Shipping policy

Shipping Policy

Effective Date: August 3, 2025

At Essential Reef, we take great care to ensure your order arrives quickly, safely, and in perfect health. Please review the following shipping terms before placing your order.

🐠 Live Coral & Invertebrate Shipping

  • All livestock orders are shipped via UPS or FedEx Priority Overnight.

  • Orders are packed in thick insulated boxes with heat or cold packs depending on the weather:

    • Heat packs included when temps are 65°F or below

    • Ice packs included when temps are 80°F or above

  • We currently ship only within the lower 48 U.S. states.
    No P.O. Boxes—physical addresses only.

🚚 Shipping Schedule

  • We ship livestock Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

  • No Thursday shipping during winter months

  • We do not ship Fridays, weekends, or Mondays

  • Orders placed after the cutoff may be shipped the following week to avoid weekend delays

If a shipment is delayed due to the carrier, it may not be delivered until the following Monday. We will always do our best to avoid this risk.

📦 Dry Goods Shipping

  • Dry goods (non-livestock) may ship separately via standard ground service

  • You’ll receive a tracking number once your order is processed

  • Orders typically ship within 1–3 business days

💲 Shipping Rates

  • Free overnight shipping on livestock orders over $200 (excluding discounted or auction items)

  • Orders under $200 ship at a flat rate, calculated at checkout

  • Dry goods shipping costs vary based on weight and destination

✅ Delivery Guarantee

We offer a Live Arrival Guarantee, even if there's a carrier delay. Please see our DOA Policy for full details.

To qualify:

  • Someone must be present to receive the shipment on the first delivery attempt

  • Clear photos of DOA livestock must be submitted within 12 hours

📍 Local Pickup

Local to South Florida? We offer free local pickup by appointment. Choose the option at checkout and we’ll contact you to coordinate.

If you have questions about shipping or special requests, email us at info@essentialreef.com or text us at (786) 321-4944.