After your order is placed, please keep an eye out for any communication (email/text/phone) in regards to your order. If you have any questions, please reach out to us directly.

Orders are shipped in the order they are received. Most orders ship within 2–4 business days (excluding weekends). Weather conditions may occasionally cause delays. If you need a specific delivery date please indicate in the note at checkout and/or contact us directly.

“Next-Day Delivery” refers to the transit time once the package leaves our facility. It does not include processing time. We take time to properly prepare and monitor your fish before shipment to ensure safe arrival.

We only ship fish to arrive on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday to avoid potential issues with delayed deliveries running into the weekend.

You will receive tracking details via email the day before your order ships. You will receive a second email the day it ships. If you do not see it, please check your spam folder or contact us directly.

Disregard any carrier notifications on your delivery, as they are not always accurate to your actual shipment details.

Yes, if packaged properly, fish can last several days even with delayed shipments. We have been shipping live tropical fish for 25 years, and we take immense pride in our shipping procedures and safety of the fish.

We ship using:

UPS Next Day Air – Delivered directly to your door.

Southwest Air Cargo – Recommended for orders over $300 or orders containing mostly large 4"+ males. Flat rate of $89. You will pick up your fish at the nearest Southwest cargo facility.

Delta Cargo – Available for customers who do not have access to Southwest Air Cargo.

If Southwest is selected, we will communicate arrival time and cargo location details with you.

When checking out, you will see the following options for live fish:

UPS Next Day Air Early (delivering by 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM on the next business day, often targeting 8:00 AM for major cities. Best if you need an early delivery on a tight schedule. Also a great option for extreme weather.

UPS Next Day Air (overnight delivery across the U.S. by 10:30 a.m. or noon).

UPS Next Day Air Saver (delivering by 3:00–4:30 PM to commercial addresses and end-of-day to residential addresses on the next business day).

UPS 2 Day Air means estimated 2 days in transit from time of shipment departure to expected arrival.

We ONLY offer Live Arrival Guarantee on UPS Next Day Air or Air Cargo shipping.
NOT ON 2 DAY SHIPPING.

99% of our 2 day shipments arrive on time, and the fish are alive and healthy
during the warmer months.

There’s always the potential for delays with 2-day shipping. Especially in the colder or hotter months. Extreme weather conditions can cause delays in flights and transportation.

If you choose 2-day shipping, we will send a curtesy email asking if you would like to stay with 2-day air, or explore additional options.

Shipping live fish requires overnight delivery, insulated packaging, water conditioning, oxygen, and temperature control materials. We only use the absolute best packaging material as we prioritize safety and health over cutting costs.

This is a live animal and live animals deserve the fastest and safest shipping available. We understand that shipping costs may be more costly depending on your location, but our top priority is to ensure our fish arrive safely to their new home.

Yes. Please include your requested delivery date in the checkout notes. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

We take packaging seriously. Fish are shipped in high quality, molded insulated boxes with aquarium water, stress-reducing and ammonia-neutralizing treatments, and pure oxygen. Heat packs are included when necessary at no additional cost. Fish are double or triple bagged.

Always research the species you are purchasing to ensure you have the proper environment ready. Your tank should be fully cycled and stable. We strongly recommend having a separate quarantine tank prepared before introducing fish into your main aquarium.

A detailed acclimation sheet is provided with each live fish shipment. If you misplaced the sheet, it can also be downloaded here.

Most photos show fully mature MALE adult fish displaying peak coloration. Typically with African Cichlids, only the males have the bright, vibrant colors. Female African Cichlids are typically much less colorful. Please ensure you are buying the correct sex of fish prior to purchase. Newly shipped fish may appear pale due to normal shipping stress. Allow 1–3 days for acclimation and their color will return. Appetite may also be reduced initially. Avoid overfeeding during this period.

We offer a Live Arrival Guarantee.

If you receive a DOA (Dead on Arrival), you must:

• Send multiple pictures of the fish in the sealed bag exactly as it was shipped, with the label of the fish visible.
• Submit the photos within 60 minutes of delivery

We receive delivery notifications, so timing is important.

We will replace the fish with the same fish, or give you credit for the cost of the fish.

We are not responsible for packages delayed or lost by UPS. Shipping charges are non-refundable. All sales are final.

If the water is very cold or the fish appear to be inactive or stressed due to a delayed delivery, please adhere to the following guidelines.  

The fish may seem lifeless; however, in many cases, they are not dead but rather in a state of dormancy caused by the cold water.

So 1st please take pictures of each one in their bag.

Float the bags in the aquarium for 1 hour, even if you believe the fish are dead.

It is recommended to place affected fish in a quarantine tank, if feasible, particularly when the fish is recovering mobility. This measure helps prevent potential harassment from other fish.

These orders include heat packs that last 35–70 hours, depending on shipment.

If they do not recover within a few hours, please contact us and we'll resolve the issue.

Shipping costs are non-refundable once the order has shipped. We are not responsible for carrier delays, but we will do our best to try and resolve any issues with the carrier.

If your claim meets our Live Arrival Guarantee requirements, we will replace qualifying fish. Replacement shipments may require additional shipping costs.

Yes. Our fish are bred and raised in-house. Buying direct from the breeder ensures strong genetics, proper care, and high-quality specimens.

Yes. We are proud of our operation. Visit our Facilities page (coming soon!) to view photos and videos of our breeding systems, grow-out tanks, and fish rooms. Interested in visiting? Reach out to us!