Shipping Policy

We offer two shipping tiers for live fish orders:

UPS 2-Day Shipping
UPS 1-Day Shipping Upgrade

Our goal is to ship healthy, well-packed fish safely and give customers a clear, fair, and reliable delivery experience.

UPS 2-Day Shipping Policy

Shipping Price and Free Shipping

We offer a competitive fixed UPS 2-Day shipping rate of $14.99 no matter how many live animals you order.

UPS 2-Day Shipping is our standard shipping option and is designed to provide a balance between safe live arrival and affordable shipping costs.

Shipping Days

Live fish orders are typically shipped on Monday to avoid weekend delays.

We may hold shipments during extreme weather, carrier delays, holidays, or other conditions that could affect the safety of the fish. If shipping needs to be delayed, we will contact you or ship on the next safe shipping day.

Packaging

All live fish are packed carefully using insulated packaging, clean water, oxygen, and temperature control when needed. Heat packs or cold packs may be used depending on the weather and destination.

Customers are responsible for making sure the shipping address is correct at checkout. We are not responsible for delays or losses caused by an incorrect or incomplete address.

Delivery Requirement

Someone should be available to receive the package as soon as it is delivered. Live fish should not be left outside in hot, cold, or unsafe conditions.

Once the package is marked delivered by UPS, the customer is responsible for bringing the package indoors as soon as possible.

DOA Policy for UPS 2-Day Shipping

We offer a live arrival guarantee for UPS 2-Day Shipping when the following conditions are met:

Any DOA claim must be reported within 2 hours of the UPS delivery scan.
Clear photos or video must be provided showing the fish in the original unopened bag.
Photos must clearly show the fish and the unopened bag.
The package must have been delivered on time and received at the correct address.

If a valid DOA claim is approved, we may offer a replacement fish or refund for the affected fish. Shipping costs are generally not refundable unless we decide otherwise.

The live arrival guarantee does not apply if the package was missed, left outside for an extended period, delayed because of an incorrect address, refused, rerouted, or held due to customer request.

UPS 1-Day Shipping

Shipping Price and Free Shipping

We offer a competitive fixed UPS 1-Day shipping rate of $74.99 no matter how many live animals you order.

This upgrade is strongly recommended for customers who want the fastest shipping option or live in areas with extreme weather.

UPS 1-Day Shipping gives the fish the shortest time in transit and offers the best shipping protection.

Shipping Days

UPS 1-Day Shipping orders are shipped on Monday. We may delay shipment if temperatures, storms, holidays, or carrier conditions create an unsafe shipping window.

We reserve the right to hold any live fish shipment until we believe it is safe to ship.

Delivery Requirement

Customers choosing UPS 1-Day Shipping should still plan to receive the package as soon as it arrives.

Even with overnight shipping, live fish should not be left outside after delivery.

DOA Policy for UPS 1-Day Shipping

UPS 1-Day Shipping includes a more flexible DOA reporting window.

For UPS 1-Day Shipping, any DOA claim must be reported by the end of the delivery day.

To qualify for the live arrival guarantee:

Clear photos or video must be provided showing the fish in the original unopened bag.
The claim must be submitted by the end of the same day the package is delivered.
The package must have been delivered on time and to the correct address.

If a valid DOA claim is approved, we may offer a replacement fish or refund for the affected fish.

Weather and Shipping Delays

Live fish safety is our priority. We may delay shipping during:

Extreme heat
Extreme cold
Severe storms
Carrier delays
Holidays
High-risk weekend delivery windows

If shipping is delayed for safety reasons, your order will be held and shipped on the next safe shipping day.

Incorrect Address, Missed Delivery, or Carrier Issues

Customers are responsible for entering the correct shipping address.

The live arrival guarantee does not cover losses caused by:

Incorrect or incomplete shipping address
Missed delivery attempt
Package refusal
Customer-requested rerouting
Package being held at a UPS location without prior approval
Package left outside for an extended period after delivery
Delays caused by the customer

If UPS causes a delay, please contact us as soon as possible. We will review the situation case by case.

If an incorrect address was entered at checkout, please contact us immediately.

Acclimation Responsibility

Once the fish arrive alive, the customer is responsible for proper acclimation and care.

We recommend opening the package promptly, checking the fish, and acclimating them carefully by floating the unopen bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes. Sudden temperature, pH, or water chemistry changes can stress or harm fish.

Our live arrival guarantee covers arrival condition only and does not cover losses after the fish have been opened, released, or added to the aquarium.