Shipping Live animals

[CaptClay]

What is everyone's experience with shipping live animals when they arrive late by a day? 24 hour shipping turns into 48 hours. Do they arrive alive?
I have an order from Reef Beauties and its stuck in Memphis, TN

 

[Üter]

I think it really depends on where they are kept during the delay and the current environmental conditions. out in the truck on a hot day or freezing temps? Also depends on the animals.

 

[Hakon]

They MIGHT survive, depends a lot on the animals and the precautions taken, in my experience shipping anything even 24 hours drastically ups the chance of it arriving dead, I used to work in a pet store when I was in college and something most consumers don't see is the number of dead animals that arrive and just get disposed of, what's in the store are the survivors of the shipping process, there's always a percentage that don't make it and are written off as cost of doing business, this is across fish small mammals amphibians and reptiles.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Very situational, hoping they make it!

 

[CaptClay]

They MIGHT survive, depends a lot on the animals and the precautions taken, in my experience shipping anything even 24 hours drastically ups the chance of it arriving dead, I used to work in a pet store when I was in college and something most consumers don't see is the number of dead animals that arrive and just get disposed of, what's in the store are the survivors of the shipping process, there's always a percentage that don't make it and are written off as cost of doing business, this is across fish small mammals amphibians and reptiles.

I bet. I just wish thee was a better way. I hate for them to die.

 

[mfinn]

I bet. I just wish thee was a better way. I hate for them to die.

I'd say 50/50. I've had shipments delayed in the past. Some do make it.
Now you see the importance of looking at the vendors rep here on R2R and looking at the replacement guarantees of the vendor.
And it pays to pay attention to the weather at the major shipping hubs.
Most vendors will hold a item if shipping conditions look bad.
Plus this shows you why it's risky to have livestock shipped to you on a Friday.

Hope you get lucky.

 

[CopepodsForSale]

Memphis is the main FedEx hub so delays there are super common, and the good news is most shipments still arrive alive even at 48 hours if the vendor packed well (heat or cool pack depending on season, oxygen in the bag, insulated box).

A few things that actually matter once it gets there:

1. Skip the long drip acclimation if it's been 48+ hours. Ammonia builds up in the bag but stays trapped in toxic form because shipping water acidifies (low pH = NH4+, less harmful). The second you start dripping fresh tank water in, you raise the pH and convert it to NH3 which is what actually kills the fish. For delayed shipments, do a quick temperature float (15 min), then net the fish straight into clean QT water. Dump the bag water.

2. Take photos and a quick video the moment the box opens, before you do anything else. Most vendors require this for DOA claims and the timestamp matters.

3. File a FedEx GSR (money back guarantee) claim within 15 days if it was a guaranteed service. They'll refund the shipping cost which the vendor can credit back to you. A lot of people don't know this exists.

4. Hardier stuff (most snails, shrimp, hardy fish like clowns and damsels) handles 48 hours much better than sensitive species (anthias, wrasses, anything from deep water).

Reef Beauties has a decent rep so they probably packed it well. Fingers crossed for you!

 

[CaptClay]

I'd say 50/50. I've had shipments delayed in the past. Some do make it.
Now you see the importance of looking at the vendors rep here on R2R and looking at the replacement guarantees of the vendor.
And it pays to pay attention to the weather at the major shipping hubs.
Most vendors will hold a item if shipping conditions look bad.
Plus this shows you why it's risky to have livestock shipped to you on a Friday.

Hope you get lucky.

No weather issues. The plane from LA was late and missed the next flight. No concern with Friday. Shipment spoused to arrive Wednesday, now delayed until Thursday.
Who said i didn't look at the replacement guarantees?

 

[CaptClay]

Memphis is the main FedEx hub so delays there are super common, and the good news is most shipments still arrive alive even at 48 hours if the vendor packed well (heat or cool pack depending on season, oxygen in the bag, insulated box).

A few things that actually matter once it gets there:

1. Skip the long drip acclimation if it's been 48+ hours. Ammonia builds up in the bag but stays trapped in toxic form because shipping water acidifies (low pH = NH4+, less harmful). The second you start dripping fresh tank water in, you raise the pH and convert it to NH3 which is what actually kills the fish. For delayed shipments, do a quick temperature float (15 min), then net the fish straight into clean QT water. Dump the bag water.

2. Take photos and a quick video the moment the box opens, before you do anything else. Most vendors require this for DOA claims and the timestamp matters.

3. File a FedEx GSR (money back guarantee) claim within 15 days if it was a guaranteed service. They'll refund the shipping cost which the vendor can credit back to you. A lot of people don't know this exists.

4. Hardier stuff (most snails, shrimp, hardy fish like clowns and damsels) handles 48 hours much better than sensitive species (anthias, wrasses, anything from deep water).

Reef Beauties has a decent rep so they probably packed it well. Fingers crossed for you!

Thank you for this info. Was unaware to skip the drip process for the fish. Didn't know it would convert to NH3. I plan to freshwater dip. I'm guess is place the fish in the QT tank, then freshwater drip in a few days to lower the fish stress level?

 

[MC Blowfish]

I had a fish get stuck in Memphis last year and unfortunately it didn't make it. But I have read success stories and I hope your animal arrives fine.

 

[mfinn]

No weather issues. The plane from LA was late and missed the next flight. No concern with Friday. Shipment spoused to arrive Wednesday, now delayed until Thursday.
Who said i didn't look at the replacement guarantees?

Just all points for everyone to look at.
I was not aiming anything at you.
Hope this turns out well for you.

 

[BryanM]

What is everyone's experience with shipping live animals when they arrive late by a day? 24 hour shipping turns into 48 hours. Do they arrive alive?
I have an order from Reef Beauties and its stuck in Memphis, TN

I have had at least 3 shipments delayed by a day.

It is hit or miss. The most important part is if the temp stays correct in the box.

I've had most of the stuff survive, but definitely lost a few items too.

 

[Largeangels]

Yes, don't FW dip an already stressed fish. FW dips are only good for temporary relief anyways. I wouldn't do a FW dip unless for temporary relief of a known parasite.

 

[CaptClay]

The box arrived today. Everything was alive. Lets see how the next few days go.