Shipping & Delivery

We offer several reliable options for shipping live fish, corals, plants and reptiles safely to your door. Choose the option below that best suits your location and needs. If you're unsure, contact us and we'll help you select the safest service.

Our Delivery Options

A note on timing: All transit times are estimates and can vary with your location, the weather and carrier schedules. Regional and remote areas may take longer. To give your livestock the safest trip, please order early in the week.

Requested Dispatch Dates and Holding Orders

We do not hold orders. Every online order is packed and sent on the next available dispatch day for the service you paid for. We cannot pack to a date you choose, and we cannot delay an order so that it lands on a particular day of the week.

There is one exception. We will consider holding an order if you arrange it with us before you place the order.

How to Arrange a Hold

• Contact us by email or phone before you order, and tell us what you want to buy and when you want it sent.
• We check our tank space and our shipping schedule, and tell you whether we can do it.
• If we can, we confirm the hold in writing, along with any fee, and you then place the order.
• Nothing is held until you have that written confirmation from us.

Why We Work This Way

Livestock arrives with us weekly, and what we order each week is based on what has sold and what tank space is free. An animal on hold sits in a system that is already committed to the next shipment. Holding also means feeding, water changes and daily checks on an animal that has already been paid for, so the space and the labour both carry a real cost to us.

Holding Fees

A holding fee may apply. Where it does, we quote it to you before you place the order, and you decide then whether to go ahead. We will never charge a holding fee you have not agreed to in advance.

Requests Made After You Have Ordered

If you ask us to hold your order, or to send it on a particular day, after the order is placed, we will usually not be able to do it. Your order will be packed and sent on the next available dispatch day, as booked.

Requested Delivery Dates

We do not ship to a requested delivery date on any service. Transit times are estimates set by the carriers, not by us, so we cannot promise your order will arrive on a particular day. We also avoid dispatching livestock where a delay would leave the box sitting in a freight depot over a weekend.

While Your Order Is on Hold

Every animal is still checked by hand on the day it is packed. If an animal on hold does not pass that check, the Pre-Dispatch Stock Condition and Availability section below applies in full. The item is left out, its value goes onto your account as store credit, and the rest of your order is sent as booked.

In-Store Purchases

The same rule applies to livestock paid for in store. We do not hold animals unless it was arranged with us at the time of purchase.

Our Right to Decline

We may decline a hold request at any time, before or after agreeing to it, if tank space, animal welfare, a shipment change or the weather makes it unsafe or impractical. If we have taken a holding fee and we are the ones unable to go ahead, that fee is refunded in full. Full terms are set out in our Guarantees & Policies.

No Guaranteed Delivery Date or Time

We can tell you the day your order leaves us and the service it travels on. We cannot guarantee the day or the time it arrives. We do not offer delivery on a nominated date, and we cannot accept an order on the condition that it arrives by a particular day.

Every transit time shown on this website, in the delivery estimator, at checkout or in an email from us is an estimate published by the carrier. It is not a promise from them and it is not a promise from us.

Once your parcel is lodged it is in the freight company's hands. Things that can delay it, none of which we control:

• weather, including heat, storms, cyclones, flooding, fog and bushfire
• flight delays and cancellations, and freight bumped to a later aircraft
• a missed sort at a depot, so the parcel misses its connection
• vehicle breakdown, accident, or a driver being short on the run
• road closures, roadworks, detours and regional access problems
• depot backlogs, peak periods, public holidays and industrial action
• an incorrect, incomplete or changed delivery address
• nobody at the address, a failed delivery attempt, or a redirection
• security, biosecurity or quarantine inspection, including entry into Western Australia and Tasmania
• carrier system outages, lost paperwork, and labels that scan wrongly
• anything else outside our reasonable control

How a Delay Affects Your Cover

• Cover is set by the service you chose, not by how long the journey took. Dead on Arrival cover applies only to livestock shipped by air freight. There is no cover on Australia Post or Star Track, and none on road and door to door services. A delay does not create cover on a service that never carried it, and does not extend cover on a service that does. See the Arrive Alive Guarantee (section 4).
• The DOA claim window is 4 hours from when you receive your order, no matter how late it arrives. The Death After Arrival window is 12 hours from airport pickup, with photos or video submitted within 24 hours. A late delivery does not extend either window.
• Cover is void where livestock is left unattended, returned to a depot, or not collected promptly, and that includes a parcel that has run late. If a delay means you cannot be there, contact us and the carrier before delivery is attempted.
• Freight is not refunded because a delivery ran late. Shipping charges and fees are not refundable on any approved claim.
• We are not liable for loss beyond the animals themselves, for example a tank left running, time taken off work, or a missed event.
• A claim about a late delivery is a claim against the carrier. We will help you chase it with your consignment number.

