Shipping Policy

Shipping days

We ship live animals Monday through Wednesday only. This ensures your package never sits in a carrier facility over a weekend, where temperature control is unreliable and delays are common.

• Orders placed before 10:00 AM ET Monday–Wednesday ship the same day.
• Orders placed after the cutoff, or on Thursday–Sunday, ship the following Monday.
• We will contact you if we need to hold your shipment due to weather or animal readiness.

Packaging methods

Every live order is packed by hand with the following standard:

• Fish — Double-bagged in oxygen-filled poly bags, placed in an insulated foam box with paper padding to prevent sloshing.
• Corals & invertebrates — Bagged in oxygenated saltwater with temperature-stable gel packs, cushioned inside foam insulation.
• Plants — Wrapped in damp paper towel, sealed in breathable bags, and cushioned to prevent crushing.
• Fragile equipment — Bubble-wrapped and boxed with foam inserts.

We do not use loose packing peanuts or materials that can harm animals if spilled.

Heat & cold packs

We monitor weather at both our location and your destination. When temperatures fall below 40°F or rise above 85°F, we automatically include:

• Heat packs — 40+ hour shipping warmers, taped to the inner lid (never touching bags directly).
• Cold packs — Phase-change gel packs for hot-weather shipping.
• Insulation upgrade — Thicker foam or double-boxing for extreme conditions.

Heat and cold packs are included at no extra charge when weather conditions require them. You do not need to request them.

Overnight vs. 2-day rules

• Overnight — Required for all fish and sensitive invertebrates. This is the default and only option for livestock orders.
• 2-day express — Available only for hard corals, hardy plants, and dry goods during mild weather seasons (spring and fall, at our discretion).
• Free shipping — Not available for live animals. We never compromise animal welfare to save on shipping costs.

Weather-related holds

We reserve the right to delay shipment if weather conditions at either origin or destination create unacceptable risk:

• Extreme heat (sustained temperatures above 90°F at destination).
• Extreme cold (sustained temperatures below 20°F at destination).
• Severe storms, hurricanes, or blizzards affecting carrier routes.
• Regional carrier service disruptions or hub closures.

If we hold your shipment, we will contact you within 24 hours with a new estimated ship date. You may request a full cancellation if the delay does not work for you.

Signature requirements

All live animal shipments require a signature at delivery. If you will not be home, we strongly recommend:

• Shipping to your workplace.
• Arranging for a neighbor or family member to accept the package indoors.
• Using the carrier's hold-for-pickup service and collecting the package from a local facility the same day.

What happens if you are not home: The carrier will attempt redelivery the next business day or hold the package at a local facility. If the package is left outside in extreme temperatures and the animals perish, our DOA guarantee does not apply.