Terms of service

Shipping Policy

Last Updated: August 17, 2026

At Island Reef Aquatics, we take great care in preparing and packaging every order. Live aquatic animals require specialized handling, and our shipping procedures are designed to help livestock arrive safely and minimize unnecessary time in transit.

This Shipping Policy applies to orders placed through the Island Reef Aquatics website.

Live Livestock Shipping

Live livestock includes:

Corals
WYSIWYG corals
Fish
Shrimp, crabs, snails, urchins, starfish, and other invertebrates
Anemones
Other live aquatic animals

Unless otherwise stated at checkout, livestock orders are shipped using an overnight delivery service.

Available shipping methods, rates, and any applicable free-shipping promotions will be displayed at checkout.

Shipping charges are based on the order, destination, shipping method, and any applicable promotions.

Livestock Shipping Days

Live livestock is shipped on designated shipping days to reduce the risk of animals being delayed in transit or held at carrier facilities over weekends or holidays.

We may delay shipment when necessary because of:

Weekends
Carrier holidays
Severe weather
Extreme temperatures
Major carrier delays
Natural disasters
Operational disruptions
Other conditions that may place livestock at unnecessary risk

The health and safety of the livestock takes priority over the originally requested shipping date.

When practical, we will contact you if your shipment needs to be significantly delayed.

Delivery Date Requests

Customers may request a preferred livestock delivery date when that option is available.

Requested dates are not guaranteed until confirmed by Island Reef Aquatics.

We reserve the right to adjust a shipping or delivery date when weather, carrier conditions, livestock health, holidays, or other circumstances make shipment unsafe or impractical.

Weather & Temperature

Island Reef Aquatics monitors weather conditions when preparing livestock shipments.

Heat packs, cold packs, insulation, and other appropriate packaging methods may be used when we determine they are necessary.

We reserve the right to postpone a livestock shipment if temperatures or weather conditions at the origin, destination, or carrier hub create an unreasonable risk to the animals.

There is no additional charge when we choose to delay an order for livestock safety.

Receiving Your Livestock

Customers are responsible for monitoring their tracking information and making arrangements to receive livestock promptly.

We strongly recommend that someone be available when the shipment is delivered.

Once delivered:

Bring the package indoors promptly.
Inspect the shipment.
Follow appropriate acclimation procedures.
Contact Island Reef Aquatics immediately if there is a problem.

Leaving livestock outdoors after delivery, particularly during extreme temperatures, may affect eligibility under our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Eligible livestock shipments are protected by the Island Reef Aquatics Live Arrival Guarantee.

If livestock arrives deceased, you must contact us within 2 hours of the carrier's documented delivery time and provide the photographs, videos, and information required under our Refund, Return & Live Arrival Policy.

Please review our complete Refund, Return & Live Arrival Policy for claim requirements, exclusions, and available remedies.

Carrier Delays

Although overnight shipping is used for livestock, carriers may occasionally experience delays outside of our control.

A carrier delay does not automatically void our Live Arrival Guarantee.

If your shipment is delayed, continue monitoring the tracking information and contact us if you have concerns.

Do not refuse the package because it is late. Many aquatic animals can remain safely packaged longer than expected when properly prepared.

Once the package arrives, bring it inside promptly and follow the normal inspection and acclimation process.

Incorrect Addresses

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address when placing an order.

Please verify your:

Name
Street address
Apartment or unit number, when applicable
City
State
ZIP code
Phone number
Email address

Once an order has shipped, we may not be able to modify the delivery address.

Our Live Arrival Guarantee may not apply when a delivery problem results from an incorrect or incomplete address provided by the customer.

Additional shipping charges resulting from an incorrect customer-provided address may be the customer's responsibility.

Missed Deliveries

Customers are responsible for being available to receive their livestock shipment when necessary.

Island Reef Aquatics is not responsible for delays caused by:

Missed delivery attempts
Refused packages
Inaccessible delivery locations
Incorrect gate or access information
Customer-requested delivery changes after shipment
Incorrect or incomplete addresses

These circumstances may affect eligibility under our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Carrier Hold / Pickup Locations

In certain weather conditions or circumstances, having a livestock package held at an authorized carrier location for customer pickup may be safer than residential delivery.

