General Information

1. Shipping Rates
2. Shipping Methods & Delivery
3. Weather & Packaging Considerations
4. Live Arrival Guarantee / DOA Policy
5. Local Pick Up
6. Special Orders
7. Livestock Protection Plans
8. Cancellation Policy
9. Product Photography
10. Restricted Species

1. Shipping Rates

We strive to offer the best shipping rates while ensuring the safety and well-being of your fish during transit. Our shipping costs reflect the necessary materials, handling, and carrier fees required to ensure a secure and safe delivery.

Continental U.S. Shipping Rates

• Orders $0-399 → $39.00

• Orders over $399 → FREE

Texas Shipping Rates

Since we are located in Texas, shipping to Texas customers is slightly cheaper. To pass these savings on to you, we offer a $10 discount on shipping:

• Orders $0-399 → $29.00

• Orders over $399 → FREE

Alaska Shipping Rates

• Orders $0-1,000 → $79.00

• Orders $1,000+ → FREE

Hawaii Shipping Policy

We do not ship live fish to Hawaii.

2. Shipping Methods & Delivery

Overnight Shipping (UPS Next Day Air)

We use UPS Next Day Air to ensure live fish arrive quickly and in the best condition possible.

• Orders are shipped overnight and are typically delivered between 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, but this timeframe may vary based on location and UPS policies.

• Some larger shipments or oversized fish may require Airport Cargo Pickup via Southwest Cargo instead of doorstep delivery. If this applies to your order, we will contact you in advance to make the necessary arrangements.

Shipping Schedule

• We ship Monday through Wednesday to ensure weekday delivery (Tuesday - Thursday).

• Prior to checkout, you may select your preferred delivery date.

• If no delivery date is selected, we will ship on the next available shipping day, taking into account weather conditions and fish preparation requirements.

Processing & Shipping Time

• In-Stock Orders: Usually ship within 3-10 business days, depending on order volume and the time required for fish to prepare for shipment.

• Special Orders: These usually take 10-30 days.

• Once your order is ready to ship, we will notify you 1-3 days before shipping to let you know when to expect your order, and once we create a shipping label you will receive a tracking email with all relevant details.

• Fish require at least two days to clear their digestive systems before shipment. If needed, this may delay the shipping of your order until the following week.

3. Weather & Packaging Considerations

Extreme Temperature Shipping Restrictions

We take every precaution to ensure fish arrive safely, but we have strict shipping restrictions based on temperature.

If temperatures in your area fall outside of our safe shipping range (50°F - 100°F), additional measures must be taken:

• If nighttime temperatures drop below 50°F, you must add a Heat Pack before checkout. 

Failure to add a Heat Pack when it's needed can cause your order to be delayed.

We don't ship live fish when temperatures are above 100°F, and we can't ship below 30°F except by special arrangement.

We may delay shipping due to weather conditions that are likely to cause shipping delays such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, snow, hurricanes, tornados, etc.

This does not only apply to the weather conditions at the destination, but also the origin and UPS Hub. 

To easily check the weather conditions for your shipment, you can use our Weather Checker

5. Local Pickup

Local pickup may be available by arrangement. Please contact us at Sales@lonestarrareexoticfish.com.

6. Special Orders

Special Order Policy

We offer an extensive selection of special order livestock that is not in stock. If you place a Special Order:

• Processing usually takes 10-30 days.

• Any photos provided for Special Orders are for reference only and may not depict the exact fish you receive.

• If your order includes both In-Stock and Special Order livestock, the entire order will be held until all items are ready to ship.

• Special Orders may be partially or fully canceled if our suppliers are unable to fulfill them. If you cancel a special order before day 30 (counted from your order date), you can choose full store credit or a refund minus a 15% cancellation fee. If it hasn't shipped within 30 days, you can ask for a full refund, with no fee, at any time after that. If no cancellation request is made, we will continue to try to fulfill your order for however long it takes.

7. Livestock Protection Plans

7-Day & 30-Day Protection Plans

We offer Livestock Protection Plans covering orders up to $1,000.

If your fish dies within 7 or 30 days, you can file a claim for store credit equal to the fish’s purchase price plus a 5% bonus, or a refund of the fish’s purchase price.

• No questions asked—no need to provide water parameters or experience level.

• Photo proof is required (do not discard the fish until the claim has been settled in case we need further verification).

• The fish must be physically intact (protection does not apply if eaten/attacked by tank mates).

• Protection fees & shipping costs are non-refundable.

8. Cancellation Policy

• Orders canceled before shipping can receive store credit or a partial refund (minus a 15% cancellation fee).

• The cancellation fee covers non-refundable transaction costs and the time spent holding livestock that could have been sold to another customer.

9. Product Photography

We strive to keep our images accurate, but livestock photos may not always depict the exact fish available unless labeled WYSIWYG.

10. Restricted Species

We are based in Texas and cannot sell certain species due to state regulations.

Restricted species include, but are not limited to:

• Freshwater Stingrays

• Piranhas

• Arapaima

• Electric Eels

• Payara (Vampire Tetra)

For a full list, visit Texas Parks & Wildlife's Restricted Species List.