What to Expect When Livestock Arrives: Shipping to Acclimation
Complete guide to shipping, arrival, and first 7 days with your new fish
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EasternMarine's Shipping Process
Before Your Fish Ships
Every fish we send goes through:
1. 3-Week Quarantine ✅ - Checked for disease - Treated for parasites - Fed and adapting to captivity - Verified healthy before shipping
2. Final Health Check ✅ - Clear eyes and fins - Active swimming - Eating readily - Strong coloration
3. Order Confirmation ✅ - You get email when order ships - Includes tracking number - Includes care instructions
Packing Process
Your fish arrives packed safely:
- Oxygen-filled bag (2-3x normal oxygen) - Insulated box (prevents temperature shock) - Ice packs (keeps cool in hot weather) - Padding (prevents bag damage) - Care sheet (printed instructions)
Shipping method: Same Day Airfreight ($78 flat) - Airport to airport - Professional handling - Temperature controlled - ~24 hours total
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Arrival Timeline
24 Hours Before Arrival
- [ ] Verify your tank is cycled and stable - [ ] Check temperature is 78°F - [ ] Gather acclimation supplies - [ ] Review acclimation stepsArrival Day (Morning/Afternoon)
1. Package Arrives - Open immediately (don't let sit) - Inspect box for damage - Check if ice packs still cold
2. Inspect the Fish - Look through sealed bag - Fish should be moving (not necessarily fast) - No visible injuries? - Water clear or slightly cloudy? (normal)
3. Contact Us if Needed If fish appears dead or severely injured: - Take photo - Email: mdyer.nz@gmail.com - Call: 09 281 1380 - EasternMarine Arrive Alive Guarantee applies
→ Read Our Arrive Alive Guarantee
4. Float the Bag - Place sealed bag in tank - Leave for 15-20 minutes - (Temperature is equalizing)
5. Acclimate - (Follow complete acclimation guide — link below) - Takes ~30 minutes total - Very important step
→ Complete Fish Acclimation Guide
6. Release Fish - Use net, not bag water - Place in tank - Lights off for 2-3 hours
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First 24 Hours
Things That Are NORMAL:
✅ Fish hiding (very normal) ✅ Fish not eating (expected) ✅ Fish breathing heavily (stress response, goes away) ✅ Fish staying in one corner (will explore) ✅ Fish darting around (stress, will calm down) ✅ Faded coloration (stress, returns in 2-3 days)Things That Are NOT Normal:
❌ Fish laying on bottom motionless (contact us) ❌ Visible white spots or lesions (disease — quarantine!) ❌ Fish gasping at surface (oxygen issue) ❌ Fish bleeding (injury from shipping)What To Do in First 24 Hours:
DO: - [ ] Observe from distance (don't tap glass) - [ ] Keep lights dim - [ ] Monitor temperature (should stay 78°F) - [ ] Watch for breathing rate to slow - [ ] Take photos for documentation
DON'T: - [ ] Feed (wait until tomorrow) - [ ] Change water - [ ] Move fish with net (let it settle) - [ ] Add other fish (wait 1 week minimum) - [ ] Interact with fish (let it decompress)
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Days 2-7: Acclimation to Tank Life
Day 2
- [ ] Turn lights back on (dim is OK) - [ ] Offer small amount of food (pinch) - [ ] Observe eating behavior - [ ] Continue monitoringExpected: Fish explores more, may not eat (OK if skips day 2)
Day 3
- [ ] Resume normal lighting - [ ] Feed small amount (once daily) - [ ] Check coloration returning (less stress) - [ ] Monitor tank parametersExpected: Fish exploring more, some eating
Days 4-7
- [ ] Normal feeding (once daily) - [ ] Fish increasingly confident - [ ] Coloration fully returned - [ ] Ready for tank mates (if adding any)---
Introduce Tank Mates (After 1 Week)
Important: Wait minimum 1 week before adding other fish.
