Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff

When you place an order we must manually process shipping for each order, this is why we cannot accept payment for your order immediately. We promise to provide a shipping total within 24 hrs of the order being placed, in return we ask that you please make payment within 24hrs of receiving an updated shipping total. Please keep in mind that we are also a LFS and have many walk in customers, we cannot keep items for extended periods of time as we may have customers in store attempting to purchase the same items. Livestock orders shipped only Monday-Wednesday.

Our livestock is conscientiously maintained, inspected daily, and must meet certain criteria prior to being released for sale. However, due to the delicate nature of aquatic life, we are unable to guarantee compatibility or mortality of your purchase. We have no control of the livestock once it leaves our store, therefore no responsibility. It is the customer's duty to properly acclimate specimens into a stress-free environment.

If for some reason your order does not survive shipping you will receive a full refund for your order or credit towards a future order. This credit will only be valid for 6 months from the issue date. There is no refund for shipping unless the carrier has failed to deliver the shipment on time and has issued Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff a refund for the shipping. Photographs of the items in question must be provided before any refund or credit will take place.

We do not bulk ship as we are primarily a LFS. Our shipping rates are exactly what UPS/FedEx/USPS is charging at the current time. Our preferred shipping methods are Priority Overnight Services. If Florida residents wish to take the risk and save some money on shipping UPS does offer Ground shipping within the state guaranteed overnight. If you wish to take this option please advise us of this in the notes section of your order.

You will need:

1. Plastic container(s) with lid of adequate size to hold animals comfortably.
2. Enough airline tubing to create a siphon from the tank to the containers.
3. Flow control valve. (optional)
4. Thermometer.
5. Hydrometer or refractometer.
6. pH test kit or meter.
7. Small air pump with airline or airstone. (optional)
8. Aged saltwater, most likely several gallons.

Turn off lights over and around the aquarium.

Float the unopened bag in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes, (a larger bag will require 20-30 minutes) to allow temperature equalization.

Cut open bag and place the animal into the container. We recommend only one specimen per container.

Submerge and secure one end of the airline into the aquarium. Start a siphon which will drain tank water into the container. Control the stream of water by wither tying a loose knot in the hose or by using a valve. The stream should be reduced to a quick and steady drip. The volume of water should double in an hour.

Continue the dripping until the temperature, salinity and pH in the container matches that of your aquarium. This will most likely take several hours, we recommend the use of a small air pump driving air into the container to assist in maintaining adequate oxygen levels and blowing off excess carbon dioxide during this process. Remove water as necessary to keep the container from overfilling. Discard acclimation water; do not return it to the aquarium. Top off the tank with aged saltwater as needed.

Once all parameters have been adjusted, stop the dripping and carefully move the animal from the container to the aquarium. Be on the watch for any signs of aggression from the current tank inhabitants. Keeping the tank dark may assist in defecting aggressive behavior of the fish.

Fish: May breathe rapidly and lay on their side, play dead, during acclimation.
Shrimp & Crabs: Slow down the doubling of the water volume to every 2 hours. Occasionally, they will lose limbs which will regenerate in time. Molting is common during acclimation
Cucumbers, Starfish & Urchins: Slow down the doubling of the water volume to every 2 hours. These may lay motionless for several days. Remove from tank if disintegration is present.
Clams, Conchs, Feather Dusters, Snails & Slugs: May not open or move for a couple of days. Remove from tank if it smells rancid.
Coral & Anemones: May not fully open for days. Anemones will adhere more quickly when exposed to a slower current.
Sponges: Never expose to air. Keep submerged at all times. You will have to add our water to your systems.

Fish and other Ichthy Stuff