Hello, it has been awhile since I have posted anything here. I am joining the USMC and I am doing a small amount of research before everything gets "deep" and I am stuck in a bind I cannot get out of lol. (GET TO THE POINT!!! THIS ISN'T A MILITARY SITE!!!)

Anyhow, with the possibility of myself shipping to a base over seas. I was wondering if anyone had any information about the possibility of shipping an aquatic pet overseas from the US. From what I am reading everywhere else this is impossible, due to the "terrorism" issue.

I have had my O for four years and really really do not wish to get rid of him. I am already having to consolidate my 35 gal aquarium, because of my restriction on pets, I would really hate to have to find a home for my 155 Gal aquarium. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Cellinheim

Nice to see you again. Well, fish are shipped all over the world as you probably know, however I think you have to ask yourself if it is really going to be feasible for you to be able to do this? It may be a case that the costs far outweigh your need to have your fish with you. I would imagine that shipping just one fish is going to be incredibly expensive. I know that cats and dogs cost quite a lot to ship overseas using air. If you are shipping an Oscar quite a distance it will probably need to be quite a bit of water, you have to pay for that weight. Then of course you will have the problem shipping your aquarium and filtration system, plus cycling the aquarium all over again. I think that even though it would be nice to have your fish with you, the work involved in getting the fish out there will probably be just not worth it at the end of the day.

Just my two cents

As far as the costs are concerned, I am not really worried with that, seeing as the military will ship "household items" up to a certain weight, for free. My only concern here is the actual capability of actually shipping the fish overseas in itself. Seeing as from the united states, from what I am capable of finding, will not allow us to ship anything from or to us if it contains liquid (something to do with it being explosive or a biological hazard).

It would seem a lot of hassle expecially having a full size oscar and a tank that isnt cycled to put it in. Can you get someone to look after it for you?

That could possibly be arranged. However, I am still curious as to if there is actually a way to do this. I mean I am surely not the only person to do this since the "9-11" incident. As far as the cycling process I have read on another forum on this site about people arranging for their fish to be placed into a cycled quarantine at a LFS in the area they are flying to.

You will need an established filter (thats what is meant by a cycled tank)

So you can either borrow some filter media from an established tank or you can get a LFS to look after your fish while you cycle your tank

I would NEVER trust the guys the military uses to ship a fish tank. We moved several times over the years and we always ended up with broken and missing things. With a 155gl, I REALLY don't think I'd trust them. I honestly think, that it would be a better idea to get someone to look after the fish for the year+ you'll be overseas. I know it's not the answer you wanted to hear, but I really think it is the best one. There is another factor you need to think of. What the country's quarantine policy is. Some countries won't allow any pets from another country in, while others have a 6month quarantine!

Not quite sure how things work in the US, but here in SA military stuff that's shipped cross border does not have to go through the same customs and port health shit that normal freight has to...

Where are you being deployed to boet? Or is that still an uncertainty?

Most military units deployed to 3rd world countries ship their own rations as well, seeing as the soldiers quite literally cant "stomach" the water and so called fresh produce of said countries. My point is...water does get shipped...and i doubt seriously whether tropical water constitutes as a bio-hazard (then again, some people's tanks are a bio-hazard on their own )

I work for a courier company...and anything...i mean anything can get shipped (some more legal than others it might be said), so if you want to ship your fish...do it! Get a military vet (you must have some contacts) to quarantine and release a clean bill certificate before you leave...get hold of the officer in charge of freight forwarding seeing as you say they ship personal effects up to a certain weight for free, and advise him/her of the fish you wanna ship (which i doubt would be a problem). Crate your tank...if you just wrap it in bubble wrap or whatever it IS gonna brake...so crate it and you're good to go.

Like i said, i'm not sure on US military protocol...but here in SA its not that big an issue

there are times it is very difficult to leave someone or something you love.
however, life must move on. there are plenty of consideration to be considered
in a situation like yours. one of them is the restriction form one place to
another. the other issue is the cost of shipment. it may cost you a fortune
that establishing a new one.

i may sound not favorable but rehoming your fish is one of the best choice;
then re-start all over again when you come back. at least you knew your fish
will be in good hands.... fish is no different from the wife and kids being
left behind when you will be deployed. you are not sure what will happen when
you are away.....

Having spent a couple of days(insert your sarcasm here) in the Army and having fish and other pets, I found the shipping of fish to be expensive, Not paid by the military, and a huge hassle. I recommend that you rehome prior to deployment. One thing you won't have time for is your pets for about 3 months. Keep in mind if you get a secure assignment, nothing will be shipped except to a storage company.