Shipping fish--priority or express?

**ThatGuyWithTheFish** · 12-09-2012, 12:02 AM

I'm looking into buying some Corydoras habrosus, but I'm not sure which shipping option to get. I would prefer to get the priority, considering it's $20 less, but does anyone have any experience with shipping/receiving fish through priority mail?

**jkan0228** · 12-09-2012, 12:48 AM

I've shipped fish across the country (to Virginia) priority and it was a 100% live arrival.

biggerbang · 12-09-2012, 01:49 AM

I've purchased endler's and they were shipped from Florida to Massachusetts via priority and all six survived. Just be wary of your weather. If it's cold out, ask for heat packs.

Crob5965 · 12-09-2012, 01:55 AM

I have had good luck with guppies and plecos VIA Priority but i'm 0-3 with Angels so I guess I would pay the extra in the future

**Fdsh5** · 12-09-2012, 01:57 AM

Cories are sensitive to water parameters. I would only do priority if it was close to me.

secuono · 12-09-2012, 02:04 AM

I've shipped and gotten fish via priority, few issues. But if they are pricy fish, then just cave and spend the extra $20.

**ThatGuyWithTheFish** · 12-09-2012, 02:42 AM

They're not expensive at $3 each. And I'm not out of home for long so I can always get the package in an hour or two after it arrives. And I thought cories were pretty hardy?

**mitchfish9** · 12-09-2012, 05:18 AM

Like others have mentioned just ask for heat packs and it will probably be fine as long as its not all the way across the country. Although I have only done overnight/express because I split orders with a friend.

**Rob in Puyallup** · 12-09-2012, 05:42 AM

Heat packs and pray either way.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S III using Tapatalk 2

somewhatshocked · 12-09-2012, 01:45 PM

Another thing to consider is the time of year. With the onslaught of holiday shipping, Priority packages can take longer and longer to reach their destination. Many sellers will only ship Express or over night this time of year because of that.

Personally, I'm not sure how anyone has the patience to wait 2-3 days (can take 5-7) for critters shipped Priority.

**wkndracer** · 12-09-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fdsh5

Cories are sensitive to water parameters. I would only do priority if it was close to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Another thing to consider is the time of year. With the onslaught of holiday shipping, Priority packages can take longer and longer to reach their destination. Many sellers will only ship Express or over night this time of year because of that.

Personally, I'm not sure how anyone has the patience to wait 2-3 days (can take 5-7) for critters shipped Priority.

Actually long distance is my preferred for priority shipping.
Fla to the North or far West is a flight on the same plane right next to the express packages. 2 days to Washington State and SoCal several times.
Holiday season shipping is always a nightmare.

secuono · 12-09-2012, 03:22 PM

Ohhh, holiday season! No, I wouldn't buy anything live right now...I'd wait until a couple weeks into January.

james1542 · 12-09-2012, 04:34 PM

I remember hearing that the "express" option is no longer guaranteed to get there any faster than priority.

With fish this small, in breather bags, they should be just fine priority, I've gotten some pretty sensitive species through priority mail-all just fine.

**AzFishKid** · 12-09-2012, 04:36 PM

If you want to ship over night, I've found FedEx to be the most reliable in terms of getting the package to the recipient on time.

somewhatshocked · 12-09-2012, 04:43 PM

USPS Express packages have a guaranteed delivery time. If it's not delivered by the next day, you can file a claim for a shipping refund.

Quote:

Originally Posted by james1542

I remember hearing that the "express" option is no longer guaranteed to get there any faster than priority.

12-09-2012, 12:02 AM	#1
ThatGuyWithTheFish Honeycomb Cats! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boston Posts: 1,671	Shipping fish--priority or express? I'm looking into buying some Corydoras habrosus, but I'm not sure which shipping option to get. I would prefer to get the priority, considering it's $20 less, but does anyone have any experience with shipping/receiving fish through priority mail? __________________ 20G Long Hi-Tech: My Golden Rule of planted tanks: WWTAD- "What would Takashi Amano do?" RAOK Club #69

12-09-2012, 12:48 AM	#2
jkan0228 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (105/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 5,386	I've shipped fish across the country (to Virginia) priority and it was a 100% live arrival. __________________ First Planted 95G Mr. Aqua 11.4 Crypts and Shrimp Post Your Rare and Pricey Crypts!

