How does everyone bring there corals back from Macna?

[larryl]

This is my first Macna and plan on buying a few corals. How do you bring get them home?

 

[m and m]

Right in the carry on or luggage! Have fun!

 

[larryl]

They let you carry it on? I thought only a few ounces of water.

 

[wysiwyg]

check with the airport let them know what you plan on bringing back. and ask them what is the best way for you to bring said corals back so security doesnt throw a fit and detain you

 

[3Twinklets]

Let my friend drive. Will be home in no time!! lane:

 

[larryl]

check with the airport let them know what you plan on bringing back. and ask them what is the best way for you to bring said corals back so security doesnt throw a fit and detain you

right on! i was thinking about a cooler and checking it in as baggage. Do any vendors there ship?

 

[reefkoi]

put them in a soft sided cooler in your luggage. Carry on is risky they might not let it go unless its only 1 or 2 small frags with very little water.

 

[larryl]

put them in a soft sided cooler in your luggage. Carry on is risky they might not let it go unless its only 1 or 2 small frags with very little water.

Thanks thats a great idea Chris. I fly out Monday morning so they'll have to sit overnite.

 

[WesF]

I called my airline and they said carry on will not work because of the fluid restrictions. They said checking it was fine. They have a no live animals policy but it applies to Dogs, Cats, and Birds. (this may vary depending on airline)

My friend and I are taking a big insulated shipping box and checking it with the luggage.

 

[6Speed]

I would be worried about how cold the checked luggage would get. When flying at 30k feet, it's pretty cold up there! Are you guys planning on using heat packs or anything?

 

[larryl]

I'm going to bring heat packs for my check in luggage.

 

[melev]

From the other MACNA thread:

Here's one set of images from MACNA 17: Melevsreef.com - MACNA XVII TSA didn't like the "smell" of the bucket, stating their machine indicated firearms. Crazy right? It was part of a mountain of empty buckets, one of which I was given.

Another time, I packed all my corals in a styrofoam cooler, in a box, and at the airport showed the guys what was in the box. TSA taped it up, and I asked them to put in in the plastic bin so the box wouldn't be crushed. It didn't stay in the bin as hoped, but the corals arrived fine.

And last year while visiting Florida, I ended up buying 25 corals from the vendors. I stuffed them all in a collapsible cooler and placed it dead center in my suitcase, and packed my laundry all around it as best possible. Pictures of the corals upon arrival. Frags from Florida - Blogs - Reef Addicts

And a trip to Tennessee, I didn't have my cooler with me but my host generously gave me his. I put it in my little carry on bag, and CHECKED IT AS LUGGAGE: Impulse buying when you have to fly home - Blogs - Reef Addicts

 

[larryl]

Thanks for more ideas!

 

[melev]

Happy to help. Like you, I've had to deal with this myself. I've also brought home some SPS that were wrapped in a wet paper towel, placed carefully in my carry-on camera bag. What I do is upon arriving at the airport, I pour out all the water and leave only what the paper towel absorbed, rubberband it tight and pack it in my carry on. No liquid means no issue with TSA. This works with most SPS, but Birdsnest doesn't do well so I'd avoid species. As soon as you get home, float the bag for a 10 minutes, get it into your quarantine and then dip them a couple of days later after they've had some time to recover.

 

[larryl]

Well I got some small insulated coolers to put in my check in luggage now I just need some heat packs.

 

[Detroit_306]

Could overnight them to yourself the day you leave

 

[melev]

Could overnight them to yourself the day you leave

Only if you left on Monday. You can't ship overnight on Friday evening, nor Saturday, nor Sunday. No one offers that.

 

[larryl]

I fly out Monday and can have them acclimated and in a holding tank faster then shipping.

 

[melev]

I fly out Monday and can have them acclimated and in a holding tank faster then shipping.

Exactly.

 

[Reef Rat]

I have been able to carry on everytime I have gone to MACNA. What you do is contact the supervisor for the TSA at the airport you are leaving Macna from. Explain you are visiting a conference there and are buying live corals and fish and would like to know what you can do to bring them on the plane as a carry on. They have always been very helpful and usually will tell you to let them know when you arrive and they will put you through their express line as long as you follow their directions, Basically as long as they are in clear bags and they can clearly see that they are live animals in water they will put you right through. I usually bring them in a soft over the shoulder tote, it makes it easy for them to check it and no worries. Hope this helps.