Top Resources for Your Tank

So while an image may LOOK like a full-sized coral colony or an adult fish, the actual delivery probably won’t match. It isn’t false advertising (juveniles DO grow into their adult forms eventually, and corals grow under proper conditions). But you need to prepare yourself. If you want exactly what you see in an image, look for a WYSIWYG on the listing. A big mouthful, but it stands for “What you see is what you get.” This means the photo IS the fish or coral they’re selling.

When buying saltwater fish online, your other option is to ASK for a picture of the specimen they’re selling. Then you’ll get to see your fish ahead of time and know what to expect. Reputable sellers won’t have a problem with this request.

Shipping Costs

As you should expect when buying saltwater fish online, you need to pay to ship your purchase. And there’s no option for “standard” shipping when you’re dealing with live animals. You need to ship overnight, and that’s expensive. Plan to add $50-$75 to the cost of your purchase price.

Now, most online saltwater fish and coral stores know that shipping price is a brute. The best sellers offer FREE SHIPPING when you exceed a minimum order amount. It’s a great deal, but you usually need to order somewhere around $150-$250. Not exactly a trivial sum. It’s also a lot of livestock in your tank at once (depending on the fish and coral species you purchase). You don’t want to throw your aquarium’s cycle off to save on shipping.

One way to capitalize on free shipping (without blowing your budget or biological filter) is to connect with fellow hobbyists in your area and place a group order. With a group buy, you’ll easily exceed the minimum to secure free shipping and get the one or two species you were the most interested in. Then you pick one person’s address to set for the shipping, and they call everyone when the delivery arrives.

Acclimation

Shipping a live animal in a box is one of the most stressful things you can do. (You know, beyond capturing it and extracting it from its home) And since there’s no way around that stress when your buying saltwater fish online (they can’t Uber), you need to anticipate a traumatized fish hitting your doorstep.  That means spending time carefully acclimating fish and corals online to life in your aquarium.

The acclimation process starts by making sure you’re HOME for the delivery. It’s challenging if you work a traditional 9-5 job, but you need to make arrangements if that’s the case. The WORST thing you can do is leave a fish or coral in a box out in the elements on your porch. The packaging’s insulated, but not enough to protect the animal for long periods. As hours tick away, you’re risking the loss of that fish.

The next thing you need to consider is gradually acclimating them to light. Sounds weird (especially if you’re buying saltwater fish online that are nocturnal), but think about it. They spent the night in a pitch-black box. You don’t want to throw the lid open and shock those fishy retinas. As excited as you are to examine them, make the box opening a gradual process. (You can edit your Instagram reels or TikTok videos to make the process look quick and seamless) Then you can move on in your acclimation process.

Most reputable online stores have recommended acclimation procedures. Read the process for your store before placing your order. That way, you’ll be ready when your fish or corals arrive. Not only will this protect the health and well-being of the animals you ordered, but it will also ensure you’ll end up covered by any warranty the store provides. Many warranty programs require you to follow specific acclimation steps. If you miss one, you void that warranty.

You also need to contact them immediately after receiving the package if you notice a specimen is dead on arrival. No one wants that scenario, but it’s a sad possibility when your buying saltwater fish online. They know when those boxes get delivered, and if you wait hours and hours to call them? Yeah, they’re not going to refund or replace your order.

Buying Corals Online

Corals are some of the most popular purchases made from online stores. You can pick up frags and colonies of any size. And if you’re looking for some of the more exotic color options out there, online retailers are your best option. You can always talk with other hobbyists in your area to exchange frags, but you may not find the species or shades you’re looking for. That’s where these online sources come in handy.

But if you’re in the mood for something new and unique (and you have the extra money in your pocket), check out their page of “Fresh Cherries.” And if you want to see what they have in stock, check out their Facebook page. They update that page first, several times a week.

Cherry Corals is based in Michigan. They guarantee their shipments will arrive alive, or they’ll credit you for the lost coral.

Jason Fox Coral

Jason Fox Coral is located in Maryland. They offer an “Arrive Alive” guarantee and provide a credit for any coral dead on arrival – as long as you contact them within ONE HOUR of receiving the box. That means you need to get unpacking FAST! (It seems a bit narrow of a window to me, but what do I know) You’ll also find Jason Fox Coral at aquarium shows and frag swaps.

