[Peter Finke]

I am very grateful that you described that breathing bags, Bill. And not only the bags, but also the manner to use them and the “normality” of fish-shipping in a large country as the U.S. I hoped that somebody would do that, since the problem discussed here is not only a problem of Europe.
But I want to add two things: First, in Europe we have different countries with different posting systems. And there is some sort of customs control in spite of all political agreements to leave that aside. I don’t know what happens if the content is described as “live fish”. That means, shipments could take a day or two or three days more. Anyway, if packed intelligently (as you described it), there will be no real danger. Especially for Paros which can be shipped safer than any other fish for the reasons I described.
And that is my second remark: Breathing bags are certainly a good thing (we can get them here too), but the advantage is really good with other fish that breathe a lot, that like to move, that are bigger, that depend fully on their gill-breathing. Our licorice gouramis are just ideal fish for being sent via parcel: they are small, they don’t hate darkness, they don’t swim very much, they creep under a leave and stay quiet and don’t move, they don’t like high temperatures and they are used to very small water space. It’s another thing if you are a commercial import company; then you must pack a hundred fish in a big bag; that’s a different situation. But if you are an aquarist ordering two pairs of the offpring from a private breeder or if you are that breeder asked to ship two pairs of licorice to a private address, then you can see things differently. Many European breeders ship their fish singly or in pairs in very small plastic bottles, several within one parcel. The advantage is the firm wall of the bottles; there could hardly be any accident. With the licorice you don’t really need the advantages of the breathing bags; that will only pay out with the trading in big numbers or with other fish.