• Shipping

Shipping

Shipping & Livestock Policy

We ship orders across Australia using trusted courier partners to ensure your products and livestock arrive safely and quickly.

Shipping methods and conditions vary depending on the type of items ordered. Please read the information below carefully before placing your order.

1. Dry Goods (Non-Livestock Products)

Dry goods include aquarium equipment, foods, treatments, accessories, and other non-live items.

Standard Shipping

Flat Rate $14

Conditions:

  • Valid for orders up to 10kg total weight. Freight for orders in excess of 10kg will be calculated automatically upon check out

  • Orders are shipped via tracked courier services

  • Orders are dispatched once all items are available

  • We do not split orders unless additional shipping is paid

  • Regional or remote areas may incur additional shipping charges. Adjusted freight is calculated automatically upon check out 

  • Items marked “Pick Up Only” cannot be shipped

  • Items exceeding 105cm in length (including packaging) is classed as oversized and may incur additional freight charges

  • We are unable to ship fish tanks. We can arrange a third party delivery for local buyers. 

Express Shipping

Flat Rate $18

Conditions:

  • Valid for orders up to 5kg total weight

  • Sent via Express Post with tracking

  • Orders are dispatched once all items are available

  • Partial shipments may incur additional postage fees

  • Regional or remote areas may incur additional shipping charges calculated upon check out

  • Items marked “Pick Up Only” cannot be shipped

2. Live Plants & Live Food

Live plants and live foods are shipped via Express shipping only to ensure freshness and health during transport.

Express Shipping

Flat Rate $18

Conditions:

  • Shipped via Express Post with tracking

  • Customers are responsible for tracking their shipment and ensuring someone is available to receive the delivery upon arrival. Live plants and live food are perishable items and should be unpacked as soon as possible after delivery.

    We are not responsible for losses or damage resulting from:

    • Delayed collection after delivery

    • Parcels left unattended

    • Failed delivery attempts

    • Incorrect shipping addresses provided by the customer

    Our responsibility for the shipment ends once the parcel has been delivered by the courier.

  • Please ensure Express Shipping is selected at checkout

  • Due to quarantine restrictions, we cannot ship live plants to Western Australia (WA) or Tasmania (TAS)

  • Combined Orders - Dry goods may be combined with live plants or live food in the same order provided Express Shipping is selected. 

  • If any live plants are out of stock, your order will be held until all items become available so they can be shipped together.

3. Livestock (Fish, Corals & Invertebrates)

Live aquatic animals require specialised handling and transport to ensure their safety.

All livestock is packed using professional insulated packaging, oxygenated bags and appropriate protection to ensure the highest survival rate during transport.

Shipping Schedule

To minimise the risk of delays, livestock shipments are dispatched on Tuesday only.

Orders placed later in the week may be scheduled for shipment the following week to avoid weekend courier delays.

Livestock Shipping Options

Door-to-Door Delivery (Metro Areas Only) via StarTrack Express

$35 per insulated livestock box (up to 5kg)

Conditions:

  • Available only for metro delivery areas

  • Not available for sensitive or risky livestock

  • Tracking provided upon dispatch

  • Someone must be available to receive the shipment immediately

Airport-to-Airport Delivery (Remote Areas and Sensitive Animals)

Customers located outside metro areas may use our airport cargo service.

Customers must collect the shipment from their nearest airport cargo terminal.

Pricing:

  • $100 per box (up to 5kg)

  • $150 per box (5kg – 20kg)

Our team will contact you to confirm the nearest available airport collection point.

Live Arrival Guarantee

We guarantee that all livestock shipped via our approved courier services will arrive alive at the time of delivery or collection, provided all claim requirements are followed.

This guarantee applies to Freshwater fish, Marine fish, Corals, Invertebrates.

DOA (Dead On Arrival) Claims

In the unlikely event that livestock arrives deceased, customers must follow the steps below.

Claim Requirements

  1. Claims must be submitted within 2 hours of delivery or airport collection.

  2. Livestock must remain in the original unopened shipping bag.

  3. Clear photographs must be provided showing:

    • The deceased livestock inside the sealed bag

    • The entire bag with our label visible

    • The shipping box and courier label

  1. Claims must be submitted via email to support@aquaristiconline.com.au with subject headline: DOA CLAIM Order Number AQ######.

Failure to follow all claim requirements will result in the claim being void.

Approved Claims

If a claim is approved, we will provide at our discretion Store credit or Replacement livestock (subject to availability)

Shipping fees are non-refundable and not covered by the DOA guarantee.

Situations Not Covered by the DOA Guarantee

The Live Arrival Guarantee does not apply in the following situations:

  • Claims submitted after the allowed claim period

  • Livestock removed from the shipping bag before photos are taken

  • Missing or unclear photographic evidence

  • Delivery delays caused by courier services

  • Customer unavailable to receive the shipment

  • Packages left unattended after delivery

  • Incorrect shipping details provided by the customer

  • Failure to collect airport shipments promptly

  • Losses occurring after acclimation or after introduction to the aquarium

Safe Delivery Requirement

Customers are responsible for ensuring livestock shipments are received immediately upon delivery.

Livestock must not be left unattended outdoors or in mailboxes.

The Live Arrival Guarantee will be void if:

  • The shipment is delivered but not collected promptly

  • The parcel is left unattended

  • Delivery fails due to no one being available to receive the package

For airport cargo shipments, livestock must be collected as soon as possible after arrival notification.

Weather & Temperature Protection

We reserve the right to delay livestock shipments if weather conditions are considered unsafe, including Heatwaves, Extreme cold temperatures, Severe storms, Transport disruptions.

This policy protects the health and survival of the animals.

Orders delayed due to weather cannot be cancelled or refunded but will be rescheduled for the next safe shipping date.

Courier Delays

While we work with reliable courier partners, delivery times are not guaranteed and may be affected by Weather disruptions, Airline delays, Courier operational issues, Peak shipping periods.

Once the shipment has been dispatched, delivery is outside our control.

We will assist with tracking and courier enquiries where possible, but we cannot guarantee compensation for courier delays.

Livestock Health Disclaimer

Once livestock has been removed from the shipping bag and introduced into your aquarium, responsibility for the animal transfers to the customer.

We cannot be responsible for losses caused by:

  • Improper acclimation

  • Poor water quality

  • Incompatible tank mates

  • Aggression from other fish

  • Stress from transport

  • Aquarium conditions outside our control

Customers are responsible for ensuring their aquarium is fully cycled and suitable for the species ordered. Customers are responsible for researching and understanding the care requirements, behaviour, and compatibility of any livestock purchased.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Fish temperament and aggression levels

  • Compatibility with existing tank mates

  • Aquarium size requirements

  • Water parameters and environmental conditions

  • Feeding and long-term care requirements

Right to Delay or Cancel Shipment

We reserve the right to delay or cancel livestock shipments if conditions may compromise the welfare of the animals.

This may include Extreme weather, Courier disruptions, Biosecurity restrictions,Livestock health concerns.

If this occurs, we will contact you to reschedule your shipment.

Agreement to Policy

By purchasing from our store, you acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this Shipping & Livestock Policy, including the Live Arrival Guarantee and DOA Claim Requirements.