Shipping policy

Next Day Air and handling fee

All shipped orders use UPS Next Day Air. Checkout calculates the UPS carrier rate and adds a $10.00 handling fee. Next Day Air describes transit after dispatch; our Monday shipping schedule and weather provisions below still apply.

Monday shipping

Live fish ship on Monday only to avoid weekend delays and reduce time in transit. Our weekly cutoff is Friday at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Orders received after the cutoff will be shipped the following Monday week unless specific arrangements have been made with us in advance. Contact us to confirm your ship date.

We may delay or reschedule shipping during inclement weather to protect the fish. We use insulated packaging, oxygen-filled bags, and weather-appropriate insulation or heat/cold packs when needed.

A responsible party MUST receive the package upon delivery. We strongly recommend hold for pickup at your local FedEx or UPS facility whenever possible.

Arrive Alive Guarantee (DOA)

Your fish are guaranteed to arrive alive when all of these conditions are met:

  1. Someone receives the shipment on the first delivery attempt.
  2. You contact us within 2 hours of the recorded delivery time if there is a problem.
  3. You provide clear photos of the unopened shipping bags and the affected fish.
  4. Fish are not left outdoors, on a porch, or exposed to excessive temperatures after delivery.

If a fish arrives deceased and these conditions are met, we issue a refund for the purchase price of the affected fish. Shipping charges are non-refundable.

The guarantee does not cover delays caused by incorrect shipping addresses, missed deliveries, weather events, carrier disruptions, acts of nature, acts of God, or circumstances beyond our control.

Live animal policy

Ensure your aquarium is fully cycled and suitable for the species before purchasing. We cannot guarantee fish after they have been introduced into your aquarium. Water quality, acclimation, compatibility with existing fish, and husbandry practices are outside our control.

Slowly acclimate your fish to your aquarium temperature and water chemistry before release.

Questions or arrival concerns: aricvarner@yahoo.com. Include your order number and required photos within the two-hour window for arrival concerns.