Before We Send

If we can see before we pack that weather or a carrier problem makes travel unsafe, we will not send the animals. We will contact you and send on the next safe dispatch day.

Your Rights

Nothing in this policy limits any right you have under the Australian Consumer Law. This policy sits alongside those rights, not instead of them.

Pre-Dispatch Stock Condition and Availability

Every animal, coral and plant in your order is checked by hand again on the day it is packed, not only on the day you ordered.

Live stock is unpredictable. Between the moment you place an order and the moment we pack it, an individual animal may:

• die
• be injured, bitten, stung or killed by a tank mate
• stop feeding, or refuse food in the days before travel
• show early signs of illness, parasites or infection
• lose condition, colour or weight
• be damaged during netting, bagging or handling
• be judged by our staff as not settled or not strong enough to travel safely

Corals and invertebrates may bleach, recede, lose tissue, or be damaged in handling. Live plants may melt, rot, or be found carrying pest snails. Reptiles and frogs may go off their food, have shedding trouble, or be injured in their enclosure.

Occasionally an item becomes unavailable for reasons that have nothing to do with the animal's health. It may have sold in store before your order reached the packing bench, a stock count may have been wrong, or a listing may have carried an error.

If any item in your order does not pass our final pre-pack check, it does not travel. We will not send you an animal we would not be happy to buy ourselves.

What Happens Next

• The item is left out and the rest of your order is packed and sent as booked, on the service you paid for.
• We automatically add store credit to your account for the full amount you paid for that item. You don't need to do a thing.
• Then we'll email you to let you know what was left out and why, and to ask what you'd prefer. You can keep the store credit, or we can refund the item to your original payment method. It's entirely your choice. On busy packing days this email may reach you after your order has been dispatched.
• Your store credit never expires. Use it online or in store, whenever it suits you. It can go towards the same animal when it's back in stock, or towards anything else in the shop.
• Refunds are processed within 2 business days of your request. Please allow up to 10 business days for it to appear, as banks and card providers can take extra time.

One Item Does Not Affect the Rest of Your Order

An item being left out does not cancel or refund the rest of your order. Everything else is sent as booked, so your remaining livestock is not held any longer than it needs to be.

Freight

• Shipping is not refunded. The box, the packing and the freight booking are unchanged whether or not every item travels.
• If removing an item drops a dry goods order below our $250 free shipping threshold, we will not charge you freight after the fact.

Substitutes

Where we have a suitable animal of equal value we may offer you a substitute instead. We will only ever do this with your agreement. We will never swap an animal without telling you.

Reptiles and Frogs

Reptiles and frogs remain in our care until your licence and permit documents have been verified, which can take some time. The pre-pack check above is carried out at dispatch, not on the day you order. If the animal cannot travel at that point, this section applies in full and the animal is credited or refunded to you as set out above. The no-refund provision in our Reptile and Amphibian Purchasing Policy applies only where an order is cancelled because the purchaser is not licensed or has not supplied valid documentation. It does not apply where we are the ones unable to supply the animal.

What This Section Does Not Cover

This section covers stock condition and availability up to the point your order leaves us. Once your order has been dispatched, the Arrive Alive Guarantee (section 4) applies instead. No compensation beyond store credit or a refund of the price paid for the item left out is offered under this section.

This section applies until your order is handed to you or to the carrier. For orders collected in store, our in-store Live Fish Stock Policy applies from the time of collection.

This section applies to all online orders, for live fish, corals, invertebrates, live plants, reptiles and frogs, and to dry goods found to be unavailable after ordering.

Dead on Arrival (DOA) Cover – at a Glance

DOA cover applies only to livestock shipped by air freight. The air services above are covered; road and door-to-door services are not. Full terms, timeframes and how to claim are set out in the Arrive Alive Guarantee (section 4).

Where We Ship

We're based in Brisbane and ship live fish, corals and plants to most of Australia. Some states have import rules that may affect what we can send and the cost.

• Western Australia: import requirements and fees may apply – read section 6 before ordering.
• Tasmania: import requirements and fees may apply – read section 7 before ordering.
• Northern Territory: may require a permit and be subject to quarantine.
• Regional & remote areas: carrier options can be limited, which may affect service and transit time.

If you're unsure we can reach your location, please contact us before ordering.

Weather & Animal Welfare

The health of our livestock always comes first. Extreme heat, storms, flooding or bushfires can affect transit times and safety. We reserve the right to postpone any order when conditions may put the animals at risk. If your order is affected, we'll contact you to arrange the next safe dispatch day.

