How Our Shipping Works
We ship all orders on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday every week! Fish and shrimp are only shipped on Mondays and Tuesdays. For most plant and dry good orders, we ship USPS Priority or UPS Ground with tracking for our standard rate of $10.00. If your order contains fish and/or shrimp, we only ship UPS Next Day Air. If you’re in Florida, shipping is expedited and only $10.00 anywhere in the state! Shipping methods and rates are automatically calculated at check out, and rates will adjust depending on what is in your cart. We strive to keep our shipping rates as low as possible while providing excellent care and effort in our shipping practices.
Note: If the temperatures in your area are below freezing, it is best to select UPS 2 Day Air at check out so we can include a heat pack. Heat packs are free and included in all UPS 2 Day Air and Next Day Air shipments as needed.
To ensure live arrival of fish and shrimp orders, If the temperatures in your area are cooler than 40 degrees, or warmer than 90 degrees, we may delay shipping until we have a safer window. This is decided on a case-by-case basis, and you will receive an email from us if we decide to hold off on shipping for the safety of your new fish and/or shrimp!
Live Arrival Guarantee
In the event of a DOA, we will replace the affected plants or livestock and reship FOR FREE! If a DOA has occurred, please send clear photos of the affected plants or livestock in their closed shipping containers to info@dakuaquatics.com within 2 hours of the first delivery attempt and we will make it right!
When do you ship?
We ship plants and dry goods Monday, Tuesday, and Friday every week. We only ship fish and shrimp on Monday and Tuesday every week to avoid potential shipping delays.
What shipping method do you use?
For most orders we ship via USPS Priority or UPS Ground with tracking. If your order contains fish and/or shrimp, we ship UPS Next Day Air. Shipping methods and rates are automatically calculated at check out depending on what is in your cart!
Where do you ship?
We ship anywhere in the continental United States!
My package is delayed, will my order be ok?
Transit delays happen from time to time. We ship all livestock with adequate packaging to make sure that when delays occur, your shrimp, fish, and plants are protected and safe! Even with delays, we have few issues because of our thoughtful and safe shipping practices.
Do you include heat or cold packs with shipments?
We add heat and cold packs to all UPS 2 Day Air & Next Day Air orders as needed. If your temperatures are below freezing, it is best to upgrade your shipment to UPS 2 Day Air or UPS Next Day Air so we can include a heat pack.
What do you do during times of extreme weather? (hot or cold)
If the temperatures in your area are cooler than 40 degrees, or warmer than 90 degrees, we may delay shipping until we have a safer window. This is decided on a case by case basis, and you will receive an email from us if we decide to hold off on shipping for the safety of your new fish and/or shrimp!
What happens if my order arrives dead on arrival (DOA)?
In the event of a DOA, we will replace the affected plants or livestock and reship FOR FREE! If a DOA has occurred, please send clear photos of the affected plants or livestock in their closed shipping containers to info@dakuaquatics.com within 2 hours of the first delivery attempt and we will make it right!
Do you offer local pickup?
Sorry but we do not offer local pick up. Shipping is only $10 for any size order in Florida, and is usually overnight or 2 day anywhere in the state!
Once my package is received, how do I acclimate my fish and/or shrimp?
There are acclimation and care instructions in every box tailored to the livestock you ordered! We highly suggest drip acclimation, so prepare to have some airline tubing handy upon delivery of your order. There are how-to videos on YouTube if you are unsure how this process works!
Do I need to quarantine and medicate my fish, shrimp, or plants on arrival?
My fish and shrimp are homebred by me and free of disease. You do not need to medicate them. Plants may contain snails but we believe they are a fantastic addition to your tank’s ecosystem - it’s up to you if you’d like to remove them or not!
I have more questions, how can I ask them?
Please send us a message via our CONTACT US form, or by emailing info@dakuaquatics.com – We will get back to you as soon as possible!