How to Order Live Saltwater Fish Online

Who would have ever thought that you could have live saltwater fish delivered right to your door? You can actually get even higher quality fish through online delivery than you can sometimes get at your local store, and the prices are usually very fair. With many online fish stores, you’ll want to have the most knowledge you can have when making a purchase.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer with Internet connection
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Instructions

    • 1

      Do your research. Make sure to look at extra charges such as shipping and delivery. Most saltwater fish companies charge a fee for overnight shipping, since your fish will need to be at their delivery spot as soon as possible. Most also have a minimum order you’ll need to place before they will send out a shipment. Always get the total for your order before deciding it fits your budget. You might have $100 in fish but need an additional $50 for shipping so if your budget is only $100, you’ll need to keep that in mind when making purchases (see Resources below).

    • 2

      Check compatibility in fish. You will want to order fish for your tank that is compatible with the environment they will be placed into. You can usually look at the online page where the fish is located and see any issues with other fish, your reef tank and invertebrates or corals. Always check to see if the fish you are looking at can be placed in pairs or with other fish that you may already have or want to purchase.

    • 3

      Check out the return policy. Most online fish stores have a return policy and each have specific requirements should you need to use this function. For instance, some will have you send the deceased fish back to them and they will replace it or issue store credit. Some have a certain period that they will accept fish for return. Usually you will have a live guarantee, which means that the fish are guaranteed to show up at your doorstep alive and healthy. Then they will have a specific day guarantee for your fish to live. For example, you will have 7 days from the time of delivery that your fish are guaranteed to live as long as you followed all acclimation rules.

    • 4

      Know how to acclimate your new fish. You will have to acclimate your new fish to their surroundings in your tank. Each online fish store will have acclimation procedures that you must follow to ensure the health of your fish. These can also be found in the delivery package. You must follow these procedures, since the fish store knows that these are procedures that work. It’s important, too, in case you need to return a fish for credit.