I guarantee live arrival on UPS shipments sent and delivered via UPS Next Day Delivery Services provided the package is delivered on time and is not subject to a damage claim via mishandling by the carrier. Damaged packages must be filed by the customer at time of delivery with the delivery driver from UPS (only the receiver can file this damage claim).

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When a shipping label is created in my UPS system you (and I) instantly receive an automatic email notification with your packages assigned tracking number.  This email typically arrives in our inboxes around 9 am eastern time. If you do not see this email by 12:00 pm eastern time please check your spam box. In this email you will have a notice to confirm that the shipping information is correct(you may need to setup a free  basic UPS account to view the address). If a typo has occurred, I must be notified before 12:00 pm Eastern Time of the mistake. After this time I can no longer make changes. You are responsible for logging into UPS and checking the information and then confirming via email that the information is correct. Failure to do so voids the Live Arrival Guarantee in the event of a typo leading to a late or misdelivered package. If I do not receive shipping notice confirmation from you I will assume the information is correct and the package will ship as scheduled. You (and I) may also receive additional emails directly from UPS called 'exception notices' throughout your packages transit time as it gets scanned at each hub or destination including the moment it is delivered. It is your responsibility to check the tracking number for delivery times and are required to be available to accept physical delivery of your live animal(s).  (I do not track your package after they have been shipped. Failure to receive your package on UPS's first delivery attempt will also void the Live Arrival Guarantee. If you see any delays in the tracking information while in transit, please email me and I will reach out to UPS to see if I can receive and then relay any details. DO NOT reach out to UPS on your own. Often this will cause further delays. Since I use UPS directly and own my account I have direct access to UPS and the distribution centers by using UPS as my direct service provider. This is service that is not available through cheaper, third party services, that use a single shared account. 

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In the extremely rare event that the fish you have ordered are delivered on time and are dead on arrival (DOA) and all procedures to file the claim are followed correctly I will gladly replace and reship (free of charge) or issue you a credit on your purchase if the species is/are no longer in stock. Any credit will be applied to your next order. In the event that only a few fish out of group of several of the same or of different fish have arrived DOA I will often only credit back for the single losses and not reship replacements. The decision is at my discretion. Often, the costs of reshipping 1 or 2 singles out of an entire group will far exceed the value of the replacements and possibly even supersede the entire sale of the original order. If the decision is made to ship the single losses I may require the customer to then cover any shipping charges for the replacements.

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In the event that your fish are delivered exceptionally late (as in 6 hours or later) and are DOA I will also will gladly replace the fish (free of charge) or issue you a credit on your purchase if the species is/are no longer in stock. Again, any credit will be applied on your next order. However, this type of DOA claim is out of my control and shipping is not covered under this circumstance. You will have to file a claim as the recipient with UPS as the receiver of a late package.  Any shipping charges for the replacements are to be paid by the client.

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TO QUALIFY AS DOA; the fish must be dead. Dead on arrival means it is dead in the original closed bag with newspaper liner as it arrived. The bags can be held upside down to view the animal upon arrival. If you open the fish bag and have added the fish to your aquarium you no longer have a claim. Breathing heavily, slow, inactive, or not moving, pale, “looking dead” etc., do not count as dead on arrival.  Even if  in your opinion the fish appear to be almost deceased, you must attempt to acclimate it. Stress caused by shipping can often cause fish to appear lifeless in their bags. This is especially true in the colder months where the fish may become chilled, but they can be revived by proper acclimation techniques. Some species travel better than others. If they are breathing when they arrive it is highly likely they can be revived. Contact me immediately via email with photos and/or video for help acclimating a fish that looks like it may be in trouble upon arrival.

During cold weather shipping some, actually many species, can slow their respiratory system significantly when cold and will appear dead. I see this on a mass scale during my winter season imports. While it is scary, don't get too upset right away. Instead, look at the fish closely and make sure it is indeed slowly breathing. Then follow the information on my acclimation page, specifically the part about cold weather acclimation. 

