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, corals, shrimp, snails, and other live animals, including Florida destinations. Ground and 2-day shipping are not offered for these orders.
• Plants & dry goods — Plants follow destination-based Ground or 2-day rules; dry goods offer available Ground, 2-day, and overnight options. Mixed orders containing live animals or corals require overnight shipping.
• Free shipping — Not available for live animals. We never compromise animal welfare to save on shipping costs.

Livestock holding

We offer short-term holding only: purchased livestock may be held for up to 72 hours at no charge and must be shipped or picked up within that window. Livestock must be paid in full before holding begins, and no refunds are provided if fish become ill or perish during holding. See the full Livestock Holding Policy.

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.