Terms & Conditions

Customer responsibilities

When you order live animals from Nexus Aquatics, you accept the following responsibilities:

• You will provide accurate shipping and contact information. We are not responsible for delays or losses caused by incorrect addresses.
• You will be available to receive the package on the scheduled delivery day or arrange for someone to accept it indoors.
• You will acclimate all animals according to our published arrival protocol before placing them in your display tank.
• You will maintain appropriate water parameters, temperature, lighting, and flow for the species you ordered.
• You will quarantine new fish in a separate system before introducing them to your main display.
• You will research the compatibility, temperament, and care requirements of every species before ordering.
• You understand that keeping live animals involves inherent risk, including disease, aggression, and natural mortality.

Proper acclimation requirement

Our DOA policy and Live Arrival Guarantee require that you follow proper acclimation procedures. Failure to acclimate animals correctly voids your eligibility for replacement or credit if the animal dies after arrival. Proper acclimation includes:

• Floating sealed bags for 15 minutes to equalize temperature.
• Drip acclimation at 2–4 drops per second for 45–60 minutes (or until bag volume has tripled).
• Netting livestock out of the bag — never pouring shipping water into your tank.
• Dimming or turning off tank lights for the first 24 hours to reduce stress.
• For corals: inspecting, dipping, and rinsing before placement.

Water parameter expectations

You are responsible for ensuring your tank is cycled, stable, and within acceptable parameters before adding new animals. We are not liable for losses caused by:

• Ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate spikes in your system.
• Incorrect salinity, pH, or temperature for the species ordered.
• Overstocking, incompatible tank mates, or aggressive behavior from existing livestock.
• Copper, medication, or chemical contamination in your tank.

Risks inherent to keeping live animals

Aquarium keeping is a living hobby. By ordering livestock, you acknowledge and accept the following risks:

• Live animals can carry parasites, bacteria, or viruses that may not be visible at the time of sale.
• Stress from shipping, handling, and environmental change can weaken an animal's immune system and lead to delayed mortality.
• Color, pattern, and polyp extension can vary based on lighting, diet, and stress levels. The photos on our site represent healthy specimens under ideal conditions; your animal may look different as it settles in.
• We do not guarantee long-term survival, growth rate, or breeding success — only that the animal is healthy upon arrival.

Liability limitations

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• Nexus Aquatics' total liability for any order is limited to the purchase price of the items in that order.
• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but not limited to damage to other livestock, equipment, or property in your home.
• We are not liable for losses caused by carrier delays, weather events, power outages, or other circumstances beyond our control.
• Our policies (DOA, Live Arrival Guarantee, Shipping, and Refund) are the exclusive remedies available for any issue with your order.

Order acceptance

We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order for reasons including but not limited to: suspected fraud, insufficient stock, animal health concerns, extreme weather, or destination restrictions. If we cancel an order, you will receive a full refund to your original payment method.

Changes to terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The terms in effect at the time of your order apply to that order. We encourage you to review this page before placing each order.