Shipping policy

🐠 Shipping & Delivery Policy

Welcome to Tropicflow Aquatic! We’re committed to delivering your live fish, invertebrates, and aquatic plants safely and on time. Below is a simple guide to how we handle shipping, delivery, and care during transit.

📦 Shipping Schedule

We ship Monday through Wednesday each week (excluding federal holidays and our winter break from December 15 – January 15). This schedule helps prevent weekend transit delays and keeps your aquatic life safe.

Holiday Notice: During the busy shopping season, we pause standard shipments from mid-December through January 2026.
 
➡️ Overnight shipping is always recommended during this time.

We’re a small team and may occasionally experience short delays, but we’ll always notify you if your order needs extra time.

🧾 Order Confirmation & Tracking

  • You’ll receive an order confirmation email immediately after checkout. Please ensure your email address is correct.
  • Once your order ships, we’ll send a tracking number.
  • Some carriers (especially USPS) may not update tracking until the package is “Out for Delivery,” even though it’s already in transit.

🚚 Shipping Methods

1️⃣ Standard Shipping (USPS Priority Mail)

  • Used for most orders.
  • Best for temperatures between 50°F–90°F.
  • If USPS doesn’t deliver to your address, add a note at checkout: “Please ship via UPS.”
  • If temperatures are unsafe, your shipment will be held, and you’ll receive an update email.
  • PO Box deliveries usually experience minimal weather delays since packages stay indoors.

2️⃣ Express / Weather-Protected Shipping (USPS Priority or UPS 2-Day Air)

  • Includes extra insulation and faster delivery for extreme temperatures (below 50°F or above 90°F).
  • Recommended for high-value or weather-sensitive orders.
  • Not guaranteed overnight but prioritized to reduce DOA risk.
  • May experience short delays for new “U-Pick” releases or when restocking higher-quality fish.

3️⃣ Overnight Shipping (UPS Next Day Air)

  • Available upon request.
  • Required for larger or sensitive fish such as goldfish and flowerhorns.
  • Typically ships on Wednesdays or as needed to avoid weekend holds.
Note: “Overnight” or “Express” refers to the travel time, not same-day shipping. All fish go through a short quarantine and prep period before shipping to ensure health and safety.

🌦️ Weather-Related Delays

Your fish’s health always comes first. If there are extreme temperatures, storms, or natural disruptions, we may delay your shipment until it’s safe to send. You’ll receive an email update if this happens.

❤️ Our Promise

Each shipment is prepared with care using:

  • Oxygenated bags
  • Thermal insulation
  • Heat or cold packs as needed

We truly appreciate your patience and understanding — it allows us to make sure every fish begins its new journey healthy and strong.

💬 Questions?

We’re always happy to help!
📩 Email: tropicflow@tropicflow.com
🌐 Website: www.Tropicflow.com