If you would like your shipment held for pickup, please contact Island Reef Aquatics before the order ships.

Do not independently redirect or reroute a livestock shipment after it has shipped without contacting us first.

Unauthorized rerouting or delivery changes may delay the shipment and may affect Live Arrival Guarantee coverage.

Combining Orders

If you place multiple orders before your scheduled shipping date, contact us as soon as possible if you would like them combined.

We will make reasonable efforts to combine eligible orders when possible.

Combining orders is not guaranteed, particularly if an order has already been packed or processed.

If orders can be combined, any shipping adjustment or credit will be determined by Island Reef Aquatics based on the circumstances of the orders.

WYSIWYG Orders

WYSIWYG means "What You See Is What You Get."

Unless otherwise stated, the individual coral shown in a WYSIWYG listing is the specimen that will be shipped to the purchaser.

Because WYSIWYG livestock is unique, availability of an identical replacement cannot be guaranteed in the event of an approved claim.

Livestock & Equipment in the Same Order

Livestock and aquarium equipment or dry goods may be shipped separately when necessary.

Live animals will not be packaged in a manner that we believe could compromise their safety simply to combine an order into one shipment.

Customers may therefore receive multiple tracking numbers for an order containing both livestock and dry goods.

Equipment & Dry Goods Shipping

Equipment, supplies, and other non-livestock products may be shipped using standard or expedited shipping services depending on the item and shipping method selected at checkout.

Dry goods may ship separately from livestock.

Estimated delivery dates for dry goods are estimates and are not guaranteed unless specifically stated otherwise.

Some oversized, heavy, drop-shipped, or special-order products may require additional shipping time or charges.

If additional charges are necessary before an order can be fulfilled, we will contact you before proceeding.

Damaged Dry Goods

Please inspect equipment and dry goods promptly after delivery.

If an item arrives damaged, contact Island Reef Aquatics within 48 hours of delivery.

Please retain:

The product
Original shipping box
Internal packaging
Shipping label
All accessories and components

We may request photographs of the packaging and product to process the claim.

Please see our Refund & Return Policy for additional information.

Tracking Information

Tracking information will be provided when available after an order has been prepared for shipment.

Customers are responsible for monitoring tracking information after shipment.

Carrier tracking estimates may change while a package is in transit and do not constitute a guaranteed delivery time unless specifically guaranteed by the carrier service being used.

Shipping Restrictions

Island Reef Aquatics currently ships only to locations that we are legally and operationally able to service.

Certain livestock may be restricted from shipment to particular states, territories, or jurisdictions.

We reserve the right to cancel or modify an order when shipping the purchased livestock would violate federal, state, or local law or when we determine that safe delivery cannot reasonably be completed.

Any applicable refund for a canceled order will be processed according to our Refund & Return Policy.

Local Pickup

Local pickup may be available for eligible orders when offered at checkout.

Customers will be notified when their order is ready for pickup.

Please do not arrive to pick up an online order until you have received confirmation that the order is ready.

Livestock should be transported directly to its destination after pickup and should not be left inside a vehicle or exposed to extreme temperatures.

Once livestock has been accepted and leaves our possession, it is considered a local/in-store livestock purchase and is subject to our Refund, Return & Live Arrival Policy.

Order Processing

Processing times may vary depending on livestock availability, order volume, weather, holidays, and other circumstances.

Placing an order does not guarantee that it will ship the same day or the following business day.

Livestock may also be held temporarily if we determine that additional observation is appropriate before shipment.

Shipping Charges

Shipping charges are displayed at checkout based on the shipping options available for your order.

Unless otherwise provided under our policies, original shipping charges are non-refundable.

If an approved livestock claim results in a replacement animal being shipped separately, additional shipping charges may apply.

Questions About Shipping

If you have questions about an upcoming shipment, delivery date, weather conditions, or an existing order, please contact Island Reef Aquatics through the Contact Us section of our website.

Please include your name and order number when contacting us about an existing order.

Island Reef Aquatics reserves the right to update this Shipping Policy at any time. The policy in effect when an order is placed will apply to that order.