Consensus on transport methods for Axolotls?

[Tadpoles]

Is there consensus on 'best practice' for transporting Axolotls? I need to transport for approx 4 hour journey by car.
Is a fish bag or plastic tub better? Bag seems softer for inevitable sloshing about. What about a polystyrene cooler, or would that be toxic?
Does a fish bag need pure Oxygen in it (don't think I can get that)?
How snug should the creature be in its tub? Does one need a very deep tub to allow plenty of air above?
Putting either in a cooler is obviously easy.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kc0olm]

Is there consensus on 'best practice' for transporting Axolotls? I need to transport for approx 4 hour journey by car.
Is a fish bag or plastic tub better? Bag seems softer for inevitable sloshing about. What about a polystyrene cooler, or would that be toxic?
Does a fish bag need pure Oxygen in it (don't think I can get that)?
How snug should the creature be in its tub? Does one need a very deep tub to allow plenty of air above?
Putting either in a cooler is obviously easy.

Thanks in advance.

I've asked this question on the forum before. Go mixed responses. So, when I got my axolotl, the breeder put her in a plastic bag, and I drove 2 hours. I don't think the plastic bag is so stable - they don't "slosh" per se, but there is substantial movement. I put her inside a dark, small box, to minimize the movement.

I've taken her to babysitters for long vacations. The aquarium store where I take her insisted on a bucket, but I think more for their purposes, than for hers. I have a large 10 gallon bucket, with a lid, and I fill it halfway with her tank water. I don't imaging there is much advantage in terms of movement of the water, over a plastic bag, but I do guess there's more oxygen available: the bag is limited to only the oxygen that's in the water, with no chance of replenishing from the outside air.

I don't think there's any system that could avoid the movement: water is going to move, we can't fight it.

I'm interested in what others have to say.

 

[Tadpoles]

Thanks Kc0olm. I just thought bumping into the side of a plastic bag, surrounded by towels in a cooler would be nicer than bumping into a plastic tub or bucket side but maybe it doesn't make much difference.
Perhaps a 5 gallon bucket settled in a cooler with the lid off/perforated lid, to exchange air in the car is better than a sealed bag with limited air.
Caudata.org article suggests 50/50 water and air in a ziploc bag or just water in a breather bag. I can't find breather bags and probably don't have time to order them.
Appreciate your help.

 

[Tadpoles]

Although a breather bag, settled on towels over a cold pack in a cooler would seem the ideal method, I am unable to get breather bags in time. I have decided to go with a 5 gallon food-grade bucket, cleaned with 2:1 baking soda and salt as specified by the Indiana University Axolotl Colony. I have a screw top lid which I have perforated with many holes for air exchange. This bucket will sit in a cooler with the lid removed, on top of a frozen gel mat cool pack with a towel on top of the cool pack, in the passenger footwell of my vehicle. With the AC on, I can get the cabin down to about 68F. I'll transfer the creature to the bucket, half filled with cool water, and drive home. Towels can wedge the bucket upright and insulate the cool pack, the perforated lid will allow air exchange while preventing serious water loss and I can use mylar as well as towels to help keep the cooler from warming too quickly. With a second cooler carrying backup cool packs, I'll keep an eye on the water temperature during the journey. I'm hoping he won't be too distressed by the sloshing around, but what can I do? I'll report on the journey after it's done. Thanks again Kc0olm for responding with your experience.

 

[Tadpoles]

Worked well.