Why: - Reduces stress on new fish - Prevents territory disputes - New fish hasn't established immune response yet - Safer for entire tank
If adding second fish: - Follow same acclimation for new fish - Existing fish may briefly show aggression (normal) - Separate if fighting continues - Wait another week before adding third
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EasternMarine Arrive Alive Guarantee
What's Covered:
✅ Fish arrives dead ✅ Fish arrives with visible injuries ✅ Fish dies within 24 hours of acclimation (with documentation)What's NOT Covered:
❌ Fish dies after 48 hours (assumed tank issue) ❌ Fish dies from incompatibility with tank mates ❌ Fish dies from improper acclimation ❌ Fish dies from poor water qualityHow to Claim:
If fish arrives DOA: 1. Take photos (sealed bag, dead fish) 2. Email: mdyer.nz@gmail.com 3. Provide order number 4. Describe condition
Result: Livestock credit for replacement
No hassle, no fees. We stand behind every fish.
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Common Issues & Solutions
"Fish won't eat after 5 days"
Possible causes: - Still adjusting (normal until day 5-7) - Wrong food type - Wrong feeding technique - Tank mates are aggressive
Solutions: - Offer different food (frozen bloodworms, pellets) - Feed smaller amount in different location - Isolate if being bullied - Wait another day or two
Get worried if: 10+ days without eating → contact us
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"Fish has white spots appearing"
Likely cause: Ich (parasite), common from shipping stress
Treatment: 1. Increase temperature to 80-81°F 2. Add copper-free ich treatment 3. Increase aeration 4. Do 25% water change daily 5. Monitor closely
Prevention: Quarantine separate tank if possible
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"Fish has torn fins"
Causes: - Shipping stress (fins tear from bag) - Tank mates too aggressive - Decor with sharp edges
Treatment: 1. Ensure water quality (frequent changes) 2. Add marine-safe antibacterial 3. Remove aggressive tank mates 4. Remove sharp decor 5. Fins regrow in 3-4 weeks
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"Fish hiding in corner constantly"
Causes: - Still stressed (days 1-3 normal) - Lacks hiding spots - Other fish are aggressive - Tank conditions poor
Solutions: - Add more rockwork/caves - Remove aggressive fish if added too early - Check: pH, salinity, temperature, ammonia - Give more time (up to 1 week)
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Documentation (For Your Records)
When fish arrives, document:
Fish Shipment Checklist:
□ Fish species: _
□ Arrival date: _
□ Condition on arrival: _
□ Acclimation completed: _
□ Date first feeding: _
□ Tank mates added: _
□ Any issues: _
□ Notes: _
Keep this for warranty purposes.
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Feeding After Arrival
Days 1-3:
- Skip or minimal feeding (stress suppresses appetite)Days 4+:
- Once daily, small amount - Feed only what eaten in 2-3 minutes - Skip 1 day per week (cleanse digestive system)Feed types (rotate):
- Flake food (daily base) - Pellets (3x per week) - Frozen food (2x per week) - Occasional vegetables (if herbivore)---
Water Quality After Arrival
Days 1-7: Monitor Daily
Check: - Temperature (should be 78°F ± 1) - pH (should match your baseline) - Ammonia (should be 0) - Nitrite (should be 0) - Nitrate (should be <20)
Why: - Stress can spike ammonia - New fish adds bioload - Water quality issues slow recovery
Weekly After Day 7:
- 25% water change - Full parameter check - Document results---
Quarantine Option (For Cautious Keepers)
Some people quarantine new fish for 2-3 weeks before adding to main tank.
Benefits: - Prevents disease introduction - Fish completely stress-free - Can observe behavior in isolation
Setup needed: - Small 10-20 gallon tank - Filter - Heater - Hide spots - Minimal decor
Cost: $50-100 additional investment
Worth it: Yes, if you're cautious or have expensive established tanks
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Post-Arrival Timeline Summary
| Day |
| 0 (Arrival) |
| 1 |
| 2-3 |
| 4-5 |
| 6-7 |
| 7+ |
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EasternMarine Support
Questions after your fish arrives?
📧 Email: mdyer.nz@gmail.com 📞 Phone: 09 281 1380 🌐 Web: easternmarineaquariums.co.nz
We're here to help your new fish thrive. No question too small.
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You've made the right choice. EasternMarine fish are healthy, ready, and backed by our guarantee. 🐠