LIVE FISH & FRESHWATER SHRIMP

Shipping & arrival

Know the route, prepare to receive your animals, and understand how an arrival issue would be assessed before agreeing to an order.

Before accepting an order

Each offer must identify the species, quantity, size or grade, documented source, destination and named recipient. It must also state the carrier, delivery or airport-collection arrangement, estimated transit time, total charges and who handles clearance. A catalogue entry does not confirm export eligibility or stock.

The written terms must specify when transport risk transfers; the claims contact and service hours; the claim deadline and its starting point; evidence requirements; available remedies; and treatment of freight, taxes and replacement shipping costs. For airport cargo, arrival, customs release and collection are different events and must not be treated as one timestamp.

Dispatch only when the route is ready

Shipment planning must account for animal fitness, species-specific packing, water quality, stocking density, insulation and expected journey duration. Fish packing instructions must not automatically be applied to shrimp. Any temperature-control materials need validation for the animals and route.

Unsafe weather, animal-health concerns, missing documents, disrupted transport or an unavailable receiver are reasons to hold dispatch and agree a revised plan. A delivery estimate is not a guaranteed arrival time. Cancellation, rescheduling and any refund arrangements must be explained before payment.

Your arrival checklist

01
Before delivery: prepare a mature, suitable receiving or quarantine system, check species-specific water requirements, and arrange prompt collection by the named receiver. Keep the shipment instructions and emergency contact accessible.
02
At handover: record the delivery or collection time, check the outer box for damage or leaks, and photograph the label and packaging. Check each labelled bag and reconcile the received animals with the packing list.
03
If animals appear distressed or a bag is leaking, prioritise safe care under the shipment instructions and contact the designated support channel. Take quick photographs if safe; do not leave living animals in deteriorating water to obtain a perfect video or wait for a reply.
04
Follow the species-specific acclimation plan. A single drip-acclimation duration is not appropriate for every fish, shrimp or journey. Temperature, pH and accumulated ammonia interact; use the actual arrival conditions and seek qualified aquatic-health advice when needed.
05
Keep new arrivals separate from established stock under the receiving plan. Do not release animals or transport water into natural waterways. Follow local biosecurity and disposal instructions, especially when disease is suspected.

Reporting an arrival issue

Dead on arrival (DOA) means an animal found dead during the initial arrival inspection. Missing animals, wrong species, visible injury and animals that die later should be reported as separate issues so the evidence and appropriate response can be assessed.

A useful report includes the order and tracking or air-waybill number; delivery, release and collection times where relevant; affected species and counts; clear photos of the animals, bag labels, box and packing list; and a short account of any delay or emergency handling. For later problems, include the timeline and available water measurements. Record observations without guessing the cause.

Report problems promptly through the contact stated in the offer. Keep labels and photographs. Do not return live animals or send biological samples without agreed instructions. Any refund, replacement or credit, and the associated shipping costs, must follow the agreed terms and applicable consumer protections. This framework does not currently promise a particular remedy or response time.

What must be confirmed before sales open

LIMNIC still needs validated routes and packing trials, a staffed claims channel, an arrival-cover decision, a precise reporting window, documented exclusions and a funded refund or replacement process. A blanket “100% live arrival” promise would be premature. Buyer responsibilities and carrier delays must be explained clearly rather than used as unexplained automatic claim rejections.

Research behind this framework

IATA informs air-transport planning; UF/IFAS explains ornamental-fish preparation and water-quality risks. Retailer policies show how claims are documented, but their commercial terms are not LIMNIC’s terms. For example, Buce Plant requests reports within 12 hours and Aquatic Arts within 24 hours; neither window is a universal industry rule.

Buyer & Import Guide Wholesale & Export