Any acclimation method used that is not my recommended procedure will automatically void any consideration for reimbursement. Drip acclimation automatically voids any consideration for reimbursement. From time of delivery, the average small, medium, or large box package size should take no longer than 30 minutes to unpack, acclimate and release. Please follow my acclimation procedure if this is taking you longer than 30 minutes. (see recommended acclimation procedure page). Condition: Any oddities or perceived defects do not warrant a DOA claim or credit/refund. Things such as slightly torn fins, minor abrasions on body or eyes, unusual color or markings, uneven fin rays, and several other commonly seen issues are not considered to be a major defect or abnormality that would result in negative long-term health of the given fish even if the anomaly turns out to be permanent. Most anomalies are going to be more often seen on newly imported wild caught species. These species are not hatched in a home aquarium or cultured farm where they are culled during the growth stages for the 'perfect’ conditioned fish. Please see HERE for information regarding fish conditioning. 

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You are required to take possession of your live animals immediately from UPS upon delivery. This include deliveries to a UPS Customer care center. Failure to receive your package on UPS's first delivery attempt will also void the Live Arrival Guarantee. Any DOA claims must be reported within 1 hour of delivery (no exceptions). Delivery time is determined at time of delivery as documented electronically by the UPS delivery scan. This includes delivery to a UPS Center being held for pickup (not the time you receive it from the UPS customer care center). This is why it is imperative that you are physically present to receive the package exactly when it is delivered. 

The delivery scan must be at its original destination. In the event the destination was changed, altered, or forwarded after shipment, this typically delays delivery or can even add an extra day of transit time thus voiding the guarantee. This includes changing/forwarding the delivery location to a UPS center. Orders are packed specifically to the destination I am quoting. Often the use and qty of heat packs and other packing materials and /or methods are determined by its overnight layovers and of course its final delivery destination and can affect the micro-climate in the box if the delivery location is changed. Any claims that may indicate the packages being left outside for extended periods of time in extreme weather (temperatures greater than 90f degrees or lower than 40f) are void.  

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HOW TO FILE A CLAIM (NO EXCEPTIONS):

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Claims must be made via email within 1 hour of delivery and MUST be accompanied by 3 CLEAR digital photographic or video documentations. Photographic or video documentation of the perished fish must:

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1: Include the dead fish in the original closed bag with newspaper liner as it arrived. The bags can be held upside down to view the animal.

2: An additional photo and/or video of it out of water and on top of the bag it was delivered where I wrote the species name and / or # on the bag.

3: Be accompanied by a photo of the UPS tracking label on the outside of the box.

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This above method is non negotiable. I do not honor any other vendors live arrival guarantee or any procedure they use to file a claim. Failure to follow any of this method will make any consideration for reimbursement null and void. Claims made that do not include all of the above requirements at the same time will not be addressed in any manner until the proper procedure is followed. Any email not containing a photo or video will not be acknowledged. If you contact me for any DOA after 1 hour or with no photos or video it will not be acknowledged and no reimbursement will be considered. I will not address any shipping issue if you have already released the fish into the aquarium. Without a photo of the dead fish in the original closed bag with newspaper liner as it arrived I will not issue any kind of credit or refund. 

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After 1 hour of delivery and/or once the fish have been released from the shipping bag into the client’s aquarium, I am no longer responsible for death or damage of the fish, as these circumstances are beyond my control and have too many variables to consider such as and not limited to; time left in box(s) after delivery, acclimation procedures, water quality, water chemistry or temperature, existing tankmates, etc. Any claims made after 1 hour of delivery will not be considered for reimbursement of any kind. You must notify me immediately if a fish is DOA or is in serious trouble when it arrives. 

From time of delivery, the average package size should take no longer than 30 minutes to unpack, acclimate and release. Please follow my acclimation procedure if this is taking you longer than 30 minutes. 

Any oddities or perceived defects do not warrant a DOA claim or refund. Things such as slightly torn fins, minor abrasions on body or eyes, unusual color or markings, uneven fin rays, and several other commonly seen issues are not considered to be a major defect or abnormality that would result in negative long-term health of the given fish even if the anomaly turns out to be permanent. Most anomalies are going to be more often seen on newly imported wild caught species. These species are not hatched in a home aquarium or cultured farm where they are culled during the growth stages for the 'perfect’ conditioned fish. Please see HERE for information regarding fish conditioning.

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