Tidal Gardens

Tidal Gardens offers a 7-day guarantee on their corals (unless you spring for one of their “expert only” options). And if your coral doesn’t survive (or shows up on the door dead), they’ll replace it, refund your money, or provide a gift card. It’s one of the better guarantees out there if you’re buying corals online.

Buying Saltwater Fish Online

If you’re interested in buying saltwater fish online, you’ll find THOUSANDS of options. I could go on and on. But I’ve decided to narrow the list to a few popular choices. When you look into a seller, always hunt down their policy on returns and fish that arrive “belly-up.” You want to make sure you’re taking precautions for the worst. Then you know what you’re getting yourself in for.

Incidentally, these sources for buying saltwater fish online also carry corals and invertebrates. So you can do one-stop shopping!

Based in California, Blue Zoo Aquatics offers an “Arrive Alive” guarantee on some of their species. For the rest, you get a 7-day live guarantee. (Make sure you read the details on the fish you’re interested in) The seven-day count starts the day your fish SHIPS, though, so mark your calendar when you get your confirmation email. You also need to notify them about DOAs within ONE HOUR of delivery, or you won’t see a refund or credit.

LiveAquaria

LiveAquaria is based in Wisconsin. And the best part about buying saltwater fish online from LiveAquaria is their guarantee. All purchases will arrive alive and stay alive for FOURTEEN DAYS, or they’ll credit your account or refund your money. That allows you to buy with complete confidence. Furthermore, if you purchase a certified captive-bred coral, you get a 30-day extended guarantee! That’s hard to beat!

ThatFishPlace

If you order saltwater fish or corals from ThatFishPlace, you’re covered by their 14-day guarantee (as long as the fish isn’t on their restricted species list). The only downside is that the restricted species list is pretty extensive, but it’s better than NO guarantee.

Buying Saltwater Invertebrates Online

Buying saltwater fish online often leads to purchasing other animals for your tank. And while you can usually find crustaceans and mollusks at the same retailers, sometimes you’re interested in a special invertebrate. That’s where these sellers come in handy. They specialize in centerpieces (or fun species) that make the perfect additions to your aquarium.

Pacific East Aquaculture offers a live arrival guarantee. You get three hours to notify them if something doesn’t survive the shipping process, and then they’ll refund your money. And if you spend over $1000 (Hey, it could happen!), you get special security on your shipping.

Nudibranchs

ReefTown

ReefTown works a little differently than some online retailers. They box up your nudibranchs on Wednesdays for Next Day Air. And you need to notify them within TWO HOURS if you have any dead arrivals. They’re located in Florida.

Salty Underground

Operating out of Missouri, they offer a guaranteed live arrival. And you have a 14-day money-back guarantee on top of that.

Buying Live Cultures Online: Reed Mariculture, Inc.

Depending on the size of your order, you may need to contact the company directly to get a quote on pricing. And you may need to place advanced notice if you’re ordering large batches (in the billions range) of rotifers. Of course, that’s not typical for hobbyists. Otherwise, they ship out the same day. Any refunds can get handled with their friendly customer service. (Let’s face it – are you going to break out a microscope and check EVERY pod or rotifer for signs of life? No, you’re not)

For More Information

Buying saltwater fish online runs a risk. You need to ensure you read ALL of the fine print involved. And you have to consider the additional shipping risks and costs. It isn’t for the unaware (or ill-prepared). But if you can’t find a specific fish, coral, or invertebrate at your local fish store, those online resources are your best bet. So let’s make sure you have all the information you need to proceed with your internet searching.

For instance, how about a YouTube video showing one experience with buying saltwater fish online:

You can also look at other reputable sources when you start buying saltwater fish online:

Conclusion

Hopefully, you found this list of sources for buying saltwater fish online helpful. It’s by no means an exhaustive list. Stores pop up and, unfortunately, disappear with regularity. My goal is to point you in the direction of some of the most established, tried and true online resources to help you start your journey. Then you can consider getting fish and corals shipped to your doorstep. As long as you’re prepared to meet them as soon as the box arrives.