Pretty much all of the Altums I have acquired have not been close to adult size. I have had 4 tank raised ones for the last few years and they are now pretty large with very lovely long ventrals. I am in the process of retiring from the hobby due to advanced age and will be selling a ton of fish and supplies at the up coming Keystone Clash. As part of this I am selling the Altums to be picked up at the even which is about a 4 hour drive away.
I have mostly shipped a ton of smaller plecos over the years and other small fish as well. I have no idea of how best to pack these guys nor the safest way to catch them. I do have all size of nets and in varying mesh sizes, including fine. My big concern is not damaging the fins. I have all the supplies needed to ship almost any size fish I might have to.
One final note re the above. The fish will likely heed be in whatever container or bags I use for about 2-3 days. I go out there Thursday to set up in the vendor room but the fish won't change hands until Friday soonest. I have RO/DI water I always bring as well as a portable unti to make more in my hotel room. So I can change plenty of water. I usually keep these fish at pH 6.0- 6.5 and TDS in the 60-70 ppm range. I also start bagiing fish Wednesday morning into the late night and then a bit more in the morning. Many are pre-segregated in water circulating traps on Tuesday so they can almost be poured into the bag and then it is closed- very fast packing this way.
Any advice on catching and choice of shipping container is apprecieated. (I have 7 x 5 gal. buckets w/ lid. 2 x 3 gal. and one bigger than 5 but the same diameter.
I have mostly shipped a ton of smaller plecos over the years and other small fish as well. I have no idea of how best to pack these guys nor the safest way to catch them. I do have all size of nets and in varying mesh sizes, including fine. My big concern is not damaging the fins. I have all the supplies needed to ship almost any size fish I might have to.
One final note re the above. The fish will likely heed be in whatever container or bags I use for about 2-3 days. I go out there Thursday to set up in the vendor room but the fish won't change hands until Friday soonest. I have RO/DI water I always bring as well as a portable unti to make more in my hotel room. So I can change plenty of water. I usually keep these fish at pH 6.0- 6.5 and TDS in the 60-70 ppm range. I also start bagiing fish Wednesday morning into the late night and then a bit more in the morning. Many are pre-segregated in water circulating traps on Tuesday so they can almost be poured into the bag and then it is closed- very fast packing this way.
Any advice on catching and choice of shipping container is apprecieated. (I have 7 x 5 gal. buckets w/ lid. 2 x 3 gal. and one bigger than 5 but the same diameter.