Ten Transporting Live Catfish Transporting live fish requires maximum care to avoid fish losses. In transport, fish are crowded into a relatively small amount of water. Agitators, blowers, compressed oxygen, compressed air, or liquid oxygen can be used individually or in combination to keep the fish alive. Transport containers are usually made of wood, fiberglass, or aluminum.
Many types are commercially available.
Generally, the dissolved oxygen content in the water is the factor that determines whether the fish live or die. Fish should not be fed for at least 24 hours before transport so that excessive fish wastes do not accumulate during transport. Fish wastes and regurgitated feed consume large quantities of oxygen and can produce ammonia and carbon dioxide problems. Transporting fish in cool weather or in cool well water increases fish survival. Cool water holds more oxygen than warm water, and fish consume less oxygen at lower temperatures.