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The Boom Boom Fishroom

How We Ship

From our fish room to your tank: how every order is packed, why Iowa helps, and what to do when your fish arrive.

Our Packing Process

Every order follows the same steps.

  1. 24-hour pre-ship fastFish aren’t fed for 24 hours before packing, which keeps transit water cleaner.
  2. Breather bagsEvery fish ships in its own breather bag. The membrane exchanges oxygen and waste gases straight through the bag, so fish arrive in cleaner water than in old-style sealed bags.
  3. Insulated, foam-lined boxBags are cushioned inside an insulated box so nothing shifts in transit.
  4. USPS Priority Mail with a care cardEvery order ships USPS Priority Mail with a printed care card and unboxing instructions.

Shipping Schedule & Coverage

Monday–Wednesday

Orders ship Monday through Wednesday only, timed to minimize the chance your fish spend a weekend in transit.

48 contiguous states

We ship to the 48 contiguous states. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or US territories.

Winter shipping, Oct–Apr

During the colder months, every order ships with an added heat pack and extra insulated packaging.

You’ll receive a tracking number as soon as your label is created. Estimated arrival dates are shown at checkout as a planning guide.

Why We Ship From Iowa

We’re based in eastern Iowa, close to the geographic center of the country, which means shorter transit times to more of the U.S. than breeders shipping from the coasts.

It matters for the fish too. Iowa tap water is naturally hard and mineral-rich, the same water chemistry most of the Midwest and much of the country already has coming out of the tap. Fish raised here are acclimated to it from day one, instead of arriving from soft, mineral-poor water and having to adjust on top of a shipping trip.

When Your Fish Arrive

  1. Stand the bag uprightSet the sealed bag upright in a cup beside the tank. Don’t float it: the breather bag needs air contact to work.
  2. Equalize temperatureLet it sit for 15–20 minutes.
  3. Net fish directlyMove the fish into the tank with a net.
  4. Discard the shipping waterDon’t add it to your tank.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All livestock is guaranteed to arrive alive. In the unlikely event of a DOA:

  1. Contact us within 3 hours of confirmed delivery, through eBay messaging or at support@theboomboomfishroom.com.
  2. Send clear photos of: the fish in the sealed bag upon arrival (before opening); the bag label with your order number; and the fish removed from the bag on a flat surface.

Verified DOA = full refund of the deceased fish’s purchase price. Partial losses are refunded for the deceased fish only. Original shipping is non-refundable in all cases. Claims missing photos or submitted after 3 hours cannot be honored.

Not covered: bags opened before photos are submitted, packages not retrieved within 3 hours of confirmed delivery, carrier weather delays, refusal of delivery, or fish that decline due to acclimation issues or existing tank conditions.