Packed by aquarists, not just posties. Every live animal and plant that leaves Nick's is packed by experienced staff who keep these species themselves. Our goal is simple: your new arrivals should reach you in the same condition they left our tanks.

Live Fish

• Oxygen-filled bags – each fish is bagged in clean water from its own system with a generous charge of pure oxygen, giving many hours of safe transit time.
• Double or triple bagging – spiny or sharp-finned species (catfish, plecos, marine oddballs) are multi-bagged with liners so a spine can't cause a leak.
• Dark, calm transit – bags are packed upright in the dark, which keeps fish calm and lowers their oxygen use during the trip.

Live Corals & Inverts

• Individually bagged or cupped – each coral travels in its own bag or rigid cup of system water, sized so the piece can't knock against the sides.
• Frags secured – frag plugs are held so they can't tumble or land face-down against the polyps.
• Inverts packed to species – shrimp, snails, starfish and anemones each get the packing method that suits them, not a one-size-fits-all bag.

Live Plants & Tissue Cultures

• Moist, not swimming – plants travel wrapped in damp paper inside sealed bags, which prevents both drying out and rot in transit.
• Tissue culture cups sealed – cultures stay in their sterile cups, cushioned so lids can't pop.

The Box

• Insulated foam boxes – all livestock ships in polystyrene-lined cartons to hold temperature steady.
• Heat or cool packs by season – heat packs in winter and cool packs in summer heat waves, based on the forecast for your delivery route.
• Void fill & bracing – bags are braced so nothing shifts, even if the box travels on its side.

When Your Box Arrives

Open the box promptly, check everyone in, and follow our Acclimation Guide before releasing anything into your tank. If something has gone wrong in transit, take photos of the unopened bags straight away and see the Arrive Alive Guarantee (section 4) for what to do next.

Questions about packing or shipping to your area? Email sales@nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au – we're always happy to talk it through before you order.

If your livestock order travels as air freight, you collect it from the carrier's freight depot at your nearest major airport – not the passenger terminal. Below are the Australian airport pickup locations for the carriers we use: Qantas Freight, Virgin Australia Cargo and Toll Air Express (Team Global Express).

Track Your Shipment

Your dispatch email includes your consignment / air waybill (AWB) number. Track it with the carrier shown on your order:

• Qantas Freight – track at freight.qantas.com
• Virgin Australia Cargo – track your AWB on the VA Cargo portal
• Toll Air Express – track your consignment with Team Global Express

Before You Head to the Airport

• Check your tracking first – flights can be delayed or freight moved to a later service. Don't leave home until tracking shows your consignment is on its way.
• Be on time – live animals can usually be collected 30–45 minutes after the aircraft lands. The less time they wait at the depot, the better.
• Bring photo ID matching the name on your order. Some terminals require two forms of ID.
• Go to the freight depot, not passenger arrivals – the addresses below are in the airport freight precincts.

Pickup Locations by Airport

Sydney (SYD)

Qantas Freight, Terminal 4 (pets & animals) – Cnr Shiers Avenue and Fifth Street, Mascot NSW 2020
All animal movements in Sydney (including fish, coral and reptiles) are lodged and collected at Terminal 4, next to the Qantas domestic passenger terminal – not the general freight terminal.

Virgin Australia Cargo (Menzies Aviation) – 273 Eleventh Street, Mascot NSW 2020 – (02) 8985 7532

Toll Air Express (Team Global Express) – 26 McPherson Street, Banksmeadow NSW 2019 – just south of Sydney Airport

Melbourne (MEL)

Qantas Freight Domestic Terminal – 11 Apac Drive, Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) VIC 3043

Virgin Australia Cargo (Menzies Aviation) – 1 Apac Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3045 – (03) 7007 4635

Toll Air Express (Team Global Express) – 11 Steele Way, Melbourne Airport VIC 3045

Brisbane (BNE)

Qantas Freight Domestic Terminal – 23 Qantas Drive, Brisbane Airport (Eagle Farm) QLD 4007

Virgin Australia Cargo (Airway) – 8 Hibiscus Street, Brisbane Airport QLD 4008 – (07) 3739 9250

Toll Air Express (Team Global Express) – 7 Viola Place, Brisbane Airport QLD 4008
TGE also has a second Brisbane Airport depot at 7 Chloris Street – your tracking shows which depot holds your order.

Perth (PER)

Qantas Freight Domestic Terminal – Cnr Ross Drive and Boud Avenue, Perth Airport WA 6105

Virgin Australia Cargo (Menzies Aviation) – 4 Anson Road, Perth Airport WA 6105 – (08) 9479 2186

Toll Air Express (Team Global Express) – 14 Kingsford Smith Avenue, Perth Airport WA 6105
TGE has more than one Perth Airport facility – your tracking shows which depot holds your order.

