Live Fish & Plant Shipping at Aquarium Central

Introduction

Curious about how we safely deliver live fish and plants throughout Australia? Dive into the details below.

Shipping Schedule

Live Fish Orders:

  • Order Timing: Orders must be finalised by 7:00 AM Queensland time on Monday for shipping on the upcoming Wednesday. Orders placed outside this timeframe may be deferred to the following week.

  • Dispatch Days: Live fish orders are dispatched every Wednesday using our premium Next Day Service.

Live Plant Orders:

  • Order Timing: Orders must be placed by 7:00 AM Queensland time on Monday for shipment  Wednesday.

  • Dispatch Days: Live plant orders are shipped primarily on Wednesdays

  • Why This Schedule? Our live plant orders arrive at our store every Tuesday, ensuring that we ship the freshest plants possible for transit.

Public Holidays Adjustments:

  • Public Holidays: We do not ship live fish or plants after during weeks with public holidays from Tuesday through Thursday (excluding specific local/state holidays).

  • Friday Holidays: When a public holiday falls on a Friday, shipments are adjusted to Tuesday.

Shipping Costs:

  • Live Fish Shipping: A flat rate of $35.00 via Startrack/Aramex, regardless of quantity (TOLL PRIORITY excluded). Browse our Live Fish Collection.

  • Live Plant Shipping: Standard shipping rates apply. Visit our Live Plants Collection for available species.

  • Live Food Shipping: Available through our Live Food Collection.

Packing Process

Live Fish:

  • Fish Health: We guarantee healthy fish. Images on our website are for reference and may depict mature, male specimens. Fish sent may differ in size, colour, and sex, as we generally sell un-sexed fish.

  • Tracking Info: Once dispatched, our courier partners will email you a tracking number.

  • Packaging: Fish are packed in transport bags with freshwater and a specialised shipping solution. Bags are oxygenated, sealed, and placed in Styrofoam boxes to ensure warmth and safety.

Live Plants:

  • Freshness : Plants are stored in optimal conditions and shipped immediately after arriving at our store.

  • Packaging: Plants are carefully bagged to retain moisture and protect them during transit.

Delivery Requirements

  • Home Presence: Customers must be home to receive live fish deliveries. Failure to do so may void Dead On Arrival (DOA) claims.

  • Plants & Dry Goods: If no one is home, deliveries may be left in a safe place at the courier’s discretion.

Quarantine & Legal Notices

  • WA Customers: The WA Quarantine Department inspects all live fish shipments entering WA at a cost billed to the buyer (approx $70). Buyers must check import regulation. Aquarium central takes no responsability for seziers or charges

  • NT & TAS Customers: Due to quarantine restrictions, we do not ship live fish without a permit. Permit holders must email us a copy before shipping every order (permits are not kept on file).

  • Prohibited Species: Customers are responsible for knowing local import restrictions. Aquarium Central is not liable for any issues arising from prohibited items.

Fish Substitution Policy

  • Stock Availability: If your selected fish are unavailable or don’t meet our quality standards, we offer substitution options:

    • Accept Substitutions (default): We will replace unavailable items with similar or higher-value alternatives.

    • Decline Substitutions: Unavailable items will be refunded. If more than half your order is unavailable, it may be paused or fully refunded.

  • Important: We do not make phone calls for substitution approvals.

Dead On Arrival (DOA) Policy:

  • Guarantee: We guarantee live arrival of your fish. For any DOA claims, follow the instructions included in your box. Upon verification, a system credit will be issued where applicable.

  • Detailed Policy: View full DOA policy here.

Note on Fish Images:

All fish images on our website showcase mature specimens, often male. The fish you receive may differ in size, colour, and sex, as we typically sell un-sexed fish.

Conclusion

Thank you for choosing Aquarium Central! Whether you’re ordering live fish, plants, or live food, we are committed to ensuring safe and timely delivery for your aquatic needs.