How long can corals stay in a bag / Tupperware?

cdw79 · Mar 21, 2023

Thinking about trying to attend a coral show while I'm visiting family in a few months. The potential problem is that the show starts at around 11 am that Saturday, but I was going to try and stay for a family member's birthday Sunday morning the following morning and take off around 2 ish potentially. I'd probably be able to make it home by 6 or so Sunday. How long could I reasonably keep corals in either a bag or Tupperware (assuming they are kept in a climate-controlled environment)? My plan would be to carry them on too. I'd like to not take any unreasonable risks, but would love to be able to potentially shop around if it would be feasible / not be a huge risk for the coral.

Goaway · Mar 21, 2023

About 24 hours. Acropora is sensitive, perhaps less. On rare occasions.... I've seen corals survive 2 day shipping. But, that's not a total of 48 hours.

Troylee · Mar 21, 2023

cdw79 said:
Thinking about trying to attend a coral show while I'm visiting family in a few months. The potential problem is that the show starts at around 11 am that Saturday, but I was going to try and stay for a family member's birthday Sunday morning the following morning and take off around 2 ish potentially. I'd probably be able to make it home by 6 or so Sunday. How long could I reasonably keep corals in either a bag or Tupperware (assuming they are kept in a climate-controlled environment)? My plan would be to carry them on too. I'd like to not take any unreasonable risks, but would love to be able to potentially shop around if it would be feasible / not be a huge risk for the coral.

Goaway said:
About 24 hours. Acropora is sensitive, perhaps less. On rare occasions.... I've seen corals survive 2 day shipping. But, that's not a total of 48 hours.

Depends on the corals.. if you had some extra salt water in a cooler with a air stone you’d prolly be golden without any issues.. I just moved a large tank and had the rock out of the tank for 7 hours and the encrusted Sps on the rocks which felt dry was still alive and flourishing the minute the water hit! Crazy but it’s true lol..

cdw79 · Mar 21, 2023

I guess part of what I'm wondering is if that survivability time would/could be extended if they're in a climate-controlled environment with access to fresh oxygen up until I need to pack them for the plane trip. I wouldn't really have any water circulation (though maybe I could bring an airstone and pick up some water from an LFS to stick in a cooler) but not sure if them just hanging out in Tupperware / going the cooler route I mentioned would extend that survivability time. If not I can just change my plans!

dedragon · Mar 21, 2023

with troylee here. I would just bring a bucket, small heater, and a airpump/stone with you. Better to err on the side of caution

edit: thought it was a road trip, not a flight. Honestly its too much of a pita to deal with corals when on a trip for me. I would rather skip the shows and pay slightly more money at home for the corals than deal with the stress of trying to keep corals alive tbh.

Goaway · Mar 21, 2023

There's plenty of people who packnup coral for show and sell. Perhaps one will chime in and give you some pointers.

Troylee · Mar 21, 2023

Goaway said:
There's plenty of people who packnup coral for show and sell. Perhaps one will chime in and give you some pointers.

For the most part they will ship in their coral to someone in the city that they know and fly out to pick them up for the show.

Goaway · Mar 21, 2023

Thats actually very expensive. Explains the sale pricing. However, some do drive.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 21, 2023

cdw79 said:
Thinking about trying to attend a coral show while I'm visiting family in a few months. The potential problem is that the show starts at around 11 am that Saturday, but I was going to try and stay for a family member's birthday Sunday morning the following morning and take off around 2 ish potentially. I'd probably be able to make it home by 6 or so Sunday. How long could I reasonably keep corals in either a bag or Tupperware (assuming they are kept in a climate-controlled environment)? My plan would be to carry them on too. I'd like to not take any unreasonable risks, but would love to be able to potentially shop around if it would be feasible / not be a huge risk for the coral.

Easy 24 hours and if packed well with oxygen, easy 24 hours
When corals are shipped it, generally in bags 18-24 hours

Atherial · Mar 21, 2023

cdw79 said:
Thinking about trying to attend a coral show while I'm visiting family in a few months. The potential problem is that the show starts at around 11 am that Saturday, but I was going to try and stay for a family member's birthday Sunday morning the following morning and take off around 2 ish potentially. I'd probably be able to make it home by 6 or so Sunday. How long could I reasonably keep corals in either a bag or Tupperware (assuming they are kept in a climate-controlled environment)? My plan would be to carry them on too. I'd like to not take any unreasonable risks, but would love to be able to potentially shop around if it would be feasible / not be a huge risk for the coral.

You won't be able to take them as a carry on, that's too much water. The security people will not be sympathetic. So you'll have to pack them well enough to deal with the airport luggage people and the non-climate controlled luggage area.

cdw79 · Mar 21, 2023

Atherial said:
You won't be able to take them as a carry on, that's too much water. The security people will not be sympathetic. So you'll have to pack them well enough to deal with the airport luggage people and the non-climate controlled luggage area.

No issue with water, done it many times. They just tend to swab the container or sometimes test the water. I took two Tupperware containers worth of water in my flight this past weekend for some maricultured SPS without issue. I think it's actually against TSA policy nowadays to pack them in a checked bag as opposed to carrying them on

airvicconcre · Sep 23, 2024

vetteguy53081 said:
Easy 24 hours and if packed well with oxygen, easy 24 hours
When corals are shipped it, generally in bags 18-24 hours

Hello. What are the hardy corals one can buy which can survive a 24 hour flight,
Thank you

vetteguy53081 · Sep 24, 2024

airvicconcre said:
Hello. What are the hardy corals one can buy which can survive a 24 hour flight,
Thank you

xenia-zoa-candy cane coral- trumpet-leather-mushroom and xenia

Troylee · Sep 25, 2024

airvicconcre said:
Hello. What are the hardy corals one can buy which can survive a 24 hour flight,
Thank you

Pretty much any coral! Imports can spend up to 72 hours in transit and make it just fine if packaged properly. Buying from online vendor for the most part there’s not issues including delicate sps corals.

airvicconcre · Sep 28, 2024

vetteguy53081 said:
xenia-zoa-candy cane coral- trumpet-leather-mushroom and xenia

Hello. I have pee cups and I intend to pack it with a couple of pieces of carbon in the container.i plan to buy the corals from a local lfs right before I leave for the airport so less transit time. Would any sps ie montipora, chalice and euphilia survive a very long flight approx 24 hours?

airvicconcre · Sep 28, 2024

Hi. Last time I was here I bought some corals and packed them well in pee cups with a piece of carbon. All except one acro frag bleached. The only acro I bought. I plan to buy from a local lfs right before my flight.

Troylee said:
Pretty much any coral! Imports can spend up to 72 hours in transit and make it just fine if packaged properly. Buying from online vendor for the most part there’s not issues including delicate sps corals.

vetteguy53081 · Sep 28, 2024

airvicconcre said:
Hello. I have pee cups and I intend to pack it with a couple of pieces of carbon in the container.i plan to buy the corals from a local lfs right before I leave for the airport so less transit time. Would any sps ie montipora, chalice and euphilia survive a very long flight approx 24 hours?

Carbon not necessary and should be fine for duration. Keep in mind, potential flight delays/times and maintaining temperatures