Shipping policy

Shipping Policy

Last updated: 29 April 2026

At Tropical Fish Co, we specialise in shipping live aquatic animals safely. Every live order is packed with insulated packaging, oxygen bags, and temperature support where needed, then sent using tracked UK courier delivery.

Delivery Area

We deliver to most UK mainland addresses.

Some postcodes may not be suitable for live-fish delivery because they are outside our courier’s live-animal network or require longer transit times. This can include parts of the Scottish Highlands, remote rural areas, islands, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.

If we cannot safely deliver live animals to your postcode, we will contact you and either agree an alternative arrangement or cancel and refund the order.

Delivery Cost

Live fish delivery is charged at a flat rate of £20.

This covers the courier, insulated box, oxygen bags, heat packs where needed, and packing materials. We combine items into one shipment wherever possible.

Dispatch Days

Live fish are normally dispatched on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for delivery on Wednesday or Thursday.

We do not dispatch live fish for weekend transit. This avoids parcels being held at depots over Saturday or Sunday.

Your exact delivery day will be confirmed by email once your order is prepared.

Tracking

You will receive tracking details by email once your order has been dispatched. Tracking usually updates during the evening of the dispatch day.

Please follow the tracking closely and make sure someone is available to receive the parcel.

Someone Must Be Home

Someone must be at the delivery address to receive live animals on the first delivery attempt.

Live fish cannot be left:

on a doorstep,
in a safe place,
with a neighbour,
outside in hot or cold weather,
unopened for several hours.

If no one is available and the parcel is delayed or returned to the depot, the Live Arrival Guarantee may not apply.

Packaging

Live fish are packed in sealed transport bags with oxygen, then placed in insulated packaging to help maintain a safe temperature during transit.

Depending on the weather, we may include heat packs or delay dispatch if conditions are unsafe.

Weather Delays

We may delay dispatch during extreme cold, heat, storms, courier disruption, or any other condition that could put livestock at risk.

If this happens, we will contact you and move your order to the next safe dispatch window.

Adding to an Existing Order

If you want to add more items to an order that has not yet dispatched, place a new order and contact us as soon as possible.

Where possible, we will combine both orders into one shipment so you do not pay extra shipping.

Damaged, Delayed, or DOA Orders

Every live order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

If livestock arrives dead, dying, or clearly compromised, contact us the same day with your order number and a continuous unboxing video showing the sealed parcel being opened and the livestock still inside the sealed bag.

WhatsApp is fastest: +44 7464 593131
Email: hello@tropicalfishco.co.uk