Shipping and Delivery
Direct from our farm in Thailand · Live arrival guaranteed · All customs handled
Every fish ships directly from our breeding farm in Thailand to your door — one journey, no middlemen, fully tracked. This page details what your shipping cost covers, exact timelines, and our live arrival guarantee.
Our packing & shipping process · Direct from farm in Thailand
What Your Shipping Cost Actually Covers
International live fish shipping involves far more than freight. Every order's shipping fee bundles six separate operational components into one transparent, upfront price — no import duties, no customs bills, no surprise charges at delivery.
All 6 components bundled · One upfront price · No hidden fees
Pay once. Receive your fish. The shipping cost shown at checkout is the complete, final cost — from health certification in Thailand to delivery at your door. Nothing is charged after payment.
Delivery Timelines
All orders ship via air freight express with full temperature control. Transit time is counted from the scheduled shipout date from Thailand — not from order placement. Your departure date is confirmed at checkout and shown below. A live tracking number is sent when your fish departs.
Shipping to another country? Contact us for available dates and destinations →
Shipping Notes
- Orders ship on scheduled dispatch dates only — not daily. Your exact departure date is confirmed at checkout before payment.
- Business days exclude weekends and Thai public holidays. Customs clearance may extend the estimate by 1–2 days in rare cases.
- We do not ship to PO Boxes. A physical delivery address is required for all orders.
- Adult signature required at delivery. Ensure someone is available, or provide an alternate address.
- Slower shipping options are not offered — air freight express is the only method that reliably keeps live fish safe during international transit.
Where We Ship
We ship to international destinations with full customs management from export to import. If your country is not listed, contact us to confirm availability before ordering.
- 🇺🇸 United States (all 50 states)
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇦🇺 Australia — contact us first
- 🇪🇺 EU Countries — selected, contact us
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🇯🇵 Japan — contact us first
- Countries requiring buyer-side live fish import permits
- Destinations with no viable air freight express routing
- PO Boxes and military APO/FPO addresses
- Hawaii & Puerto Rico — additional requirements apply
- Locations where local law prohibits Betta fish import
Not sure if we ship to you? Contact us before placing your order — we'll confirm availability and requirements for your destination within 24 hours.
Your Order Journey — 10 Steps from Farm to Front Door
Here is exactly what happens from the moment your order is confirmed to when your fish arrives. Every step is completed individually — there are no shortcuts on a living creature.
Your Order Is Confirmed
You select your fish — price, shipping cost, and exact departure date are visible before payment. Once processed, your specific fish is flagged in our system and assigned to the farm team.
Your Fish Is Individually Health-Checked
Our farm team locates your fish specifically — not a random substitute — and conducts a full health assessment. If not in optimal condition, we contact you immediately with a replacement or full refund. We will not ship a compromised fish.
Government Health Certificate Issued
One week before departure, we obtain an official Health Certificate from the Thai government — certifying your fish is disease-free and legally cleared for international transit. Included with every shipment.
24-Hour Pre-Shipping Preparation
Your fish is fasted 24 hours to reduce ammonia, given a full water change with conditioned water, and packed in our double-bag system — one sealed bag inside another — eliminating any leak risk during transit.
Your Fish Departs Thailand by Air
Packed in an insulated foam box with all export documentation, your fish boards the cargo flight. Our team handles Thai customs clearance in full. Estimated transit: 3–7 business days to the USA.
US Import Customs — Handled Entirely by Us
Upon landing, our team manages all import duties, USDA/USFWS documentation, and customs clearance. Many international sellers require buyers to handle this — we do not. No additional charges at this stage.
US Team Arrival Inspection
Our US-based team immediately inspects your fish — checking bag integrity, water quality, and condition. Any bag showing stress signs is re-packed with fresh aerated water before proceeding.
Climate Protection Added for Your Location
We check current weather at your delivery address. Summer: cool pack maintains 75–78°F. Winter: heat pack keeps water above 72°F. Every order receives individual thermal protection — no shortcuts.
Final Quality Check & Dispatch
Before carrier handoff, your fish is inspected one final time. All labels are verified and your tracking number is entered into your order. A shipping notification is sent to your email.
Delivered to Your Door — Track in Real Time
USPS or UPS carries your package the final mile. Track your order anytime at our tracking page — enter your order number and email for live status.
Once your order ships, you can follow it end-to-end from Thailand to your front door using our live order tracker.
Live order tracking · ThailandBettaFish.com
Our Live Arrival Guarantee
Every order is backed by our live arrival guarantee — no fine print, no ambiguity. Over 97% of fish arrive alive and in perfect condition, not by chance, but because our 10-step process is followed on every order without exception.
97%+ live arrival rate · 30+ years shipping live fish internationally
How to Claim — DOA Policy
- Record a short unboxing video from the moment the outer package is opened. This video is required for all DOA claims.
- Submit your claim within 24 hours of delivery using our DOA Form — include your order number and unboxing video.
- A full refund of the fish's purchase price is issued immediately upon verification. Shipping costs are non-refundable as all services were fully rendered.
- The guarantee is void if the package is refused at delivery, left uncollected for more than 24 hours, or if the fish is not properly acclimated upon arrival.
Packaging Standards
Every fish is packed to the same standard regardless of order size or destination. Our protocol has been refined over 30 years of international live fish shipping.
Inside Every Package
- Double-bag system — Your fish is sealed in one bag inside a second, eliminating leak risk under rough freight handling.
- Conditioned travel water — Fresh, pH-balanced water with stress-reducing additives for extended transport.
- Insulated foam box — Maintains stable internal temperature throughout transit regardless of external conditions.
- Thermal regulation — Heat pack or cool pack added based on your delivery location's current weather forecast.
- Required documentation — Government health certificate and export/import compliance paperwork included in every shipment.
Extended transit protection: Our packing sustains a safe environment for 7+ days — providing full coverage in the event of customs delays or carrier disruptions.
Customs & Import — Fully Handled
We manage the entire import process on your behalf. You are not required to take any action related to customs at any point in your order.
What We Handle on Your Behalf
- Thai government export health certification
- Thai customs export declaration and clearance
- US import documentation — USDA and USFWS compliance
- US customs clearance and import duty — included in your shipping cost
- UK and Canada import clearance for orders to those destinations
Is It Legal to Import Betta Fish?
Yes — completely. Betta splendens are fully legal to import into the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. They are not listed under CITES and require no buyer-side import permit. Every shipment includes a Thai government-issued health certificate confirming legal export compliance.
Refunds, Returns & Cancellations
The following policies apply to all orders placed at ThailandBettaFish.com. Please review carefully before placing your order.
Refunds are offered only for dead on arrival (DOA) fish. Contact us within 48 hours of delivery with an unboxing video and order details. Approved refunds cover the fish's purchase price only — not shipping costs.
We do not accept returns. Live fish cannot be returned due to the nature of the product. Please review all product details carefully before placing your order.
Orders cannot be cancelled once placed, as preparation begins immediately. If your order does not arrive within 25 days of the confirmed ship date, you may request a full refund.
Carrier delays, adverse weather, and peak seasons may occasionally affect delivery timelines. If your order is significantly delayed, contact us and we will investigate and update you within 24 hours.
Questions?
Our team responds to all shipping inquiries within 24 hours — whether you're asking before placing an order or following up after delivery.
Contact us with any questions about shipping, timelines, destinations, or your live arrival guarantee.
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