Shipping Policies

SHIPPING POLICY FOR SELLING LIVE FISH
Stillwater Aquaria strives to provide a seamless and reliable shipping experience to ensure the safe arrival of your aquatic pets. Please read this policy carefully to understand our shipping procedures and guidelines.

All fish come with STILLWATERS LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEE.  See company policies for more information.

SHIPPING SERVICES

***PLEASE NOTE THAT IN SOME CASES, FED EX MAY BE USED IN PLACE OF UPS SHIPMENTS.  SEASONAL VARIATION IS WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH CARRIERS AND WANT TO GET YOU YOUR PETS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE!

LIVE FISH

SPRING CARRIER OPTIONS                            (MARCH-JUNE)

  • USPS GROUND  (limited locations & species)
  • PRIORITY MAIL   (limited locations & species)
  • UPS NEXT DAY
  • UPS NEXT DAY AIR SAVER
  • UPS 2nd Day Air
  • FED EX 2 DAY

SUMMER & WINTER OPTIONS (JULY-FEBRUARY)

  • UPS NEXT DAY
  • UPS NEXT DAY AIR EARLY
  • UPS 2nd Day Air
  • FED EX 2 DAY
  • PRIORITY MAIL (limited locations & species)

LIVE PLANTS

  • USPS GROUND OR PRIORITY SERVICES

SHIPPING REGIONS
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We currently ship live fish to the continental United States only. Unfortunately, we are unable to ship internationally or to Hawaii, Alaska, or any other U.S. territories at this time.

SHIPPING SCHEDULE
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To ensure the timely arrival and optimal condition of your live fish, we have specific SHIPPING SCHEDULES:

1. ORDER PROCESSING: Orders are typically processed within 7 business days after payment confirmation.

2. SHIPPING DAYS: We ship live fish on MONDAYS & TUESDAYS only to avoid potential delays over weekends. This minimizes the time the fish spend in transit, reducing stress and increasing the likelihood of their safe arrival. Please note that the use of overnight or 2 day shipping does not guarantee the order will ship on or the next day when the order was placed due to the processing and handling of order before shipment. 

3. SWA reserves the right to hold your package due to inclement weather conditions or any situation that would negatively impact the health of your aquatic life. We care about our pets and your investment.

PACKAGING & CONDITIONING
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We take utmost care in packaging and conditioning your live fish for shipping. Here's what you can expect:

1. INSULATED PACKAGING: Live fish are packed in specially designed insulated boxes to maintain a stable temperature during transit and protect them from extreme weather conditions. 

2. AQUARIUM WATER AND OXYGEN: Each fish is carefully placed in a sealed bag filled with aquarium water and a sufficient amount of pure oxygen to ensure their well being.

3. HEAT OR COLD PACKS: Depending on the weather conditions and the fish species, we may include heat packs or cold packs to regulate the temperature inside the packaging. If you see a handling charge at time of check out, the heat/cold pack will most likely be the reason for the charge.

SHIPPING COSTS
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The shipping cost for live fish is calculated based on the destination, weight, and shipping method chosen during the checkout process. Shipping costs will be displayed at the time of purchase.

WINTER WEATHER OR CARRIER DELAY
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Stillwater Aquaria prioritizes the health and well-being of our fish. To ensure they arrive safely during winter, we may temporarily suspend shipping to certain locations, including Dallas, TX (our location) and your area. This decision is based on cold weather conditions that could harm the fish during transport.

If we determine that shipping poses a risk to the fish due to extreme weather, we reserve the right to hold your order until it's safe to ship. Our customer service team is always available to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have. You can reach them via email at Sales@StillwaterAquaria.com.

Shipping delays due to temperature extremes and holidays:

We may also experience shipping delays due to extreme temperatures or postal holidays. This can happen when:

  • Temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (both at your destination and our location in Dallas)
  • Overnight lows drop to 30 degrees Fahrenheit or below (at your destination and our location)
  • Major holidays impact UPS,FED-EX and USPS operations

Communication about your order:

  • You will receive an email notification with your tracking number once your order is shipped. Please login and track your shipment
  • Shipping times are as follows:
  1. UPS 1 Day & UPS Next Day Air Early: Your
    package will arrive the next business day after shipment
  2. UPS 2 Day Air: Your package will arrive within 2 business days of the shipment date.
  3. Priority Mail: 1-3 days pending Zone
  4. USPS Ground: 2-5 days pending zone

Orders containing only plants or dry goods may be shipped via USPS, depending on your chosen shipping option at checkout.

We hope this information clarifies our shipping policies and ensures a smooth and safe delivery of your aquatic friends.

 

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