How often?

So I'm hoping that I'll be moving out by the end of March at the latest. My only issue is that with the jobs that my bf and I want to get into, it requires a bit of moving around.
So my question is, how often would fish be able to put up with the stress of being moved? There's the chance that Bryn and I will have to move every 6-8 months at first, unless either of us are ridiculously lucky and get given permanent contracts somewhere.

I've still not had any luck in finding a replacement Rio 180, so dad and I came up with the idea of building a new tank instead. Which is all great, but, if the fish wont be able to deal with the stress of possibly moving a couple of times a year, then there isn't a lot of point in doing it, and I'll have to move them on

Any ideas? I really don't want to give them up, but I'm not being fair on them by keeping them in a much smaller tank than they need.

If you are moving out at the end of march, you could get your bigger tank .

As for moving fish about, there are some things you can do to make it less stressful.

1. Get as many containers as possible to take as much of their water with you as possible, at least 60% so they only have a small water change at the other end.

2. Invest in some poly boxes or (which I use) cool boxes to keep the water temperature stable. I transport fish now in a cool box, they are far more relaxed being transported in a box rather than a bag as they have more room and the sloshing about adds air into the water as there is more surface area. It is also dark inside a cool box which also helps keep stress down.

3. Bag buddies, you can use these in a cool box also, these are designed to add oxygen to the water and keep it clean and healthy, they also have a mild sedative which keeps the fish calm.

4. Before you are due to move, dont feed the fish for 2 days, this will also help keep their transport water clean as they wont be pooping every 20 mins.

5. When you get to the other end, try to re-set up the tank as it was when you took it down (decor in the same place etc). This will just help them re-settle quickly.

Hope this helps

So moving a couple of times a year wont do them much harm?

I hadn't thought about the possibility of using it to get a bigger tank I have a lot to learn from you Star

Do you think they'd be ok in the clear-seal until I move then? I have the 60ltr set up with no fish in it, I could try and spread out some numbers? Would the keyholes be ok in there if it was just them? Or am I better just getting the corys in there?

*best yoda voice* "much to learn young one there is" lol

Fish get moved about all the time and they cope quite well if you are careful how you do it. You should be ok with the keyholes in the 60l till you are sorted . When emptying a tank remove as much clean water as possible, then all the decor, leave the lights off and let the fish settle for about 1/2 hour then catch them. Without the decor in the way you can catch them quickly its being chased roung the tank that causes the stress. Remember when moving, tank and fish last out of the house, and first to be sorted at the new place They will be fine being moved about

You have no idea how much better you've made me feel Star (again!)

I've been thinking that I'd have to move them on, that I was being cruel to them keeping them in the clear-seal. And then mam was nagging me about having the weight of a 3 foot tank in my bedroom, and was worried that the tank would explode and water would go everywhere (fair point considering why I had to take the damn thing down in the first place).

Bryn has said that he's happy with me having a bigger tank too If I got a 5 footer say, would the Krobia be ok to stay together? Would I be able to keep anything else with them? Oooh the possibilities! And then the 100 ltr would be perfect for a small community with bistos XD *is getting way ahead of herself*

*has had far too much coffee so far today*

How many Krobia do you have again? My large male is 4 -5" max and he is a big fella, you could do 6 in a rio 240 say easily. Mine is a gentle soul but does stand up for himself, you could keep keyholes with them, I am pretty sure you could get away with bisto's too from watching them. A 5ft tank I couldnt see a problem with keeping them all together at all. Or if you want the bisto's on their own, my krobia is in with severums (they would go in a 5ft tank) blue acara, the elliotti. The possibilites are vast with a bigger tank I have some lovely metae that would look fantastic with krobia lol lol

I has 4 krobia and 2 keyholes. The Krobia are definitely the more docile of the two species, but they will stand up for themselves against them.

I was hoping you'd say something like severums or the metae

In a 5ft, depending on the height and width of the tank you could easily get away with the 4 krobia, 2 keyhole, 2 metae and a severum, but one of the smaller ones like a rotkeil

It's Rotkeils that I've wanted for ages anyway

Oh Star! You are such a bad influence lol! Gonna have to start saving my pennies!

LOL sorry, you should know by now