Adelaide (ADL)

Qantas Freight Domestic Terminal – 9 Sir Richard Williams Avenue, Adelaide Airport SA 5950
Pre-booked livestock can be collected up to 11pm.

Virgin Australia Cargo (Airway) – 2 Comley Street, Adelaide Airport SA 5950 – (08) 8234 4222

Toll Air Express (Team Global Express) – 10 Butler Boulevard, Adelaide Airport SA 5950

Other Airports

We ship to regional and other capital city airports too (Hobart, Darwin, Canberra, Cairns, Gold Coast, Townsville, Launceston and more). Freight depot addresses for these ports are confirmed with your booking, or check the Qantas Freight, Virgin Australia Cargo and Team Global Express terminal-location pages.

Depot addresses and hours are set by the carriers and can change – always check your tracking and the carrier's website on the day. Details above were last checked July 2026.

Questions about collecting your order? Email sales@nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au before it ships.

At Nick's, we're committed to supplying healthy, high-quality livestock. Every shipment is packed with care using professional-grade materials and proven handling procedures to minimise stress during transit. Despite best practice in packing and transport, shipping live aquatic animals can occasionally result in losses, particularly with delicate species. In the unlikely event this happens, we offer our Arrive Alive Guarantee on eligible livestock shipments.

This guarantee applies from the moment your order is handed to the carrier. For anything that happens before that point, see Pre-Dispatch Stock Condition and Availability in section 1 above.

Dead on Arrival (DOA)

Eligibility

• DOA coverage applies only to livestock shipped via air freight.
• No DOA guarantee on livestock shipped via Australia Post / Star Track.
• No DOA guarantee on livestock shipped via road freight.

How to Make a DOA Claim

• Take clear photos or video of the deceased livestock in the sealed, unopened inner bag.
• If double-bagged, you may remove the outer bag, but the inner bag must stay sealed.
• Take individual photos or video of each animal once unbagged, where applicable.
• Submit your claim by email or text message only – claims via Facebook Messenger or phone can't be accepted.
• Notify us within 4 hours of receiving your order; supporting photos and videos must also be submitted within that 4-hour window. Claims outside this timeframe may not be accepted.

Each claim must include: your name, order number, approximate time received, number of bags affected, quantity of livestock DOA, photos/videos of livestock in sealed bags, and individual photos/videos once unbagged (where applicable).

If Your DOA Claim Is Approved

• Store credit or replacement of the same item (subject to availability).
• Replacement shipping is covered only if more than 50% of your order arrives DOA.
• Shipping charges and fees are non-refundable.

Death After Arrival (DAA)

• DAA coverage applies only to air freight shipments (not road freight).
• Coverage extends up to 12 hours after airport pickup.
• Proof: clear photos or video, submitted within 24 hours of delivery. Livestock must have been properly acclimated. Claims won't be accepted without clear visual evidence.
• A water test may be required; photos of results must show the current date and meet our water-quality standards (pH appropriate for the livestock purchased).

DAA Exclusions

DAA claims won't be accepted for specimens showing physical trauma, torn fins, scratches or bite marks. Nick's is not responsible for: disease outbreaks within an aquarium; parasites or pathogens introduced after arrival; compatibility or aggression between tank inhabitants; losses from improper acclimation or unsuitable aquarium conditions; or deaths after the covered timeframe.

Keeping Your Cover Valid

• Be present at the airport (for pickup) or at home (for delivery) and collect your order promptly.
• Livestock left unattended, returned to a depot, or significantly delayed in collection may void cover.
• We can only ship to a valid residential or business address – not PO boxes or third-party addresses.

For non-livestock orders – equipment, food, salts, hardscape and more.

• Free delivery over $250 (dry goods only). Doesn't apply to heavy/bulky items or any livestock. Eligible products show a “This item qualifies for FREE SHIPPING” notice; your total order must still exceed $250. Courier choice is at Nick's discretion.
• Flat $15 shipping on dry goods orders under $250, anywhere in Australia.
• Large or heavy items (over 10kg – e.g. dry rock, large reef salts, tanks) are quoted and emailed to you.
• Dispatch: generally 24–48 hours after an order is processed and packed. Special-order items may take up to 7 days.
• The freight company can't deliver to Australia Post-owned locations – post offices, PO boxes, locked bags, parcel lockers or Parcel Collect points.

