Moving with Pets, Plants and Aquariums

Movers do not transport pets, and most will not take plants or aquariums either. This is not unhelpfulness — living things need conditions a cargo truck cannot provide. Planning for them separately is essential.

Pets: the day itself is the hard part

For a dog or cat, moving day is loud, chaotic, full of strangers, and the front door stays open for hours. That combination causes most moving-day pet escapes.

Before the move

• Vet visit — vaccinations up to date, and a health certificate if travelling interstate.
• Update the microchip and ID tag with your new address and phone number before you move, not after.
• If your pet is not crate-trained and will need a carrier, introduce the carrier weeks in advance with treats and short sessions so it is not a frightening object on the day.
• Keep familiar bedding unwashed — the smell is reassuring in a new home.
• Ask your vet about anxiety options for a genuinely nervous animal.

On moving day

• If using a closed room, put food, water, litter and bedding in it and tell every crew member not to open that door.
• Move the pet in your own vehicle, never in the goods truck.
• Carry water, a bowl, a leash, waste bags and any medication with you.
• In Lucknow summer, never leave an animal in a parked car, even briefly.

At the new home

• Set up one room first with familiar bedding, bowls and toys, and let the pet settle there before exploring.
• Check the whole place for gaps, open balconies and unsecured windows before letting them roam.
• Keep cats indoors for at least two weeks — they will try to return to the old address.
• Keep feeding and walk times unchanged. Routine is what re-establishes security.
• Expect some appetite loss or hiding for a few days. Persistent changes warrant a vet call.
• Update the address on licence and registration records where applicable.

Houseplants

Plants dislike heat, darkness and being knocked over — a truck offers all three.

• Water two days before, not on the day. Wet soil is heavy and can cause rot in a closed vehicle.
• Move to plastic pots a couple of weeks ahead if they are in heavy ceramic — lighter and far less likely to shatter.
• Prune dead growth to reduce bulk.
• Pack upright in open cartons with paper wedged around the base so they cannot tip.
• Carry them in your own car where possible.
• In a closed truck in Lucknow summer, plants can cook within hours. If they must travel that way, it should be a short, early-morning trip.
• At the new home, unpack them first and give them light and water.
• For long interstate moves, consider gifting large plants to neighbours and starting fresh. It is often kinder than a four-day journey in the dark.

Aquariums

Aquariums are the hardest item in a household to move, and the honest advice for long distances is to rehome the fish.

For a short local move:

1. Stop feeding 24 hours before to reduce waste in transit.
2. Reserve 70–80% of the existing tank water in clean, food-grade containers. The established bacteria in that water is what keeps the tank cycled — fresh water alone will crash it.
3. Move fish into a bucket or bags with that tank water, with air if the trip is longer than an hour.
4. Keep the filter media wet in tank water at all times. Letting it dry kills the bacterial colony and forces a full re-cycle.
5. Drain the tank completely. Never move a glass tank with water, gravel or rocks in it — the weight will crack the seams.
6. Pack gravel, decor and equipment separately.
7. Transport the tank upright on a padded, flat surface.
8. At the new home, set up the tank first, refill with the reserved water, restart the filter, let the temperature stabilise, then acclimatise the fish slowly.
9. Test water parameters for the next two weeks and feed lightly.

What to tell your movers

Mention pets, plants and an aquarium when you book, not on the day. It changes the plan: the crew can work around a closed pet room, allow time for you to drain a tank, and avoid stacking anything on plant cartons. Movers work better when they know what they are dealing with.

Frequently Asked Questions

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