Live Fish Shipping & Delivery
We ship live aquatic livestock to Western Australia addresses only. Here's everything you need to know before ordering.
The 4 ways to get your fish
| Option | Cost | For |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup at our Perth store | Free | Customers who can collect from our Kenwick location. We email when your order is ready (typically 24 hours). |
| Local delivery (Perth metro) | $10 to $30 (free over $100) | Within 50 km of our Kenwick store, calculated by distance: 0 to 20 km $10, 20 to 30 km $20, 30 to 50 km $30. Our staff delivers within 1 to 2 business days. If you're inside our local delivery radius, choose local delivery at checkout. The regional live fish freight rate does not apply to Perth metro orders. |
| Regional WA (overnight network) | $65 flat | One flat rate, delivered to your door, across most of WA: Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Esperance, Margaret River and the hubs in between. Fish travel overnight and typically arrive within about 24 hours, with our full live-arrival guarantee. |
| Remote & far-north WA (Gascoyne · Pilbara · Kimberley) | $65 flat | The same flat rate, delivered to your door: Carnarvon, Exmouth, Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Kununurra and remote stations. These very remote routes can take up to 72 hours, so live arrival is not guaranteed — sent at your own risk. If checkout doesn't return a rate for a very off-network postcode or external territory, contact us before ordering. |
Why WA-only?
Eastern-state retailers shipping live fish to WA pay a ~$70 WA Quarantine Department inspection fee that gets passed on to you. Because we're based in Perth, we're already in WA. That surcharge doesn't apply, so you get fresher fish, faster delivery, and lower freight. We do not ship live fish outside Western Australia.
When we dispatch and when your fish arrive
Live fish orders ship Tuesday and Wednesday only. To most of WA your fish travel overnight and typically arrive within about 24 hours (the next business day), so expect delivery on Wednesday or Thursday. To very remote and far-north WA (Gascoyne, Pilbara, Kimberley) transit can take up to 72 hours. We avoid late-week and weekend transit because delays kill fish. Order cut-off is Sunday 5 PM AWST for that week's dispatch. Orders placed after Sunday 5 PM ship the following week.
How we pack
- Insulated foam box for temperature stability
- Heat or cool packs as season requires
- Each fish double-bagged with pure oxygen
- External "Live Animals: Handle With Care" labelling
Live arrival guarantee
If your fish arrive in poor condition, send us photos within 8 hours of delivery at accounts@schoolofscape.com.au with your order number. We'll arrange a replacement on the next dispatch, store credit, or a refund.
- Photos must show the fish in the original sealed, unopened bag. Please do not open the bag until you have taken the photos; an opened or tampered bag voids the claim.
- Claims made after the 8 hour window need photo timestamps (image details/metadata) confirming when the photos were taken.
- Shipping and freight costs are non-refundable on live arrival claims.
- The guarantee is void if nobody is available to accept the delivery, the box is left unattended after delivery, delivery is refused, or an incorrect delivery address was provided.
Remote WA exception: Because very remote and far-north routes (Gascoyne, Pilbara, Kimberley) can take up to 72 hours, live arrival is not guaranteed on these orders — they are sent at your own risk. We still pack them to the same standard, but DOA replacements and refunds do not apply to remote-zone deliveries.
Frequently asked questions
Will my fish survive the trip in summer or winter?
Yes. We use insulation and heat/cool packs as needed, and most WA orders arrive within about 24 hours of dispatch. Very remote and far-north orders can take up to 72 hours and are sent at your own risk.
Do you ship live fish interstate?
No, we ship to Western Australia addresses only. WA biosecurity quarantine inspections add ~$70 per shipment plus 1 to 2 days delay for interstate senders. Better to support a local aquarium store in your state.
What if I'm not home for delivery?
Please make sure someone is at the address on delivery days (typically Wednesday or Thursday after Tuesday/Wednesday dispatch). Fish left in a hot mailbox or porch can die quickly, and that voids the live arrival guarantee.
Can I combine fish with plants or hardware?
Yes, but the fish portion ships separately and charges its own freight. Plants and hardware ship via standard general shipping in their own box.
Does the live arrival guarantee cover snails or shrimp?
Yes, same policy. Photos in the sealed bag within 8 hours of delivery.
Can I cancel a fish order before dispatch?
Yes, email us before Sunday 5 PM AWST and we'll refund in full. After dispatch, the live arrival guarantee applies.
Need help?
Email us at accounts@schoolofscape.com.au or visit our store at 22a/1736 Albany Highway, Kenwick WA 6107.