If you’re like me, then you try to be as streamlined as possible when flying. The idea of flying to an aquarium conference, buying coral, and transporting it back home seems a bit intense. Why complicate an already arduous process?
There are times when I’d visit a shop like Top Shelf Aquatics and just have them ship me the coral I had purchased, but when you go to a show, you’ll likely purchase from multiple vendors. With Reefstock Chattanooga on the horizon, I figured I should share my experience getting coral frags through a TSA Security Checkpoint.
Our journey begins in Winter Park, Florida at Top Shelf Aquatics. They offered to ship six Acropora frags to the Reef Builders studio, and I declined. I wanted to overcome my irrational fear of flying with coral.
I’ll be the first to admit it – I was nervous. What if they confiscate these beautiful frags? What if they drop the container? What if they detain me? The human brain has a tendency to conjure up some unrealistic scenarios.
As I approached the x-ray, I politely told the TSA agent that I was traveling with live coral and handed him the container. Everything else I had went on the conveyor and through the X-ray machine.
On the other end, I could see a couple of TSA Agents swabbing the outside of the container. One of them asked me to open the lid so he could test the water. He had me screw the lid back on…and that was it. A couple of minutes later, they let me go. I passed. Easy. I placed the coral container back into the cooler box, and I was on my way.
If you had any doubts about flying with coral, hopefully, my experience will ease your nerves! Try it out, and let us know how it went!
Common questions about flying with live corals
Do I need to adhere to the 3.4 (100ml) liquid rule?
No – your fish and coral will obviously need more than 3.4fl oz of water to be comfortable. There is no fluid restriction for live animals.
Can I bring frags in a cooler?
Yes – however, you will need to remove the container from the cooler while it’s being tested.
Does this count as a personal item?
Most likely – check with your airline if you’re unsure.
Flying Domestically With Coral Checklist:
- Coral/Fish must be in a transparent container.
- Make sure to tell a TSA agent you have live coral that cannot go through X-ray.
- Cooperate with the TSA agent as they test the water.
- After passing inspection, place it back into the box, and be on your way!
