If you plan to move an aquarium with the fish inside, you might want to reconsider, because fish do not travel well. It is best to put your fish in a separate container. Put water from the current tank and transfer the fish one by one with a net. It is important to keep some of the aquarium water because it contains beneficial bacteria that the fish need. Fill the container with water that is the same temperature as the water they are in.

Now place a water pump in the container so oxygen can circulate and keep the bacteria alive. Your fish could get sick or even die if they do not have the right conditions during the move. They are delicate creatures.

Take all of the plants and pebbles, out of the tank and keep them wet, since they also have healthy bacteria on them that the fish will need. You can use tank water to store them in but in any case, they need to be in water.

Remove the filtering system and pump, then empty the tank of any remaining water. Now it can be moved. You may need two people to lift the aquarium, depending on its size and weight. The faster you get the aquarium set up again, the better your chances are of keeping your fish healthy..

Put the system back together, return the plants and rocks and add water, then turn the pump and filter on. Put the fish carefully back in, letting them slowly adjust to the new environment.

If you only have a few fish to move and you are not traveling very far, you can fill resealable plastic baggies halfway with water and add the fish, one in each bag. Seal the baggies, and try to keep air in the empty top half of each bag. There is no need to add fish food to the water; in fact, you want the water to remain as clean as possible. Take care not to allow the water to become too warm or too cold. The fish can survive for a few hours with this method, but it is not the ideal way to move them.