Shipping policy
Shipping rates
Flat rate: $20 Australia-wide
Every livestock order is shipped express so your livestock arrives as quickly as possible. Most East Coast orders arrive within 1 to 3 business days.
Where I ship
I ship livestock (fish, shrimp, plants, and live food) to the East Coast of Australia: Queensland (QLD), New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC), Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and South Australia (SA).
I am unable to ship live fish, plants, and shrimp to WA, NT, or TAS due to biosecurity and state restrictions. If you are in one of these states and are after non-livestock items (essentials, botanicals, accessories), email me at elyza@handpickedaquatics.com and I will sort it out for you.
How I pack your order
Every order is hand-packed by me. Each fish and shrimp is individually health-checked before packing. Livestock is packed in breather bags that maintain oxygen levels during transit. I use insulated packaging with heat or cold packs depending on the season. Plants are wrapped carefully to prevent damage. Everything is packed to minimise stress and maximise survival.
I do not cut corners. These are living creatures and I want them to arrive healthy and happy.
Weather holds
Because I am shipping live animals, the weather matters. If there is extreme heat or severe weather between my location and yours, I may contact you to hold your order until conditions are safe for shipping. I would rather delay your order by a day or two than risk your animals arriving stressed or worse. I will always keep you updated if this happens.
100% live arrival guarantee
Every order comes with a 100% live arrival guarantee on all fish, plants, and other aquatic life.
In the unfortunate event that something in your order arrives dead or is missing:
- Take a photo of the animal in the shipping bag (this is important, I need to see the original packaging)
- Email the photo and your order details to elyza@handpickedaquatics.com
- Contact me within 24 hours of your order arriving
- I will arrange a refund or replacement at my discretion
Please note that shipping costs are non-refundable.
Acclimation
How you introduce your new arrivals to your tank is just as important as how they are shipped. I have put together a detailed acclimation guide to give your fish and shrimp the best start:
How to acclimate your fish and shrimp
Questions?
Not sure if I can ship to your area, or have questions about how your order will be packed? Just email me at elyza@handpickedaquatics.com, I am happy to help.