Shipping policy
Arium Shipping Policy
Last updated: September 10, 2026
What We Ship & Where
We ship two categories of products with different rules:
- Live animals (fish, plants, reptiles) — shipped to the contiguous United States only via UPS carrier-calculated shipping. We do not ship live animals to Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, Canada, or France due to regulations and transit time limitations.
- Aquarium supplies & dry goods — shipped to the United States, Canada, and France via our standard delivery profiles.
Free Shipping on Supplies
Orders of $300 or more (supplies only) qualify for complimentary Express shipping at checkout. This threshold applies to non-live-animal items only.
How We Package Live Animals
Every live animal shipment is carefully prepared to maximize survival during transit:
- Insulated containers — heavy-duty styrofoam liners inside corrugated boxes retain temperature and protect against external shocks.
- Oxygenated water bags — fish and aquatic plants are individually bagged with pure oxygen to sustain them for 24–72 hours in transit.
- Temperature control — heat packs or ice packs are included seasonally based on your destination's climate at the time of shipment. We monitor weather forecasts before packing.
- Secure padding — bags are cushioned to prevent punctures and movement during handling.
Estimated Transit Times
| Shipment Type | Carrier | Estimated Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Live animals | UPS (carrier-calculated) | 1–2 business days (overnight preferred) |
| Supplies – US | Standard / Express | 3–7 business days |
| Supplies – Canada & France | International standard | 7–14 business days |
We strongly recommend selecting overnight or 1-day shipping for all live animal orders. We are not responsible for delays caused by the carrier once the package has left our facility.
Seasonal & Temperature Restrictions
To protect the health of live animals, we may hold or delay shipments during extreme weather conditions:
- Summer (June–September): We may delay shipments during heat waves when daytime temperatures exceed 95°F at your destination. We'll contact you to reschedule.
- Winter (November–March): Shipments may be held during freezes below 20°F. Heat packs are standard during cold months, but we reserve the right to delay for your animals' safety.
- Delays we initiate: You will be notified by email if we hold your shipment and given the option to wait or request a store credit.
Handling Carrier Delays
Carrier delays beyond our control (weather holds, hub backlogs, etc.) may impact live animal survival. If your live animals arrive dead-on-arrival due to a documented carrier delay, please refer to our Live Arrival Guarantee Policy for how to file a claim. Claims must be submitted within 24 hours of delivery with photo or video evidence of the deceased animal in an unopened bag.
Order Processing
Live animal orders are processed and shipped Monday through Wednesday to avoid animals sitting in carrier facilities over the weekend. Orders placed Thursday–Sunday will ship the following Monday or Tuesday. Dry goods ship within 1–3 business days of order placement.
Questions?
Contact us before placing a live animal order if you have concerns about your local temperatures or transit times. We're happy to advise the best shipping window for your region.
