Track Your Fish, Every Step of the Way.

1. Start weeks ahead. Fishless cycling establishes bacteria that process waste. Record ammonia and nitrite rising and returning to zero under your cycling routine before stocking. A newly filled tank can read zero simply because there is no waste yet. If it is not ready, contact us before dispatch about timing.
2. Match the species. For most domestic bettas, use a stable 78–80°F and pH 6.5–7.5. Our Neocaridina care information specifies 72–79°F, pH 6.5–7.5, GH 6–12 dGH and KH 3–8 dKH. Do not apply betta settings to goldfish, discus or every shrimp species; check the exact animal’s requirements before arrival.
3. Run the equipment now. Use water conditioner labeled for chlorine and chloramine at its stated dose. Run the filter continuously; check water temperature with a separate thermometer and use a heater when the species needs one. Have a lid, shelter, a clean fish-safe container and transfer net ready. Never wash biological filter media under chlorinated tap water.

AVOID Do not start cycling on delivery day or chase a pH number with sudden chemical changes.

1. Follow the actual delivery. Use the carrier link and delivery alerts in your shipping email. Recheck the estimated date that morning and arrange a backup receiver if it changes. A delivery estimate is not a promise of a specific arrival time.
2. Inspect before opening bags. Photograph any crushed or wet carton, then look for leaks and observe each fish through the bag: gill movement, balance and response. Avoid shaking the bag or tapping it to force a reaction.
3. Act on the condition you see. If a live fish is gasping, cannot stay upright or is in a leaking bag, contact us immediately with a short video and order number. Prepare clean, species-appropriate receiving water and use the urgent guidance below. Do not leave a struggling live fish in failing packaging while waiting for an email reply.

AVOID A very hot or cold bag needs controlled temperature adjustment—never put it against a heater or add ice.

1. Match temperature with care. For a healthy fish in an ordinary sealed shipping bag, float the closed bag in the receiving tank for about 15–20 minutes, away from the heater. This is a starting point, not proof the temperatures match. Check with a thermometer. Follow separate directions for breathable bags; do not automatically float them.
2. Compare water requirements. Know the receiving tank’s pH and hardness beforehand. For a healthy shipment, test a separate bag-water sample when you open it; never return tested water to the bag. Temperature matching alone does not correct chemistry differences. Gradual mixing or drip acclimation may suit healthy animals with good bag water. Shrimp need attention to GH, KH and TDS; use their species guide for the rate and endpoint.
3. After a long or delayed trip, avoid a prolonged open-bag soak. Waste can build up in transit. Once the bag is opened, escaping CO₂ can raise pH and increase the toxic fraction of ammonia. A weak fish or poor bag water needs prompt transfer to suitable clean water, with temperature and major chemistry differences addressed. If those differences are large or unknown, seek urgent species-specific help; do not simply drip for hours.
4. Transfer the animal, not the shipping water. Use a suitable soft net or species-appropriate transfer container; avoid snagging fins or exposing the animal to air longer than necessary. Discard shipping and acclimation water separately. Introduce fish into a prepared, cycled quarantine tank when possible.

AVOID Do not add unmeasured salt, medication or a fixed number of conditioner drops to every bag. Follow the product label and species guidance.

1. Offer a small first meal when settled. For a newly shipped adult betta, try a small normal meal the next morning if it is upright, responsive and breathing comfortably. Remove leftovers after a few minutes. Other species and young fish have different feeding needs; follow their care directions. Do not compensate for shipping with a large meal.
2. Check breathing and balance, not just color. Hiding, temporary fading or skipping an initial meal can occur after transport. Look for improvement and steady breathing. Persistent gasping, very rapid gill movement, inability to stay upright, injuries or worsening responsiveness need immediate attention. Do not dismiss these as normal shipping stress.
3. Respond to a water problem. Check temperature, ammonia, nitrite and filter flow immediately if a fish struggles. If ammonia or nitrite is detectable, use a partial water change with conditioned, temperature-matched water and retest; increase monitoring to daily while detectable. Improve surface movement without creating an exhausting current. Seek help if distress continues.

DO Keep new fish separate: Tropicflow recommends at least 14 days of quarantine before joining an established aquarium. Do not share nets between tanks.