Shipping policy

Shipping Policy
At Rare Aquatics (operated under Florida Aquatic Services LLC), we carefully pack and ship all livestock directly from our private breeding farm in Central Florida. Shipping live animals requires special care, strict schedules, and close attention to weather patterns. Please read our guidelines below to understand how your order will be handled.
1. Shipping Schedule & Order Cutoff
To prevent our fish from being trapped in transit over a weekend, we only ship live livestock on Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Order Cutoff: Orders placed by Saturday at 5:00 PM EST will ship out the following Monday or Tuesday.
  • Orders placed after this cutoff window will be held and shipped during the following week’s shipping cycle to ensure the safest possible transit window.
2. Shipping Methods & Carrier Options
We use premium, expedited carrier services to minimize time in transit:
  • Overnight Shipping (UPS / FedEx Next Day Air): Recommended for all livestock, and mandatory during peak summer or winter seasons.
  • 2-Day Expedited Shipping: Available for hardy strains, depending on your geographic region and seasonal conditions.
  • Shipping Fees: Shipping charges are calculated at checkout based on package weight and destination. All shipping costs are paid directly to the carriers and are strictly non-refundable.
3. Weather Holds & Livestock Safety
The health and safety of our animals is our number one priority.
  • We monitor national weather patterns daily. If your local overnight temperatures are below 40°F or daytime highs exceed 90°F, we reserve the right to hold your shipment until a safe weather window opens.
  • If your order is placed on a weather hold, we will notify you immediately via email (jan@aquatic-servicesllc.com) with an updated timeline.
4. Professional Packing Methods
We do not charge extra for heavy-duty insulation or seasonal packing supplies. Every livestock box is packed with:
  • Thick, custom-fit styrofoam insulation boxes.
  • Double-bagged heavy-duty shipping plastics to prevent leakage.
  • Pure oxygen inside the shipping bags.
  • Professional ambient heat packs or ice packs at no extra cost, chosen dynamically based on current weather conditions along the transit route.
5. Delivery Responsibilities & Tracking
  • Real-Time Tracking: Once your order is processed, you will receive an automated tracking email from Shopify. It is your responsibility to track the package and ensure someone is home to accept it.
  • First Delivery Attempt: To qualify for our Live Arrival Guarantee, the shipment must be accepted on the carrier's very first delivery attempt. Livestock left sitting outside exposed to the elements on a porch or mailbox will immediately void our guarantee policies.
  • Address Accuracy: Please double-check your shipping address at checkout. We cannot be held responsible for carrier delays or lost packages resulting from incorrect or incomplete addresses supplied by the buyer.