Shipping Information
At BlueRipple Aquatics, our goal is simple: ship healthy fish safely and make sure customers understand exactly how our live fish shipping process works before ordering.
Live fish are not shipped like regular dry goods. Every order must be checked, packed, oxygenated, insulated, and shipped during safe carrier windows to protect the fish in transit.
Please read the full shipping information below before placing your order.
Order Processing Time
All live fish orders require 3–5 business days of processing before shipment.
This processing time allows us to:
- Verify inventory
- Check fish condition before shipping
- Prepare fish safely for transport
- Bag fish with oxygen
- Pack with insulation and temperature protection when needed
- Schedule shipment during safe live-fish shipping windows
Overnight shipping does not mean same-day shipping.
Overnight shipping refers to the transit speed after your order leaves our facility, not the time it takes to process, prepare, and pack your order.
Live Fish Shipping Days
Live fish orders are shipped Monday–Wednesday only.
We do this to reduce the risk of weekend delays, warehouse holds, missed delivery windows, and carrier issues that could put live fish at risk.
Orders may be held for the next safe shipping window due to:
- Weather conditions
- Extreme heat or cold
- Carrier delays
- Holiday schedules
- Inventory checks
- Fish health concerns
- Large shipment volume
We do not rush live fish out if we believe waiting provides a better chance of safe arrival.
Live Fish Shipping Rates
Due to increased FedEx and UPS fuel surcharges, overnight carrier fees, and live-animal packaging costs, we have updated our live fish shipping rates.
Overnight Live Delivery
| Order Total |
Shipping Cost |
| $0.00–$149.99 |
$49.99 |
| $150.00–$199.99 |
$39.99 |
| $200.00+ |
FREE Overnight Live Delivery |
Overnight Live Delivery includes:
- Oxygen-filled bags
- Insulated packaging
- Heat or cold protection when needed
- Live fish handling
- Packing labor
- Current carrier fuel and overnight surcharges
Small live fish orders are more expensive to ship because the box, insulation, oxygen, labor, and overnight carrier cost are nearly the same whether the order contains a few fish or a larger group.
Free Overnight Live Delivery
Live fish orders of $200 or more qualify for FREE Overnight Live Delivery.
Free shipping applies to qualifying live fish orders based on the order total before any shipping charge is added.
If your cart is below the free shipping threshold, checkout will show the available shipping rate based on your order total.
Economy Shipping Warning
Economy shipping is intended for dry goods only.
If a customer chooses economy shipping for live fish, the live fish are not covered under our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Economy shipping does not include DOA credit, replacement, or refund coverage for live fish.
For Live Arrival Guarantee coverage, customers must choose Overnight Live Delivery when ordering live fish.
Tracking Information
Once your order ships, tracking information will be emailed automatically.
Please monitor your tracking closely and make sure someone is available to receive the package when it arrives.
Live fish should not sit outside in heat, cold, rain, snow, or direct sun.
We strongly recommend bringing the package inside immediately once delivered.
Live Arrival Guarantee
We stand behind our live fish shipments when the correct shipping method is selected and the claim requirements are followed.
To qualify for our Live Arrival Guarantee:
- The order must be shipped using Overnight Live Delivery
- DOA claims must be submitted within 1 hour of the carrier delivery scan
- Clear photos or video must be provided
- Photos should show the unopened bag when possible
- Shipping charges, box fees, and handling costs are not refundable
- Approved DOA claims are handled as store credit according to our DOA policy
DOA claims submitted outside the required claim window may be denied.
Please do not discard the fish, bags, or packaging until your claim has been reviewed.
What Is Not Covered
The Live Arrival Guarantee does not cover:
- Orders shipped with economy or dry-goods shipping
- Claims submitted after the required claim window
- Packages left outside after delivery
- Incorrect or incomplete shipping addresses
- Missed delivery attempts
- Customer refusal of delivery
- Delays caused by the customer not being available
- Losses after the fish have been opened, acclimated incorrectly, or added to an aquarium
- Shipping charges, box charges, or carrier fees
Our guarantee applies to eligible live fish only and does not refund shipping or carrier costs.
Out-of-Stock Items and Substitutions
Because we are working with live animals, inventory can change quickly.
If an item in your order becomes unavailable before shipment, we may reach out to ask whether you would like:
- A similar substitute
- A different fish of equal value
- Store credit for the unavailable item
We will do our best to keep your order moving while making sure we do not ship unhealthy or unavailable fish.
Weather and Carrier Delays
Live fish shipping can be affected by weather and carrier conditions.
We may delay shipping if temperatures, storms, flight delays, holiday volume, or carrier issues create unnecessary risk.
This is done to protect the fish and improve the chance of safe arrival.
If there is a carrier delay after the order ships, please continue monitoring tracking and contact us if there is an issue upon delivery.
Why Shipping Costs Have Increased
FedEx and UPS have increased fuel surcharges and overnight carrier fees. Live fish shipments are especially affected because they require overnight service, insulated packaging, oxygen, temperature protection, and careful handling.
Rather than reduce packing quality, we have adjusted our shipping structure to keep live shipments safe while still offering free Overnight Live Delivery on larger qualifying orders.
Our priority is safe arrival — not cutting corners.
Important Reminder
- 3–5 business day processing applies before shipment.
- Overnight shipping means overnight transit after the order leaves our facility.
- Live fish ship Monday–Wednesday only.
- Free Overnight Live Delivery starts at $200+.
- Economy shipping is not covered for live fish.
Thank you for choosing BlueRipple Aquatics. We appreciate your support and your patience while we pack and ship live fish safely.
