We welcome fish room visits and tours.
Because we operate an active e-commerce store, we ask that you call or text before coming by so we can make sure someone is available to host your visit.
Fish room visits and tours are available thursday-Sunday, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Call or Text: 530-526-1532
Large aquariums and aquarium furniture ship by freight due to their size and handling requirements.
All aquariums ship free to customers located in California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada.
Customers located in all other states must contact us for a freight quote before placing an order for aquariums.
Custom aquarium orders follow a separate process. Please see the Custom Orders section for details.
All aquarium shipments are insured.
If visible damage is present, the shipment must be refused, and the driver must note the damage on the bill of lading so the freight insurance claim can be processed.
If a shipment arrives damaged:
• Refuse the shipment
• Ensure the driver notes the damage on the bill of lading
The aquarium hobby depends on healthy rivers, wetlands, and oceans around the world. Many of the fish and plants we enjoy in our aquariums originate from fragile ecosystems that deserve protection.
As part of our commitment to responsible fishkeeping, 3% of every live fish and live plant order is donated to conservation organizations including The Nature Conservancy and Projeto Piaba.
The Nature Conservancy works around the world to protect rivers, wetlands, coral reefs, and other critical habitats that support biodiversity and clean water.
Projeto Piaba operates in the Rio Negro region of the Amazon, promoting sustainable aquarium fish collection that helps protect rainforest ecosystems and support local communities — a philosophy often described as “Buy a Fish, Save a Tree.”
By supporting conservation organizations working to preserve these environments, we help protect the natural ecosystems that make this hobby possible.
Thank you for helping us support aquatic habitat conservation.
30-Day Warranty & Returns
All products sold by Blue Zone Aquarium include a 30-day warranty against manufacturing defects.
If a product is defective within 30 days of delivery, we will repair, replace, or refund the item after it is returned and inspected.
We also offer a 30-day return window on unused products in original condition and packaging. Items must be returned within 30 days of delivery. Shipping costs are non-refundable unless the return is due to a verified defect or fulfillment error.
This policy does not cover damage caused by improper installation, misuse, modification, or accidental breakage.
Many products we carry include additional manufacturer warranty coverage beyond our 30-day policy. Contact us if you need assistance determining manufacturer support.
Aquariums 25 gallons and under include a 30-day warranty covering manufacturing defects. When purchased with a Blue Zone Aquarium stand, the aquarium warranty is extended to three years.
Live Goods
Returns are not accepted for any live goods, including fish, shrimp, snails, or aquatic plants.
Live animals and plants are perishable and cannot be returned once they have been shipped or delivered. These items are covered under our Arrive Safe Guarantee.
Live Fish, Shrimp & Betta Health Standards
We take the health and safety of our livestock very seriously. Every fish we receive is carefully quarantined and monitored before being made available for sale.
Each fish is held for a minimum of 14 days to ensure it is healthy, feeding well, and free of visible disease. During this period, fish are closely observed and treated with preventative protocols when appropriate. If a fish does not meet our standards for any reason, it will not be shipped.
Shrimp and bettas are carefully acclimated, maintained in stable systems, and observed to ensure they are active and in good condition prior to sale.
Only livestock that passes our health checks is offered for sale, ensuring that your aquarium receives healthy, thriving fish, shrimp, and bettas.
Live Fish, Shrimp & Betta Shipping
All livestock is shipped live in insulated packaging to maintain stable temperatures during transit.
Each shipment is packed in oxygenated bags, and heat or cold packs are included when needed based on weather conditions.
Live fish are shipped overnight only to minimize transit time and reduce stress.
Shrimp and bettas may be shipped overnight or 2-Day Air, depending on your selection at checkout.
If you would like your order to arrive on a specific day, you may leave a note at checkout. Deliveries can be requested for Tuesday through Friday, and we will do our best to coordinate your preferred arrival date.
Our live shipping rate has no quantity cap, allowing you to add additional livestock to your order without increasing the shipping cost.
PLANT SHIPPING & HANDLING
We take the health and quality of our aquatic plants seriously. All incoming plants are carefully inspected before being placed into our holding systems.
Plants selected for shipment are inspected again and hand-rinsed prior to packing to remove debris and reduce the likelihood of hitchhiking organisms.
Customers may choose between 1–3 Day Shipping or Express 2-Day Shipping, depending on their location and preference. Processing time and shipping day may vary depending on order volume, destination distance, weather conditions, and carrier schedules.
While we closely monitor our holding systems and inspect all incoming and outgoing plants, we cannot guarantee plants will be completely pest-free. Aquatic plants are living organisms and small organisms such as snails, algae, or microscopic life may occasionally be present. The only way to ensure completely pest-free plants is through laboratory tissue culture propagation.
