Shipping / Policies

Shipping / Policies

All orders are shipped via UPS Next Day Air or Southwest Air Cargo

All livestock are shipped in styrofoam lined cardboard boxes. Boxes also have a plastic bag liner. Boxes will include heat packs depending on weather and environment. Each fish is quadruple bagged according to size to allow for the best air to water ratio possible.  Be aware that although we do our best to most efficiently pack your order, when placing a large order a second box may have to be used to ensure the comfort of the livestock and integrity of the packaging material at an additional shipping charge.

Shipping cost is $99 flat rate shipping nationwide or $59 flat rate shipping in California  A box will be able to ship 8-10 larger discus, 12-6 med  and 20-25 small.

Overnight shipping

We use UPS Next Day Air to ship to your address overnight.

2 Day Hold

Once your order has been completed. We will notify you via email that we have received your order and arrange your delivery day. Once we have secured a delivery date your discus will be separated into their shipout tank. Two days before your shipout date your discus will begin their conditioning period and be prepped for shipping. We ship out orders Monday through Wednesday for Tuesday through Thursday deliveries. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our shipping or holding processes please feel free to contact us.

Restocking Fee

There will be a 20% restocking fee if an order is canceled. This 20% will be charged by Golden State Discus as a “Consideration” due to the fish having to be taken off the market and not offered for sale to the public.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Golden State Discus takes great care and proactively quarantines all new shipments upon arrival from Malaysia. During this time their health is constantly being monitored and we ensure the discus are eating heartily before shipping.

However, if any of your discus were to arrive DOA, you will receive a full refund on the fish minus the shipping charges or a credit towards your next shipment.

  • In order to receive a refund or credit, please take a video of the DOA discus in water and email to[email protected], or text to Lynda @ 916-257-5334.
  • In order to receive the live arrival guarantee, you must be home to receive your fish! Packages that miss their first delivery attempt must be obtained on a second same day delivery attempt or collected from the shipping facility on the original delivery date. Packages that are obtained the day after the original delivery date will not be covered under the live arrival guarantee.
  • Packages that utilize the Hold for Pick up or Airport to Airport option will only be able to get the live arrival guarantee if the package is picked up on the delivery date. Any packages picked up the day after the original delivery date will not be eligible for the live arrival guarantee. We do not refund shipping cost.

Fortunately, Discus are excellent shippers and it is rare to lose discus in transit.  Please contact us with any questions or concerns.  Your satisfaction and success with your order is always our goal!

Acclimation:

You’ve invested valuable time and money researching the habitat requirements of your new fish. Naturally, you want to protect this investment by executing a proper acclimation process once the fish arrive at your door. The purpose of acclimation is simple: the water that the fish are packaged in has different temperature and pH parameters than your aquarium. Tropical fish are very sensitive to even minor changes in these parameters, so proper acclimation is the key to ensuring their successful relocation.

 There are two acclimation methods explained below, we recommend the Drip Method and wish to remind you the acclimation process should never be rushed. Also, remember to keep your aquarium lights off for at least four hours after the fish are introduced into the aquarium to help them further adjust. And do not feed your new fish for at least 24 hours after receiving them. They will beg you for food but it is best for them not to eat for 1 day after they are placed in their new home.

Drop method

  1. Turn off aquarium lights.
  2. Dim the lights in the room where the shipping box will be opened. Never open the box in bright light – severe stress or trauma may result from sudden exposure to bright light.
  3. Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for no more 15 minutes. Never open the shipping bag at this time. This step allows the water in the shipping bag to adjust slowly to the temperature in the aquarium, while maintaining a high level of dissolved oxygen.
  4. Lift the shipping bag from the aquarium
  5. Use a very soft net to gently catch the fish from the bag and release them into your aquarium.
  6. Remove the filled shipping bag from the aquarium and discard the water. Never release shipping water directly into the aquarium.

Drip Method

  1. This method is used when a shipment were to arrive and the PH of your tank is much lower than the PH of the fish in their shipping water (usually 6-6.5) You will need airline tubing and must be willing to monitor the entire process. Gather a clean 5 gallon bucket designated for aquarium use only that has never been used with any kind of cleaning agent or chemicals of any kind or if you have several fish to acclimate you can use the shipping box as long as it is one single mounded piece and water tight keep in mind holes are punched towards the top of the box for ventilation to allow air to the heat packs. If acclimating your new fish from different bags, use a separate bucket for each.
  2. Carefully empty the contents of the bags (including the water) into the bucket or box. Depending on the amount of water in each bag, this may require tilting the bucket at a 45 degree angle to make sure the animals are fully submerged. You may need a prop or wedge to help hold the bucket in this position until there is enough liquid in the bucket to put it back to a level position.
  3. Using airline tubing, set up and run a siphon drip line from the main aquarium to each bucket. You’ll need separate airline tubing for each bucket used. Tie several loose knots in the airline tubing, or use a plastic or other non-metal airline control valve to regulate flow from the aquarium. It is also a good idea to secure the airline tubing in place with an airline holder.
  4. Begin a siphon by sucking on the end of the airline tubing you’ll be placing into each of the buckets. When water begins flowing through the tubing, adjust the drip (by tightening one of the knots or adjusting the control valve) to a rate of about 2-4 drips per second.
  5. When the water volume in the bucket doubles, discard half and begin the drip again until the volume doubles once more in about one hour.
  6. At this point, the fish can be transferred to the aquarium. Gently scoop them out of the drip bucket with the specimen bag, making sure they’re fully covered in water. Submerge the bag underwater in the aquarium and gently remove the specimen from the bag. Next, seal off the bag underwater by twisting the opening, and remove it from the aquarium. Discard both the bag and the enclosed water. A tiny amount of the diluted water will escape into the aquarium; this is O.K.

Important Facts

  • Be patient – never rush the drip acclimation acclimation process. The total acclimation time for your new arrival should take no longer than one hour.
  • NEVER place an air stone into the shipping bag when acclimating your new arrival. This will increase the pH of the shipping water too quickly and expose your new arrival to lethal ammonia.
  • Keep aquarium lights off for at least four hours after the new arrival is introduced into the aquarium.
  • Do not feed your fish right away. We suggest waiting at least 24 hours for them to settle down before feeding them. They will look like they are hungry, but it is best for them to wait a full day before their first feeding.
  • Never pour the bag water into your aquarium.