How We Ship Saltwater Fish Safely in Cold Weather

Ordering fish online during the winter always comes with a bit of anxiety. Icy runways, unpredictable storms, and freezing overnight temps don’t make things easy on live fish. But careful planning makes all the difference.

Our approach is simple: take care of the animals first, even if that means extra work or holding off on a shipment altogether.

Checking the Weather: Every Time, for Every Box

Before a single fish bag hits the packing table, we check the weather not just at the destination, but also at transit hubs along the way. If snow, wind, or freezing temps threaten flight schedules, that package waits for better conditions, and we notify affected customers to postpone shipping.

We encourage every customer to do the same before placing an order. But rest assured — even if you miss something, we’ll be checking anyway. If conditions make shipping unsafe, we’ll pause or cancel the order rather than risk the healthy delivery of our livestock. It’s a lot of extra work, and impossible to be perfect at it, but it's the right thing to do for the fish.

Most winter delays occur because planes can’t land or take off on time. When that happens, a cargo plane full of packages misses the outbound trucks that deliver that morning — adding a full extra day in transit. That’s exactly what we work hard to avoid.

Minimize Exposure by Shipping to a FedEx Ship Center

During winter, one of the smartest moves you can make is having your package held for pickup at your local FedEx Ship Center (click here to see how). These facilities are the first stops for delivery trucks — meaning your box arrives there early in the morning, before the trucks go out on their routes for the rest of the day.

Those trucks aren’t climate-controlled, and boxes can sit for hours in unheated conditions before reaching residential addresses. By picking your box up at the FedEx Ship Center, you can save several hours of cold exposure and get your fish home faster and safer.

Packed for Warmth and Stability

We prepare every double-insulated box with multiple activated heat packs positioned for even warmth. Bags are filled with extra water for better temperature stability, plus added oxygen to keep parameters safe in case of unexpected delays.

We know some online stores do not use insulation or heat packs...that's definitely not us.

In the rare case a delay occurs, those extra precautions help keep your fish comfortable until they’re safely home and acclimated to your reef tank. Every detail — from bag size to box insulation — is dialed in for cold-weather safety.

We Recommend Delay Protection in Winter

Even with all the planning in the world, winter weather can still surprise everyone. That’s why we strongly recommend adding Delay Protection when ordering this time of year. It provides peace of mind in case an unpredictable delay occurs — which, while rare, is more likely in winter conditions.

Purchasing Delay Protection means your livestock is covered if a flight or weather event causes a delivery issue outside anyone’s control. It’s one more layer of protection to keep your investment — and your fish — safe.

Why We Do It This Way

Shipping live fish in winter isn’t just about rushing to meet a delivery window — it’s about understanding how to minimize stress from door to door. Every forecast we check, every order we postpone, and every heat pack we use is driven by the same goal: ensuring the fish arrive healthy and stable, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.

So if we ask to delay or cancel a shipment, know it’s because we’re putting the animals first. Reef keeping is all about patience — and winter shipping is no different.