Is my anubias on the brink of collapse?

[WildFins]

When ordering in cold weather, I've found a couple of strategies that can make a difference. Paying for insulation and a heat pack can be a lifesaver. Another trick I use is to combine fish and plants in the same order - that way, the plants get to ride in the same heated box as the fish.

In my book, one healthy fish is worth three DOAS. Same goes for plants - I'd rather have one thriving specimen than three struggling ones.

I've got a similar approach with fish, especially corydoras. I'm always worried about self-poisoning, so I just go for the quick transfer. I pour the bag into a plastic colander and let the fish swim right into the tank. Getting them into a stable environment ASAP is key - I figure it's better than leaving them stressed in the bag.

[WildFins]

I'm no doc, but I'll give it to you straight.

Your Anubias is likely toast, my friend. The risks of ordering plants by mail in winter can be brutal, and it sounds like your plant might not have made the cut.

That's another major concern. Heat packs don't last forever, and insulated packaging has its limits too. I kind of accept that I'm taking a risk when I order during winter - it's not entirely the merchant's fault. I only hold them accountable if they don't include a heat pack or the insulated packaging isn't sealed right.

[cichlidgirl22]

Honest truth, doc?

I've got a bad feeling about my Anubias.

The gamble of mail-ordering plants in winter isn't paying off.

I've had some pretty mixed results with heat packs - some that were supposed to last 72 hours actually kept going for up to 5 days, while others just failed to heat up at all.

[TwinTankman]

Airport to airport is still the fastest and safest way to ship fish. I used to get fish from CA to NY in under 12 hours, but it became too much hassle for a small operation like mine. Now I rely on other methods, but I've learned a thing or two about how to make them work.

I always check that a heat pack is working before I use it - seems like common sense, right? But I guess that's what sets us apart from the rest.

When it comes to heat packs, I've found that the shorter-term ones - 20 or 30 hours - heat up fast, but their output declines quickly. The longer-term ones, 40 hours and up, take longer to reach their peak, but they maintain it for longer. So, I usually use a combination of different length packs in each box, depending on the fish and the distance they're traveling. I always open the pack and check that it's warming up before I add it to the box.

I haven't used USPS in a while, but when I do, I opt for Express mail, which is usually carried by FedEx. I've had my share of close calls, though. I once shipped a box of 20 zebra plecos to Texas via Express mail, but it got routed through Chicago, where a toxic spill delayed it for over a day. I instructed the buyer to skip acclimation and put the fish straight into the tank, given the drastic temperature difference. Two fish were DOA, and a third died overnight.

I offered the buyer a refund or replacement, and he chose the former. I'm convinced that if I hadn't instructed him to skip acclimation, most of the fish would have died. That's why I always prioritize getting fish into the right temperature ASAP.

Shipping live fish isn't cheap, and it's not just the cost of the fish themselves. FedEx, UPS, and USPS won't insure live content, so if something goes wrong, we're out of luck. That box of 20 zebras sold for $3,750, and when three of them died, I lost not only the profit but also the cost of buying them in the first place.

It's a risk we take when shipping live fish, but I've found that the more expensive ones are often the ones that arrive alive and healthy.