What to Do When Your Live Fish Order Arrives

Shipped fish have just been through a stressful journey, so how you handle the first hour after arrival matters enormously for their recovery.

Open the Box Promptly

Check bags for leaks or damage right away, and note the water temperature inside each bag compared to your tank before proceeding.

Acclimate Slowly

Follow a careful float-and-drip acclimation process, detailed in our fish acclimation guide, rather than releasing fish directly into your tank.

Dim the Lights

Keep tank lighting off or dimmed for the first several hours to help reduce stress as your new arrivals settle in.

Move to Quarantine, Not the Display Tank

Whenever possible, acclimate shipped fish into a dedicated quarantine setup rather than directly into your main display — see why you need a quarantine tank.

Hold Off on Feeding

Wait until the day after arrival to offer food, giving fish time to settle before their digestive system is asked to work again.

Monitor Closely for the First Week

Watch closely for any signs of stress or illness discussed in our fish body language guide, since the days immediately following shipping are when problems are most likely to appear.