At Aquafish Depot, we understand that the safe and timely delivery of your aquatic animals and supplies is a top priority. Our extensive experience as a licensed breeder for over a decade has allowed us to perfect a shipping process that prioritizes the health and well-being of every creature. We’ve built our reputation on trust and quality, and that commitment extends all the way to your front door. This page outlines our comprehensive shipping policies, live arrival guarantee, and what you can expect when you place an order with us.

Our Expert Shipping Process

Our shipping methodology is the result of years of refinement, designed specifically for the unique needs of live aquatic animals. We take every precaution to ensure your order arrives in peak condition.

  • Professional Packaging: All live animals are carefully bagged in high-quality, professional-grade bags with a measured amount of water and pure oxygen. These bags are then double-bagged to prevent leaks. Depending on the weather conditions, we use heat packs or cold packs, and all orders containing live animals are shipped in insulated foam boxes to maintain a stable temperature throughout transit. Dry goods, such as food and medication, are shipped separately or with live animals in a way that ensures no product is compromised.
  • Optimized Shipping Schedule: To minimize transit time and ensure the highest chance of a successful delivery, we only ship live animal orders from Monday to Wednesday. This prevents your package from being held up in a sorting facility over the weekend. All orders placed after Wednesday morning will be held until the following Monday to ensure they receive a fresh start. Orders for dry goods and non-live products are shipped Monday through Friday.
  • Communication & Tracking: Once your order is processed and shipped, you will receive an email notification with detailed tracking information. We believe in transparency and want you to be able to monitor your package’s journey every step of the way. If you have any questions or concerns during transit, you can always reach out to our dedicated support team at sales@aquafishdepot.com.

Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG)

We are so confident in our careful packaging and shipping process that we offer a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee on all live aquatic animals. Our guarantee is a testament to the health of our livestock and the reliability of our shipping methods.

What Our Guarantee Covers:

  • Our guarantee ensures that any live animal purchased from Aquafish Depot will arrive alive and healthy.
  • In the unlikely event of a D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival), we will provide you with a credit towards a future purchase. We do not offer cash refunds for D.O.A.s. Shipping costs are non-refundable.

How to File a D.O.A. Claim:

  1. A D.O.A. claim must be submitted within two hours of the delivery time listed on the carrier’s tracking website.
  2. Clear photo or video evidence of the deceased animal must be sent to sales@aquafishdepot.com. The animal must be clearly visible inside its original, unopened bag. For larger animals, a photo of the deceased animal outside of the bag is acceptable, provided it is submitted within the two-hour window.
  3. Do not discard the deceased animal until your claim has been approved. In some cases, we may request additional evidence.

Voiding the Live Arrival Guarantee:

Our Live Arrival Guarantee is void under the following conditions:

  • Incorrect Address: The customer provided an incorrect or incomplete shipping address.
  • Failed Delivery Attempt: The customer was not present to receive the package on the first delivery attempt. Our guarantee requires someone to be available to bring the animals inside immediately upon delivery.
  • Shipping Delays Beyond Our Control: Delays caused by the shipping carrier due to weather, mechanical issues, or other unforeseen circumstances are not covered.
  • Refusal of Package: The customer refused to accept the package for any reason.
  • Failure to Follow Claim Procedures: The customer fails to submit the claim within the specified two-hour window or does not provide the required photo/video evidence.
  • Acclimation Issues: The guarantee is for live arrival only and does not cover deaths that occur after the animal has been introduced to your aquarium. Proper acclimation is the responsibility of the customer.

Domestic Shipping (Within the United States)

We ship to all 50 states within the United States. We primarily use reputable carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS.

  • Shipping Services: We offer a range of shipping options, including Next-Day Air, Two-Day Air, and Ground services, where available. For all live animal orders, we highly recommend selecting an expedited shipping method like Next-Day or Two-Day Air to ensure the best possible outcome.
  • Shipping Costs: Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the weight, size, and destination of your order. You can easily view all available shipping options and their costs before completing your purchase.

International Shipping (Outside the United States)

Aquafish Depot is proud to offer international shipping to a wide range of countries. Shipping live animals internationally is a complex process with different regulations and requirements for each country.

  • Customs & Regulations: It is the responsibility of the customer to be aware of and comply with their country’s specific import laws and regulations regarding the shipment of live aquatic animals. Aquafish Depot is not responsible for any customs delays, fees, or seizure of packages.
  • Live Arrival Guarantee for International Orders: Due to the extended transit times and customs processes involved with international shipping, our Live Arrival Guarantee is modified for these orders. Please contact us directly at sales@aquafishdepot.com to discuss our international LAG policy before placing your order.

Shipping Dry Goods

Dry goods, such as fish food and food medication, are shipped from Monday to Friday using a variety of carriers. These orders do not require expedited shipping, though the option is available.

  • Shipping Methods: You can select from several shipping methods at checkout, including Standard Ground, Priority Mail, and other expedited services.
  • Combined Orders: If your order contains both live animals and dry goods, the shipping will be calculated to accommodate the live animal’s needs, and all items will be shipped together in the same package (unless otherwise specified).

For any further questions regarding our shipping policies, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re here to help you get your aquatic animals and supplies safely and efficiently. Thank you for choosing Aquafish Depot!