn do a lot of reseach first sure it can be done but had no time,  if the other end had  an account may be but he did not he called to  long day lot of running around

Yeah, definitely sounds like it was a pain in the butt day for you. And like I said, with FedEx and the Post Office you are at their mercy when it comes to this subject. And to make matters worse, you don't know what will happen each day until you go in.

Also, right after 9/11 the airlines not only had you go through all their strict protocols and red tape, they originally required a home inspection (or wherever your fish room happened to be located) to be sure that you actually had that type of need for an account.

[joe niemiec]

in your experience how much different would the cost be using the airlines

[GrizzlysDad]

in your experience how much different would the cost be using the airlines

Huge difference!!! Put it this way, I was FLOORED when I read your post about the guy paying $647 for 2nd Day no less.
It would have cost somewhere in the $250 to $350 MAX shipped through my Southwest Airlines Cargo account and it would have arrived in just several hours...the same day the fish were bagged. I'm of course basing this estimate on your amount of boxes. It's quite possible, in fact probable, that because the fish would only be in the boxes for such a short time I could likely have gotten it down to less weight, maybe even fewer boxes....this could have even resulted in a closer to $200 cost.

Keep in mind, I have no firm idea on what the exact requirements for all the fish would have been without actually seeing them so my posted costs are just a rough guess based on the 5 boxes you used. I'm assuming you packed with a little extra room due to the extended time in transit.

Oh, and FedEx are ridiculous...basically robbed you, or actually your buyer to be specific, because you didn't have an alternative with such short time frame.

[joe niemiec]

when they have you they just tighten the rope until you give in an say uncle