Last updated: July 2026

At BARCK Aquatics, we take the safe arrival of every living creature seriously. Our packaging, carrier selection, and shipping protocols are designed to give your order the best possible chance of arriving healthy and thriving.

Shipping Destinations

We currently ship within the United States only. We do not offer international shipping at this time. Stay tuned — we're working on expanding our reach.

Shipping Rates by Product Category

How We Ship Live Animals

We treat every shipment like it's our own fish. Here's what goes into every live animal order:

• Insulated packaging — All live animals are packed in insulated boxes with breathable, fish-safe bags to maintain stable water conditions during transit.
• Oxygen breathable-sealed bags — Animals are bagged and oxygen-breathable bags to maximize survival during shipping.
  • Breathable Bag Technology: Live livestock is packed in specialized micro-porous membrane bags that continuously exchange gases through the bag walls. Fresh oxygen enters while harmful carbon dioxide escapes, maintaining optimal water quality throughout transit.

  • Reduced Transport Stress: Unlike traditional bags that require a large air pocket, breathable bags are filled completely with water. This prevents water sloshing, giving your shipment a smooth, low-stress ride during transit.

• Carrier selection — We ship live animals via USPS Priority Mail (Standard, 2–3 day) or UPS (carrier-calculated, expedited options available) to minimize time in transit.

Important: For live animals in most cases priority mail is adequate as medaka and shrimp ship well and we take care in our packaging. Expedited shipping is available if desired, but typically this is unnecessary.  

Estimated Delivery Times

Delivery times vary by region. Below are general estimates once your order has shipped:

Transit times are estimates and not guaranteed. Weather delays, carrier disruptions, and holidays may affect delivery.

We ship live animals Monday through Wednesday only to avoid packages sitting in carrier facilities over the weekend. Orders placed Thursday–Sunday will ship the following Monday or Tuesday.

Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy

We stand behind every living creature we ship. If your order arrives with deceased animals, here's what to do:

Eligibility

DOA claims are valid if:

• The animal(s) are reported within 1.5 hours of confirmed delivery (per carrier tracking).
• You provide clear photo or video evidence of the deceased animal(s) still in the unopened or just-opened bag.
• The package was received on the first delivery attempt (we cannot cover DOA for packages held at a facility or re-delivered).

How to File a DOA Claim

1. Photograph or video the deceased animal(s) immediately upon opening — include the bag, water, and animal clearly visible.
2. Email us at [your support email] with your order number, photos/video, and a brief description.
3. We will respond within 1–2 business days with a resolution — typically a store credit, replacement shipment, or refund at our discretion.

What We Cannot Cover

• Deaths that occur after acclimation to your tank.
• Losses due to improper acclimation (please follow our acclimation guide).
• Orders where delivery was refused, delayed by the recipient, or held at a facility.
• Extreme weather events outside our control.

Order Processing Times

• Live animals & perishables: Orders processed within 1–3 business days.
• Non-perishable items (decals, food, dry goods): Processed within 1–3 business days.

Weather & Seasonal Holds

During extreme heat (above 95°F) or extreme cold (below 20°F) in your region or ours, we may place a voluntary weather hold on live animal shipments to protect the animals. You'll be notified by email if this applies to your order. We appreciate your patience — it's always about the animals health first.

Questions?

If you have any questions about your shipment, please visit our FAQ page or contact us at [your support email]. We're a small, passionate team and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

BARCK Aquatics — Shipped with care, every time.