Shipping fish--priority or express?

[msjinkzd]

Ok, i am going to chime in.

1. USPS express does not give refunds for packages containing live fish until the third day. If the package is delayed for more than 3 days, you can get a refund. This policy went into effect in Jan of 2010, I believe

2. Priority- generally depends on if you are in a rural area, urban area, temperatures, and the particular sort facilities and postal deliverer. I routinely have priority packages take 4-5 days. All year round.

3. Cories should not be shipped in breather bags unless air is left in the top,w hich is counter-intuitive to using breathers.

4. Faster is ALWAYS better. Please note, while often fish do "fine", being in bags for prolonged periods of time with water that is getting increasingly dirty can do damage you do not see- burning of the gills most notably.

5. Heat packs- they work, but they are not a consistent temperature. They have a "peak" temp that they reach, then gradually cool down over the duration. Because of this, if temperatures are very cold, they are not sufficient. Also keep in mind that how the packages are physically moved (in a truck, on a plane) etc can effect what the temperature of the box will be as well. Also, heat packs are only effective if the interior temperature of teh box can be maintained, the stop working when things get quite cold.

My preference is to never have fish take longer than 2 days.

[ThatGuyWithTheFish]

I just had a priority shipment arrive in less than 2 days all the way from Washington state, so maybe the it's not so bad?

[msjinkzd]

it can be fine,t he bigger issue is there is no delivery time guarantee. It is, ultimately, your gamble. That, and the life and well being of the fish.

[mistergreen]

Below freezing temps is best with Overnight shipping.

It's a waste of money if your purchase wound up dead or dying.