12-09-2012, 01:49 AM	#3
biggerbang Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 40	I've purchased endler's and they were shipped from Florida to Massachusetts via priority and all six survived. Just be wary of your weather. If it's cold out, ask for heat packs. __________________

12-09-2012, 01:55 AM	#4
Crob5965 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ft Riley Posts: 162	I have had good luck with guppies and plecos VIA Priority but i'm 0-3 with Angels so I guess I would pay the extra in the future __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/al...p?albumid=9479 http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/al...p?albumid=9578

12-09-2012, 02:04 AM	#6
secuono Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/94%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Culpeper, VA Posts: 664	I've shipped and gotten fish via priority, few issues. But if they are pricy fish, then just cave and spend the extra $20. __________________ ~Arikun Plant lady

12-09-2012, 01:57 AM	#5
Fdsh5 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (28/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 1,050	Cories are sensitive to water parameters. I would only do priority if it was close to me.

12-09-2012, 02:42 AM	#7
ThatGuyWithTheFish Honeycomb Cats! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boston Posts: 1,671	They're not expensive at $3 each. And I'm not out of home for long so I can always get the package in an hour or two after it arrives. And I thought cories were pretty hardy? __________________ 20G Long Hi-Tech: My Golden Rule of planted tanks: WWTAD- "What would Takashi Amano do?" RAOK Club #69

12-09-2012, 05:18 AM	#8
mitchfish9 Planted Tank Nation (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 873	Like others have mentioned just ask for heat packs and it will probably be fine as long as its not all the way across the country. Although I have only done overnight/express because I split orders with a friend.

12-09-2012, 05:42 AM	#9
Rob in Puyallup Opae Ula Crazed. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 1,257	Heat packs and pray either way. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S III using Tapatalk 2 __________________ 35 gal Hex Shrimp and Celestial Pearl Danio ;29 gallon Endler's only;Petco Bookshelf 6.6 gal Crystal Shrimp and Hitchhiking CPD fry tank; Bookshelf 6.6 gal Brackish Opae Ula Shrimp; Fluval Ebi 7.9 gal assorted Shrimp only.; 10 gallon Opae Ula tank, started Nov 21, 2012. Opae Ula, Hawaiian Red Shrimp, SuperShrimp, whatever...Journal Now... I'm out of room!

12-09-2012, 01:45 PM	#10
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (263/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,740	Another thing to consider is the time of year. With the onslaught of holiday shipping, Priority packages can take longer and longer to reach their destination. Many sellers will only ship Express or over night this time of year because of that. Personally, I'm not sure how anyone has the patience to wait 2-3 days (can take 5-7) for critters shipped Priority. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

12-09-2012, 03:22 PM	#12
secuono Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/94%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Culpeper, VA Posts: 664	Ohhh, holiday season! No, I wouldn't buy anything live right now...I'd wait until a couple weeks into January. __________________ ~Arikun Plant lady

12-09-2012, 04:34 PM	#13
james1542 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: WA Posts: 506	I remember hearing that the "express" option is no longer guaranteed to get there any faster than priority. With fish this small, in breather bags, they should be just fine priority, I've gotten some pretty sensitive species through priority mail-all just fine. __________________ Biocube 14 Shrimp Rimless 20 Apistos and more Retrocube

12-09-2012, 04:36 PM	#14
AzFishKid Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (106/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 6,259	If you want to ship over night, I've found FedEx to be the most reliable in terms of getting the package to the recipient on time. __________________ ••• P H I L I P ••• "Because fake plants would be weird and sad." -Bsmith "This isn't a hobby, this is a way of life." -Da Plant Man Bucephalandra "and friends" Collection

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