Transporting a koi carp without stressing it: bag, oxygen, duration and arrival at the pond

A koi can handle a well-prepared journey. What puts it at risk are water degrading in the bag, heat, shocks, and a rough arrival. Here are the steps that make a difference.

Before departure

• Do not feed the fish for one to two days before transport: it will produce much less waste in the bag.
• Catch it calmly, with a net suited to its size, then transfer it into a bucket or a transport sock rather than lifting it out of the water.

Packaging

• Thick bag, ideally double-layered, with the corners folded or tied so the fish cannot get stuck.
• A small amount of water from the original pond (just enough to cover the fish), the rest of the volume filled with pure oxygen rather than air.
• One fish per bag for large specimens.
• Bag laid flat in an insulated box, in the dark: darkness calms the fish, the insulation limits temperature fluctuations.

During the journey

As short as possible, without sudden movements. Secure the box. For a long journey, ask the seller for packaging designed for the stated duration.

Upon arrival

1. Let the sealed bag float in the quarantine bucket to equalize the temperatures.
2. Gradually mix the water, then transfer the fish with a net, without pouring the water from the bag.
3. Keep the newcomer in quarantine before putting it with your other fish.

The step-by-step detail: reception and acclimatization, then the quarantine protocol. Before buying, reread our 12 criteria for choosing a koi.

Are you going to transport koi? The Foudebassin team answers: contact us, or come see our koi in our aquatic garden center.