Shipping Info

Last Updated: September 30, 2026

Aqua SD ships live coral, fish, and marine invertebrates with the safety of the animals as our priority. This page explains how shipping works, how to qualify for free shipping, how combined orders are handled, how to schedule delivery, and what to expect once your shipment is on the way.

Whenever possible, Aqua SD uses overnight service so live animals can travel from our facility to your door in roughly a 12-hour transit window. Shipping costs help cover expedited carrier service, insulated packaging, temperature management, and careful preparation needed to transport marine livestock safely.

How Aqua SD Shipping Works

After purchasing your livestock, your order can either be scheduled for shipment, held while you continue shopping, combined with qualifying purchases from other Aqua SD sales channels, or arranged for local pickup.

Before an order is scheduled, applicable shipping must be paid or the order must qualify under the current Aqua SD free-shipping policy.

Once your shipment is scheduled, Aqua SD prepares the livestock as close to carrier pickup as reasonably possible to reduce the amount of time live animals spend inside the shipping container.

Why We Use Overnight Shipping

Corals, fish, and marine invertebrates are living animals and should not be treated like ordinary merchandise.

Whenever possible, Aqua SD ships livestock using expedited overnight service so the package can travel from our facility to the customer in approximately a 12-hour transit window.

This minimizes the amount of time the livestock spends in a sealed shipping environment and gives the animals the best reasonable chance of arriving safely.

The shipping price is therefore primarily for the safety of the livestock, not simply the transportation of a box.

Shipping Days

Aqua SD's standard livestock shipping days are Monday through Thursday.

Shipping availability may vary based on destination, carrier service, holidays, weather, order volume, livestock condition, and other operational factors.

Minimum Shipped Order

Aqua SD generally requires at least $100 in qualifying merchandise for a shipped livestock order unless otherwise approved by Aqua SD.

Free Shipping Policy

Free shipping eligibility is based on qualifying merchandise totals and where the purchases were made.

Aqua SD may verify combined totals using its internal order records before approving free shipping.

Website Orders

Orders placed directly through AquaSD.com can be shipped, held for an eligible period, combined with qualifying auction-platform purchases, or arranged for local pickup.

Website-only orders qualify for free shipping when qualifying merchandise reaches $350.

Whatnot Orders

Purchases made through Whatnot may be held and combined with eligible Aqua SD purchases during the applicable hold period.

Whatnot may display shipping differently from Aqua SD's required live-livestock shipping process. A Whatnot purchase showing low-cost or free platform shipping does not necessarily mean that Aqua SD overnight livestock shipping has been purchased.

Where required, purchase the appropriate Aqua SD shipping module when you are ready to schedule your shipment.

Whatnot-only purchases qualify for Aqua SD free shipping when qualifying merchandise reaches $500.

Palmstreet Orders

Palmstreet purchases may be held and combined with qualifying Aqua SD purchases during the applicable hold period.

Where shipping is not already paid or the order does not qualify for free shipping, the applicable Aqua SD shipping module must be purchased before shipment is scheduled.

Palmstreet-only purchases qualify for Aqua SD free shipping when qualifying merchandise reaches $500.

Combining Orders

Aqua SD can often combine eligible purchases from AquaSD.com, Whatnot, and Palmstreet into one livestock shipment.

Customers should use matching contact information whenever possible and provide platform usernames, order numbers, names, and email addresses when requested.

Combined orders remain subject to the applicable hold period and free-shipping requirements.

Shipping Modules

A shipping module is used when live-livestock shipping has not otherwise been paid or qualified for free shipping.

Unless otherwise stated, only one applicable shipping module is required for a properly combined shipment.

If you are unsure whether shipping has already been paid, contact Aqua SD before purchasing another module.

Holding Your Order

Aqua SD allows eligible livestock purchases to be held for a limited period so customers can continue shopping and combine additional purchases.

Unless otherwise arranged, the standard hold period is up to 3 weeks.

Orders held beyond the applicable period may no longer be guaranteed to remain available, and additional terms may apply to abandoned or unclaimed livestock.

Scheduling Your Delivery

Once your order is complete and shipping is paid or the applicable free-shipping threshold has been reached, contact Aqua SD with your preferred arrival date.

We will do our best to accommodate the requested date, but shipment dates remain subject to livestock condition, carrier service, holidays, weather, and operational availability.

The standard cut-off for a requested ship-out date is 12:00 PM Pacific Time.

Saturday Delivery

Saturday delivery may be available for qualifying destinations for an additional $25 charge.

Saturday service is dependent on the destination and available carrier service.

Tracking Your Package

Tracking information is normally provided electronically once the shipment has been prepared and the carrier label has been created.

Customers should monitor tracking closely on the scheduled arrival date and be available to receive the package as soon as possible.

Weather & Carrier Delays

Aqua SD may postpone shipment when extreme heat, cold, storms, carrier disruptions, or other conditions create an unreasonable risk to livestock.

If a carrier advises that expected delivery may take significantly longer than normal, Aqua SD may reschedule the shipment to protect the animals.

Aqua SD cannot control carrier routing, mechanical delays, weather disruptions, or other events occurring after a shipment has been transferred to the carrier.

Carrier Holds

Direct delivery to the approved shipping address is generally recommended for live livestock.

If a customer requests that a package be held at a carrier facility, the package should be collected promptly after it becomes available.

A carrier hold lasting more than 6 hours after the package becomes available for pickup may affect Live Arrival Guarantee eligibility.

Incorrect Addresses

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address before shipment.

Aqua SD is not responsible for delays, livestock mortality, additional carrier fees, or other consequences caused by an incorrect or incomplete address provided by the customer.

Local Pickup

Local customers may arrange pickup for eligible orders at Aqua SD.

Please wait until your order has been confirmed as ready before arriving for pickup.

Customers should inspect livestock before leaving whenever reasonably possible.

When Your Package Arrives

Open the package promptly and inspect all livestock as soon as possible.

If you believe livestock arrived dead or there is another order issue, photograph the affected livestock and packaging before discarding anything.

DOA claims must be reported with the required photographs within 2 hours of confirmed delivery.

Full claim requirements are available in the Aqua SD Refund & Guarantee Policy.

Need Help With Shipping?

If you are unsure whether shipping has been paid, whether your purchases qualify for free shipping, or whether your orders have been combined correctly, contact Aqua SD before purchasing an additional shipping module.

To help us locate your purchases faster, please include:

• Your full name.
• Your email address.
• Your Aqua SD order number(s).
• Your Whatnot or Palmstreet username, if applicable.
• The delivery date you are requesting.

Email: aquasandiego@gmail.com

Shipping policies and carrier availability may change when necessary to protect livestock. Aqua SD may delay or reschedule a shipment when conditions make shipping unsafe for the animals.