Shipping Information and Rates

Who do we ship with and why?

At Fishthoughts, we only ship with our providers of choice.  We will not ship with any other provider for any reason.  We apologize if this is an inconvenience.  We have narrowed our shipping providers down to two economical choices for 2008.  We chose to use these two providers for their loyalty, fast service, guaranteed times, and great prices for our customers.  The two providers are:

USPS (United States Postal Service)
  and
Federal Express (FedEx)

The above carriers have been our two selected this year because between the both, we have the ability to ship our Tropical Fish to customers all over the Continental United States at costs reasonable to the customer and in a timely manner.  It is because these two companies have done well with us in the past that we decided to use them as our primary shippers.

United States Postal Service (USPS) Shipping Detail

USPS is our chosen primary shipper for 2008.  Due to recent increases in prices with FedEx such as "Fuel Surcharge" and increased flat fees, we feel that USPS will be able to ship our same packages via the USPS Express method for approximately half the price, depending on the size of the order.  When choosing USPS for shipping, please keep in mind that we ONLY offer the 'Express' method which is their standard "Overnight" shipping method.  USPS Priority can take up to 2-3 days to deliver, which in most cases is too long for the fish to survive and remain healthy.  So, we limit USPS only to the Express method, which is Overnight to most areas, 2 days to remote areas.  With this method, we will be offering a live arrival guarantee on most packages.  Please see the Store Policies page for exact detailed information on the live arrival guarantee.

Federal Express (FedEx) Shipping Detail

FedEx shipping is our chosen secondary shipper for 2008.  With FedEx, we do have the option to ship Overnight or 2nd Day, both offering the live arrival guarantee during the applicable months.  While FedEx is more pricey than USPS, FedEx has superior package tracking, insurance coverage, guaranteed times and dates, and the ability to hold a package at one of their local facilities.  We do not ship Tropical Fish using any other FedEx method, such as ground or home delivery... ONLY Overnight or 2nd Day.  Please see the Store Policies page for exact detailed information on the live arrival guarantee.

Outgoing Shipping Dates

Due to the simple fact that Fishthoughts is run by two guys who work full time, our shipping dates may vary week to week.  We do not ship packages every night of the week.  If you purchase from Fishthoughts or win an online auction, or both, we will advise you on the days that we can ship out to you.  We do try to pick an evening to ship that is convenient for both us and the customer, and rarely do we find an issue with scheduling.  We will ship only Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Again, we will not ship on EVERY ONE of these days, but due to Overnight and 2nd Day availability, we can ship no later than Thursday, and can not send packages out on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Our Proven Packaging Method

You may or may not have ordered fish online before.  If you have, then you may have seen some pretty unusual packaging methods... Styrofoam boxes, leaky bags, deflated bags, dead fish, and so on.  We are here to say that WE HAVE PERFECTED a packaging method!  Through many trial runs, we have developed a fail-safe program that helps ensure the customer that they are going to get warm, live, healthy Tropical Fish when they order from Fishthoughts.  Our method is quite simple! 

First, we catch the fish you desire in one of our oversized nets.  Then, with wet hands (this is very important!) we pick the fish up out of the water and put them into the specimen container by hand so they are ready to bag.  We try at all costs NOT to let the net collapse over the fish, as handling with the bare hands is safer for the fish, reducing the stress on the fish.  Once we have your fish in the container ready for bagging, we fill the bags with water and close them tight and apply slight pressure.  This helps us detect leaky bags before they become a problem for our customers!  We throw all leaky bags away, although there aren't every many.  Once we know the bags are good, we empty them, and gently pour in the live fish.  We then add a sedative, called a 'Bag Buddy', which is a tablet that will turn the water blue in color.  This tablet helps keep the fish calm during shipping and also helps to oxygenate the water, promoting a safe and healthy trip.  We then let all of the air out of the shipping bag and fill the remainder with pure medical grade Oxygen.  This helps prolong the time the fish can stay in the bags without any harm.  Once we have the bag secured and verify again that it does not leak, we then double-bag the bag with a second bag upside down and tied up so that it eliminates corners in the bag so babies do not get stuck in corners while shipping.  This also acts as a safe guard just in case a fish does poke a hole in the first bag.  Next comes the packaging!

Once we have all your fish ready to go in bags, we select a box from many sizes that we have that will be right for your order.  READ THIS NEXT STEP, IT'S IMPORTANT!!!  Next, we line the box with "R-13", which is a FIBERGLASS house insulation by Pink Panther (Rolled Insulation).  The fiberglass resin in this stuff is ITCHY!  We advise two things when handing this stuff and also your bags of fish when you get them!!!

1) Wear gloves!  And do NOT touch your face with your hands or gloves after handling the insulation!

2) Please, using lukewarm water, rinse off the bags before you acclimate them into your aquarium to prevent any harm from resin!

The reason that we do use the R13 is because it is the best insulator and allows the heat packs to be ten times more efficient than other insulators, and also because being 3.5" thick, it provides a soft cushion for the fish in case the delivery driver hits a bump or jars the package by mistake.  Hard Styrofoam gives no protection for the bags and could result in a broken bag or damaged cargo!  We care about your fish, and want them to arrive safely!  Once the box is lined with R13, we then warm up a 40 hour heating pack when necessary (winter months).  We use 1 heat pack per box of fish, and with our insulated method, this is plenty.  Once the fish are in the box, the heat pack is in, and the top layer is on, we tape up the box and all of its open seams to fully seal in the heat during the winter months.  We then clearly mark the package with "Perishable" stickers or "Live Tropical Fish" stickers so the drivers and handlers know that they are dealing with extremely fragile and time-dependant cargo.  That's all there is to it! 

Shipping Rates / Estimates

We currently offer rates through two of the worlds most known shipping providers.  The rates are below.  We have a table set up here for estimates, as there are typically many factors that influence the charges incurred during shipping.  Please look at the map then read the chart.  These prices are on a per-box order.  USPS will be estimated here, FedEx will have to be emailed to you due to weight and dimension constraints.

Use this map to determine your state and shipping costs. Please note that all shipping prices on the chart will have a $3.75 charge included for packaging materials (Oxygen, heat packs, insulation, boxes)

Each region has a set shipping price via both methods. This is set at a box size of   14"x14"x14" and a volumetric weight of 15.00 lbs (US).   As you can see based on this information, USPS Express is our #1 choice for shipping in 2008!  We can ship with FedEx if you would like or if you have a FedEx Account Number you want us to bill it to.  No other carriers are supported.

*Shipping charges may vary based on actual weight. Please contact us for an actual shipping estimate based on your actual order.