Buying Live Fish & Aquarium Plants Online in Australia

Ordering live aquarium fish and plants online can feel very different from ordering ordinary aquarium supplies.

One of the most common questions we receive is: “How do you safely send live fish through the post?”

At Aquaholics, live orders are prepared differently from normal dry-goods orders. We carefully plan dispatch days, use specialist live-fish packing and send livestock using suitable delivery services to eligible Australian locations.

This page explains what happens after you place your order, when live fish are dispatched, how they are packed, what to expect when they arrive and the important biosecurity requirements you need to check before ordering.

Ready to shop? Browse our live aquarium fish or live aquarium plants.

How We Ship Live Fish

Live fish require more care than a normal parcel, which is why we don't simply pack them and send them on any day of the week.

Aquaholics normally dispatches live fish on:

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday

This helps reduce the chance of live fish being held in a freight network over a weekend.

Orders should be placed by 10:00pm Sunday Queensland time to be considered for the following week's live-fish dispatch run.

Orders received after the cut-off may be held until the next scheduled live-fish shipping period.

What Happens Around Public Holidays?

Public holidays can interrupt freight networks and increase the chance of livestock being delayed in transit.

If a public holiday affects the normal live-fish dispatch period, we may hold your order until the following suitable shipping week rather than taking an unnecessary risk with your fish.

If there is a local public holiday affecting your delivery area, please let us know when placing your order.

How Much Does Live Fish Shipping Cost?

Our current live-fish shipping rate is $35 per order, subject to our live-shipping conditions.

The live-fish freight charge applies to the shipment rather than each individual fish, so you are not charged $35 for every fish you add to your order.

This specialised freight helps cover the additional handling and packing required when transporting live aquarium fish.

How Are Live Fish Packed?

Preparing fish properly for transport is one of the most important parts of shipping livestock.

Your fish are carefully packed in square-bottom fish transport bags with freshwater. The bags are then filled with pure oxygen before being sealed.

The packed fish are then placed inside an insulated Styrofoam box for transport.

This method is designed to provide the fish with a stable transport environment while they travel from Aquaholics to your home.

Will I Receive Tracking?

Yes.

Once your live order has been dispatched, tracking information is normally supplied through the courier network so you can follow the progress of your delivery.

Courier tracking is managed by the freight provider, so tracking scans and estimated delivery times are controlled by their systems rather than Aquaholics.

We recommend keeping an eye on your tracking once your fish are on the way so someone can be available to receive the delivery.

What Should I Do Before My Fish Arrive?

The best time to prepare for new fish is before the courier arrives.

Make sure your aquarium is:

• Fully cycled and ready for livestock
• At the correct temperature for the species ordered
• Running with established filtration
• Using suitable water parameters for the fish
• Free from detectable ammonia and nitrite
• Large enough for the fish you have purchased

It's also a good idea to check the individual product descriptions before ordering so you understand the adult size, temperament and care requirements of each species.

If you're adding fish to an established community aquarium, make sure your existing fish are suitable tank mates.

What Should I Expect When My Fish Arrive?

Fish that have travelled may look different from the photographs shown on the website.

Transport is naturally stressful, so fish can temporarily appear pale, darker than normal or less colourful when they first arrive.

Give them time to settle into suitable aquarium conditions before judging their final colour or behaviour.

Many of the photographs on our website show mature fish displaying adult colouration. Juvenile fish may take time to develop the same colour, markings or finnage.

Are Live Fish Sold as Male or Female?

Unless a product is specifically advertised as male, female or a confirmed pair, our live fish are generally sold unsexed.

This is particularly important with juvenile fish because many species cannot be reliably sexed at smaller sizes.

We therefore cannot guarantee that an unsexed fish will develop into a male or female.

Buying Live Aquarium Plants Online

You can also order live aquarium plants online from Aquaholics.

Our live plant range includes options for planted aquariums and aquascapes, including bunched plants, rhizome plants and tissue culture plants.

Before ordering, consider the needs of the plants you choose, including:

• Available aquarium lighting
• Substrate type
• Available nutrients
• CO2 requirements where relevant
• Aquarium temperature
• The fish and animals already in the aquarium

Browse our aquascaping supplies if you also need planted aquarium substrate, lighting, fertilisers, tools or hardscape.

Live Fish Delivery to Western Australia

Western Australia has additional biosecurity requirements for live fish.

