INLAND AQUATICS' GENERAL SHIPPING
POLICIES and PRICING

We package and ship live animals and marine organisms to your door via Federal Express.  Although we guarantee these organisms will arrive on your doorstep alive, we cannot guarantee a product that is not accepted upon delivery.  Failure to accept a shipment will terminate our business relationship, we will not ship to you again.   If you have problems after receiving your shipment call us immediately (within 24 hours).  (812) 232-9000. 

NOTE:  The Dimensionalized Weights listed in the container descriptions below indicate the minimum weight you will be charged for by Federal Express. Shipments are billed according to weight, but the dimensionalized weight is used when the actual weight is the lesser number. Ordering enough items to meet or exceed the dimensionalized weight will reduce shipping costs per item, often drastically.

"Dimensionalized Weight" refers to the minimum weight rating assigned to a package by the shipping company (FedEx/UPS/Airborne), when assessing fees. This "weight" is based on the size of the container and varies directly with the class of service. For a given box or container, the dimensionalized weight increases, each time an upgraded level of shipping service (usually speed) is considered.

Unpacking Information

Fish are healthier if they are properly acclimated, and should be added to your tank soon after they arrive.  Always feed your tank several hours before adding your new arrivals.

Upon arrival, float the bags for 10 to 15 minutes. Next, open the bags and add one cup of system water to each bag every five minutes for the next fifteen minutes. Release the animals after adding the fourth cup of system water, or when the water in the bag has doubled. 

Cultured Detritivore Kits

As with all of our Cultured Critter Kits, these Detritivores were reared at our facility in Terre Haute. *** There is no rush to add the Detritivores to your tank. They are packed to survive for 48 hours...taking time to follow these acclimation tips will insure your success***

Please note: If there are fish, or other predators, in your tank feed them heavily a time or two after your shipment arrives. Immerse the tank in total darkness for a couple of hours before adding the kit (while the bags float in the tank). Add some sinking food pellets after adding the kit and leave the tank completely dark for 24 hours.

We guarantee live arrival of our animals and your satisfaction, however, we cannot guarantee the health of the animals after they are removed from the shipping containers. Please take the time to catalog the creatures in your shipping bags BEFORE adding them to your culture system or aquarium. There will be a lot of debris in the bags, so be sure to observe them AFTER ALL THE PARTICULATE HAS SETTLED.

Holding the bags up to a bright light, look through all sides of the bag. Many of the creatures included in your kit, such as Mysis Shrimp, Gammarus, other Amphipods and copepods are very small. They comprise the majority of the small specks that can be seen moving after all the particulate has settled out. Look carefully at detritus and/or macroalgae for any hiding critters, such as Gammarus Shrimp. Using a hand lens can be very helpful also.

The majority of the creatures should be marked on the side of your bag. Please make note of any discrepancies or deceased critters. Also note if the water temperature seems too warm or cool. Be sure to place chitons on rock or other hard surfaces. They will die on the sand!

Float the bags for 10 to 15 minutes. Next, open the bags and add one cup of system water to each bag every five minutes for the next fifteen minutes. Release the animals after adding the fourth cup of system water.

If possible, add the kit to a tank with nothing but live rock and live sand and minimal traumatic water flow. Feed the tank for a week to ten days before adding fish, to allow the critters to get established and begin to multiply. If you already have fish in the system, adding the kit to a Refugium will greatly enhance the effectiveness of the kit.

Again, thank you for your business. Please let us know if you have any questions, or if we may be of further service. If you have any problems, please contact us immediately.

Inland Aquatics
(812) 232-9000 FAX (520) 752-2728