Shipping & Delivery
How we ship your livestock
Every fish, coral, and invert we ship is packed with the same care we’d want for our own reef. Here’s exactly what happens between your order and your front door.
How we pack your order
Every livestock shipment goes through this exact process before it leaves us — no shortcuts.
Pre-pack health check
Every animal is individually inspected before packing. If anything looks off, it doesn’t ship — full stop.
Individual bagging
Each animal is bagged individually with an appropriate water-to-air ratio calculated for the journey duration.
Pure oxygen seal
Bags are sealed with pure O₂ — not air — keeping oxygen levels safe for the full duration of transit.
Heat pack activation
Where required, 40-hour heat packs are activated and placed in the box — always separated from bags by insulating paper.
Polystyrene boxing
Bags are packed snugly in thick polystyrene to minimise movement and maintain a stable temperature throughout the journey.
Outer carton & dispatch
The polystyrene box is sealed inside a cardboard outer, labelled “Live Animals — This way up”, and handed to the courier.
Heat packs
We use 40-hour air-activated heat packs in all livestock shipments during cold weather periods. The table below shows how we decide when and how many to include.
When heat packs are used
| Ambient temperature | Heat packs | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Below 5°C | 40-hour | 2 packs |
| 5°C – 10°C | 40-hour | 1–2 packs |
| 10°C – 18°C | 40-hour | 1 pack |
| Above 18°C | None needed | — |
Heat pack spec
| Duration | 40 hours |
| Activation | Air-activated |
| Surface temp | ~40°C |
| Placement | Insulated from bags |
| Safe for | Fish, coral, inverts |
Shipping costs
We offer flat-rate shipping with a simple structure — no surprises at checkout. Rates are fixed per order regardless of weight or quantity.
Delivery & dispatch
Dispatch days
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday only. We never ship Thursday or Friday to avoid weekend transit delays.
Delivery speed
All livestock is sent by next-day or overnight courier. Delivery arrives Tuesday–Thursday.
Couriers
We use UPS, FedEx, and DHL. A tracking number is sent as soon as your order is dispatched.
Shipping from
All orders are dispatched from Northern Ireland. Transit times to Great Britain and the EU may vary.
You must be present
Someone must be available to accept the parcel at the first delivery attempt. Missed deliveries can void your live arrival guarantee.
Dry goods
Dry goods are dispatched within 1–2 business days and do not require special packaging. No livestock handling restrictions apply.
Questions about shipping?
We’re happy to advise on the best dispatch date for your location before you order.