Live fish entering WA are subject to quarantine requirements and may be inspected on arrival. Some non-endemic fish may also require a translocation approval before they can legally be moved into Western Australia.

The customer is responsible for confirming that the particular fish species ordered can legally be imported and kept in Western Australia and for obtaining any approvals that may be required.

WA authorities may inspect shipments, and inspection or other government charges may apply.

Live aquatic plants are subject to separate Western Australian biosecurity requirements, so not every plant can necessarily be sent to WA.

Live Fish & Plants to the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has specific rules covering the import of live fish, aquatic life and aquatic plants.

Aquaholics does not routinely send live fish or aquatic plants to the Northern Territory unless the receiver has the required approvals and the species can legally be imported.

If you are located in the NT, please check the current Northern Territory Government requirements before placing a livestock order.

Live Fish & Plants to Tasmania

Tasmania also has specific biosecurity and freshwater fish import requirements.

Aquaholics does not routinely send live fish or aquarium plants to Tasmania unless all relevant requirements can be met.

Customers are responsible for checking whether the fish or plants they wish to purchase are permitted and whether an import permit or other approval is required.

Why Do State Biosecurity Rules Matter?

Australian states and territories can have different rules for live fish, aquatic plants and other aquarium livestock.

These controls help reduce the risk of invasive species, pests and aquatic diseases being introduced into new environments.

Because requirements can change and may depend on the exact species being ordered, customers should check the current rules for their destination before purchasing restricted livestock.

Our Live Arrival Guarantee

Aquaholics offers a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee for eligible live-fish orders, subject to our live-arrival claim requirements.

We take great care when selecting and packing fish, but live animals are different from ordinary products and problems can occasionally occur during transport.

If you receive a fish that has unfortunately arrived deceased or an item is missing from your live order, follow the instructions supplied with your shipment so we can assess the claim and arrange the appropriate credit or refund.

Please report any issue promptly and provide the information requested in the live-arrival instructions.

Why Buy Live Fish Online from Aquaholics?

Buying fish online gives you access to species that may not always be available from your nearest aquarium shop.

When you order live fish from Aquaholics you benefit from:

• A broad range of freshwater aquarium fish
• Specialist live-fish packing
• Scheduled livestock dispatch days
• Tracking once your order is dispatched
• A Live Arrival Guarantee for eligible orders
• Fish care information on our product pages
• Aquarium equipment and food available from the same store
• Local support from our Sunshine Coast aquarium store

Shop Live Fish & Aquarium Plants

Ready to add something new to your aquarium?

Browse our current live aquarium fish for sale or explore our live aquarium plants.

If you're unsure whether a fish, plant or delivery option is suitable for you, please contact Aquaholics before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really send live aquarium fish through the post?

Yes. Live aquarium fish can be transported using specialist livestock packing and suitable freight services. Aquaholics packs fish in sealed fish bags with freshwater and pure oxygen before placing them into an insulated transport box.

What days does Aquaholics ship live fish?

Live fish are normally dispatched on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to reduce the chance of livestock being held in a freight network over the weekend.

When do I need to order for the next live-fish shipment?

Orders should normally be placed by 10:00pm Sunday Queensland time to be considered for the following week's live-fish dispatch run. Orders received later may be held until the next suitable shipping period.

How much is live fish delivery?

The current Aquaholics live-fish shipping rate is $35 per order, subject to live-shipping conditions.

Will I receive tracking for my live fish order?

Yes. Tracking information is normally provided once the livestock order has been dispatched through the courier network.

Are the fish sold as males or females?

Unless the product specifically states otherwise, live fish are generally sold unsexed. Juvenile fish in particular may not be reliably sexable at the size offered for sale.

Do you guarantee live fish will arrive alive?

Aquaholics offers a Live Arrival Guarantee for eligible live-fish orders, subject to the claim requirements provided with the order.

Can you ship live fish to Western Australia?

Live fish entering Western Australia are subject to state biosecurity requirements and may require inspection or species-specific approvals. Customers must ensure the fish they order are permitted at their destination.

Can you ship live fish to Tasmania or the Northern Territory?

Aquaholics does not routinely ship livestock to Tasmania or the Northern Territory unless the relevant import, species and biosecurity requirements can be met. Customers should check current government requirements before ordering.

Can aquarium plants be shipped anywhere in Australia?

No. Some states and territories have additional biosecurity requirements for aquatic plants. Eligibility depends on the destination and the species being ordered.