That said, we make every effort to maintain clean holding systems and to ship healthy, well-maintained plants that have been carefully inspected prior to shipment.
ARRIVE SAFE GUARANTEE
All plant orders are covered by our Arrive Safe Guarantee. We carefully inspect, prepare, and pack every order to ensure plants arrive healthy and in good condition.
Our goal is always to ensure your plants arrive safely and in the best possible condition. We closely monitor weather and transit conditions and may delay shipments if temperatures or shipping conditions appear unsafe. If conditions are not suitable for safe transit, we will hold your order and ship at the next safe opportunity rather than risk damage to live plants.
For sensitive or high-value plant orders, or during periods of extreme heat or cold, we strongly recommend selecting Express 2-Day Shipping to minimize transit time and reduce the risk of weather-related stress.
Because live fish and shrimp require fast, temperature-safe delivery, a $35 minimum purchase is required for all shipped livestock orders.
This minimum ensures orders are large enough to support safe and reliable air shipping while maintaining quality standards.
Shipping Overview
Live fish are shipped Overnight Air only to minimize transit time and reduce stress.
Shrimp and bettas may be shipped Overnight or 2-Day Air, depending on your selection at checkout.
Our live shipping rate has no quantity cap, allowing you to add additional livestock to your order without increasing the shipping cost.
Free Shipping Threshold
Free shipping is automatically applied when $300 or more of live fish and/or shrimp are in the cart.
When free shipping is reached:
• Live Fish ship FREE Overnight Air
• Shrimp & Bettas ship FREE Express Air (typically 2-Day or Overnight)
• Live Plants ship FREE Express Air (typically 2-Day)
• Dry Goods ship FREE Standard Ground
When practical, small dry goods such as food may be packed together with live shipments.
Receiving & Acclimating Live Fish & Shrimp
• Turn off aquarium lights to reduce stress
• Float the sealed bag in your aquarium for 15–20 minutes to equalize temperature
• After floating, open the bag and proceed with transferring the livestock
Preferred Method (Safest for Most Fish & Shrimp)
Carefully pour most of the shipping water out of the bag, leaving enough water to comfortably support the fish or shrimp. Then gently release the remaining water and livestock into the aquarium.
This method minimizes the amount of shipping water entering the aquarium while avoiding unnecessary handling of the animals. In most established aquariums, the small remaining amount of shipping water will not cause issues.
Alternative Method
If you prefer not to add any shipping water to your aquarium, you may transfer the livestock using a large net or smooth colander placed over a bucket or sink to drain the shipping water.
Please use caution when using nets. Certain species such as Corydoras, plecos, and other spiny fish can become caught in netting and may be injured if pulled through the net.
Do not use a colander for shrimp, as small shrimp may fall through the holes.
Keep aquarium lights dim or off for several hours after introducing new fish or shrimp to help them settle into their new environment.
Note: Fish and shrimp may appear pale, stressed, or less active after shipping. This is normal after transit and most animals regain their color and behavior within several hours once settled into the aquarium.
Some species may also take several days to begin feeding normally after shipping. This is not unusual, especially for shy or newly imported fish.
Shrimp orders of 10 or more are shipped +1 whenever possible to help account for the natural stress of shipping and ensure customers receive the full quantity ordered.
Acclimation & Water Parameters
Our standard fish room water parameters are approximately:
pH: 7.0
GH: 6.5
KH: 3.5
Some specialty species that require very soft or very hard water may be maintained under different parameters appropriate for their health.
If you have any questions about the water conditions of the fish or shrimp you are receiving, please email support@bluezoneaquarium.com and we will be happy to help.
Because shipping water may contain elevated ammonia from transit, extended drip acclimation is generally not recommended for shipped livestock. Temperature acclimation followed by prompt transfer to the aquarium is typically the safest approach.
Feeding
Many customers ask what foods our fish are accustomed to. In our fish room we primarily feed Sera brand dry foods, along with frozen foods such as mysis shrimp, bloodworms, and frozen brine shrimp.
Continuing with similar foods when introducing new fish can help them settle in and begin feeding more quickly.
Receiving Live Plants
Aquarium plants may appear slightly compressed or wilted after shipping. This is normal and plants typically recover quickly once placed in the aquarium.
• Rinse plants gently in clean water if desired
• Remove any loose or damaged leaves from transit
• Plant according to the species
Most aquarium plants will recover and perk up within 24–48 hours once placed under proper lighting and aquarium conditions.