What impact does the material selection of live fish transport containers have on the survival of fish during transportation?

1. Plastic material: Plastic materials, especially polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), are widely used in live fish transport containers. The main advantages of plastic containers are that they are light, corrosion-resistant, relatively low cost, and easy to clean. The use of plastic containers can effectively prevent the production of harmful chemicals inside the container, ensuring that the fish are in a relatively harmless environment during transportation. For long-term transportation, plastic containers have strong impact resistance, which can reduce the impact of collisions during transportation on fish. Although plastic containers are relatively light, their thermal insulation performance is average and they are easily affected by external temperature fluctuations, causing the water temperature inside the container to rise or fall, which has an adverse effect on the health of fish. To overcome this problem, some modern plastic containers adopt a double-layer structure design, with a solid plastic outer layer and an inner layer filled with insulation material, which plays a better role in temperature control. In addition, some plastic containers are also designed with air vents to ensure that there is enough oxygen supply in the container to prevent fish deaths caused by lack of oxygen.

2. Stainless steel: Stainless steel is relatively less used in live fish transport containers, but they have high corrosion resistance and pressure resistance, especially suitable for scenarios that require long-term or large-scale transportation. Stainless steel containers can provide stronger physical protection, can effectively resist external impact, and ensure that the container is not easily deformed or damaged during transportation. The surface of stainless steel is smooth and not easy to attach bacteria, which helps to maintain the cleanliness of the internal environment of the container and effectively prevent water pollution. The disadvantages of stainless steel containers are also obvious. They are usually heavier, which increases transportation costs and may affect transportation efficiency. Stainless steel has strong thermal conductivity. In an environment with drastic external temperature changes, the temperature inside the container fluctuates greatly, which may have an adverse effect on the living environment of fish. Due to the high hardness of stainless steel containers, if there is no proper lining protection during transportation, fish may be injured by collision or excessive squeezing. Although stainless steel containers provide strength and durability, they are more suitable for short-term transportation or scenarios with high temperature control requirements.

3. Foaming materials (such as foamed polyurethane): Foaming materials, such as foamed polyurethane, are gradually being used in live fish transport containers, especially in terms of temperature control and shock absorption. The structure of the foam material is composed of a large number of bubbles, which have excellent thermal insulation properties. They can effectively isolate the temperature fluctuations of the external environment and maintain the stability of the water temperature in the container. For live fish that need to be transported for a long time, stable water temperature is essential for their survival. Foam materials can also effectively reduce vibration and impact during transportation, reducing the risk of fish being injured by collisions. Usually, this material is used in the outer layer or lining of the container, which not only provides good cushioning effect, but also reduces the overall weight of the container. However, the air permeability of the foam material is poor, and too low oxygen supply may lead to insufficient oxygen in the container, which in turn endangers the health of the fish. To solve this problem, many foam containers are designed with air holes or air pump systems to ensure the circulation of oxygen. Although foam containers have good temperature control and impact resistance, they are generally suitable for short-distance or medium-time transportation. For extreme climates and long-term transportation, they may need to be combined with other materials.

4. Glass material:
The application of glass material in the transportation of live fish is relatively rare, but it still has certain advantages in some special cases, especially for the transportation of high-end aquariums and delicate fish. The biggest advantage of glass containers is their high transparency, which allows the transporter to observe the status of the fish at any time, detect abnormal conditions in time and deal with them. Glass does not easily react with chemicals in the water, so it will not affect the stability of the water quality. Compared with plastic and metal containers, the surface of glass is smoother, easy to clean and keep the water fresh. However, the disadvantages of glass containers are also very obvious. Because glass is relatively fragile, if there is a collision during transportation, the container is easy to break, and the fish are also easily injured. Glass containers are generally only suitable for occasions with extremely high requirements for the transportation process, and are often used for short-term and more delicate transportation. In addition, glass is heavy and not suitable for large-scale transportation. Although glass containers have advantages in transparency and water quality maintenance, they are rarely used in large-scale live fish transportation due to their fragility and weight.

5. Mesh material (such as nylon net):
Mesh materials, such as nylon net, are usually used for lighter and short-term live fish transportation containers. The biggest advantage of the mesh structure is its excellent air permeability and drainage, which can effectively ensure the circulation of oxygen in the container and avoid suffocation of fish due to lack of oxygen. The mesh design allows the water in the container to flow quickly, preventing the water quality from deteriorating due to accumulated dirt. During transportation, fish can get a better water flow and oxygen environment, thereby improving their survival rate. Due to the lightness of the mesh material itself, this type of container is easy to carry and transport, and is suitable for short-term and relatively small-scale live fish transportation. Mesh containers have poor protection, and the mesh of the container can easily cause fish to be injured due to excessive squeezing or collision. The structure of the mesh container is relatively simple, and it may not provide sufficient protection for longer transportation or fish with higher temperature control requirements. Mesh containers are usually suitable for some shorter-term and small-scale transportation, or for situations where higher air permeability and water flow are required.

6. Composite materials:
With the advancement of technology, composite materials, such as carbon fiber and glass fiber, are gradually used in live fish transportation containers. Composite materials combine the advantages of different materials and usually have higher strength, lower weight, better corrosion resistance and stronger heat resistance. These characteristics make composite materials an ideal choice for modern live fish transportation containers. One of the main advantages of composite containers is their excellent insulation effect, which can effectively maintain the stability of the water temperature inside the container and prevent temperature fluctuations in the external environment from affecting the health of fish. Composite materials have strong pressure resistance and can effectively reduce the risk of damage or rupture during transportation. Although composite containers are superior to traditional materials in many aspects, they are more expensive and are only suitable for live fish species with higher transportation requirements or for long-term transportation. Composite containers are generally used in high-end markets or transportation tasks with special needs.