Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Rates at a Glance
| What you're ordering | Shipping | Free shipping |
|---|---|---|
| Corals, saltwater & freshwater fish, inverts | $45 flat rate, overnight | Orders $300+ |
| Live plants (aquarium, pond, terrarium, houseplants) | $7.99 standard (2–3 days) or $11.99 priority (1–2 days) | Plant orders $49+, or any order $300+ |
| Dry goods & equipment | Calculated at checkout | Orders $300+ |
| Reptiles, amphibians, terrarium inverts, live feeders | Local pickup only | — |
Free shipping over $300 applies automatically at checkout. No code needed. Orders with items from more than one row ship separately and are charged each row's rate unless the order qualifies for free shipping.
We ship to the lower 48 states only. No shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, APO/FPO addresses or international destinations.
Live Animal Shipping
When we ship
- Ship days: Monday through Thursday only, to avoid weekend delays in transit. If you request a different ship day, you accept the added risk of carrier delays.
- Cutoff: In-stock orders placed by 12 PM CST ship the same day.
- Weather holds: We hold shipments when temperatures below 25°F or above 95°F are forecast at origin or destination, or when severe weather or extended carrier delays are expected. We'll contact you if your order is held.
How we pack
- Each coral, fish or invert is bagged individually with oxygen.
- Bags are cushioned and packed in an insulated, styrofoam-lined box. We reuse insulated boxes when they're in good condition, which helps keep shipping costs down.
- Heat packs or cold packs are included at no charge whenever the weather on the route calls for them.
- Boxes are marked as live animals and fragile.
- Every animal is inspected before packing. If a specimen isn't healthy enough to ship, we'll contact you before shipping and won't send it.
Transit and tracking
- Live animals ship overnight and usually arrive by 10:30 AM–12:00 PM the next business day.
- You'll get a tracking number by email as soon as your order ships.
- A signature may be required at delivery.
Live Plant Shipping
Plants ship by standard (2–3 days) or priority (1–2 days) service. Standard is $7.99 and priority is $11.99. Shipping is free on plant orders of $49 or more, and on any order of $300 or more.
Local Pickup
Reptiles, amphibians, terrarium invertebrates and live feeders are available for local pickup only. Choose local pickup at checkout, and we'll contact you when your order is ready. Any order can be picked up instead of shipped.
On Delivery Day
- Track your package and plan to be home when it arrives.
- Open the box right away and photograph every bag before removing anything.
- Float sealed bags in your tank for 15–20 minutes to match temperature, then drip acclimate for 30–45 minutes.
- Move animals by net only. Never add bag water to your tank.
- Keep lighting at 50–60% for the first few days and watch new additions closely for 24–48 hours.
Live Arrival Guarantee
We guarantee live arrival of all livestock shipped by our standard overnight method.
- Report within 2 hours of the first delivery attempt, with clear photos taken before the animal is removed from its bag. Email Zac@empirecorals.com.
- Resolution: a replacement or store credit for the item. Shipping is not refunded.
Not covered
- Delays caused by an incorrect shipping address
- Packages refused or not received on the first delivery attempt
- Weather or carrier delays beyond our control (we'll still work with you on these)
- Animals that decline after successful acclimation
Questions?
Email Zac@empirecorals.com with any question about your order, shipping or packing.