Delivery Timing & Guarantees

We process orders swiftly, but delivery itself is handled by independent carriers, so delays or delivery guarantees are outside our control. Any claim about delivery timing must be taken up directly with the carrier. See No Guaranteed Delivery Date or Time in section 1 for the full position on delivery timing.

If a dry-goods item is delayed, not delivered, or arrives damaged (e.g. broken packaging), contact us at sales@nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au within 24 hours of delivery with your order number and photos of the item and packaging. Keep all packaging until the issue is resolved – couriers may need it to process a damage claim. We'll arrange a replacement, repair or refund in line with our Refund Policy. (For live fish, corals, plants or reptiles, see the Arrive Alive Guarantee in section 4 instead.)

Please note: Nick's Aquarium does not cover any quotation, inspection or permit fees charged for importing live fish into WA. All such costs are the responsibility of the purchaser.

Western Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity regulations in Australia to protect its unique aquatic ecosystems. It's the importer's responsibility to ensure all requirements are met before receiving live fish from us.

Key Requirements

• Check whether translocation approval is required – certain fish, crustaceans and corals need translocation approval before import into WA. Check via the DPIRD translocation system or email translocation@dpird.wa.gov.au. Species on the Federal Live Import List (Part 1) are generally permitted without additional WA translocation approval.
• Confirm the species is not noxious – noxious fish are strictly prohibited. Check the full noxious fish list before ordering.
• Correct shipment labelling – all shipments must clearly show scientific name (genus and species), common name, quantity of fish, and supplier details (Nick's Aquarium). Incorrect or incomplete labelling may cause inspection delays or rejection.
• Biosecurity inspection on arrival – all live fish shipments entering WA are inspected on arrival. Contact the Quarantine WA (QWA) Scheduler on +61 8 9334 1800 to arrange an inspection.
• Water quality & disease prevention – transport water must be free from snails, snail eggs and any other prohibited organisms.
• Crustaceans & other aquatic species – additional restrictions apply under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAMA).

Quick Prep Checklist

• Verify species approval – use DPIRD's translocation tool or contact their team.
• Check for noxious species – cross-reference FRMR Schedule 5.
• Ensure correct labelling – include all required shipment details.
• Book inspections early – contact QWA before your shipment arrives.
• Maintain clean transport water – avoid restricted organisms.

Additional resources: WA Quarantine Information · Importing Domestic Fish & Birds · WA Aquatic Biosecurity Regulations.

Questions before ordering? Contact Nick's – we're happy to help ensure your shipment complies with WA requirements.

Please note: Nick's Aquarium does not cover any quotation, inspection or permit fees charged for importing live fish into Tasmania. All such costs are the responsibility of the purchaser.

Tasmania maintains strict biosecurity controls to safeguard its unique aquatic ecosystems. It's the importer's responsibility to ensure all requirements are met before receiving live fish from us.

Key Requirements

• Confirm permitted species – only species on the Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) Permissible Imports List are approved. Confirm your species is listed before ordering.
• Obtain required permits – importation is restricted to registered fish dealers under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995. If you're not a registered dealer, you must obtain a permit from the IFS before importing.
• Prohibited species – freshwater shrimp, snails and other invertebrates are prohibited, with the sole exception of live blackworms (Lumbriculus variegatus). Species classified as controlled or noxious under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 or the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 are strictly prohibited.
• Health & disease requirements – all imported fish must be certified disease-free. A completed Certificate for the Importation of Live Freshwater Fish into Tasmania (Declaration by Consignor) is required for each shipment.
• Packaging & documentation – all consignments must be clearly labelled as containing live fish, with both common and scientific names of each species. All permits and declaration forms must be securely attached to the outside of the shipping container.
• Notification of arrival – notify Biosecurity Tasmania before arrival. Email shipment details in advance to noi.biosecurity@nre.tas.gov.au.
• Compliance with legislation – all imports must comply with the Biosecurity Act 2019. Also familiarise yourself with the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 and the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995.

Quick Prep Checklist

• Verify species eligibility – check the IFS Permissible Imports List.
• Secure required permits – ensure you hold the appropriate registrations or approvals.
• Label shipments correctly – include all mandatory information.
• Complete disease-free certification – submit the required declaration form.
• Notify Biosecurity Tasmania – provide shipment details before arrival.

Additional resources: IFS Permissible Imports List · Tasmanian Animal Biosecurity Manual · Rules for Importing Live Aquatic Animals.

Questions before ordering? Contact Nick's – we're happy to help you meet Tasmania's requirements.

• Shipping Policy
• Refund Policy
• Guarantees & Policies
• Arrive Alive Guarantee
• How We Pack Your Livestock
• Acclimation Guide
• Contact Us