Shipping & Delivery of Live Corals in Germany and the EU
Live corals are delicate. To make sure they reach you in good health, we plan every shipment carefully: from quarantine and packaging to the delivery date. Here you will find all the information on the process, costs and delivery areas in Germany and the EU.
How we ship your corals
Quarantine: Every newly arrived animal stays in our quarantine for at least 14 days. During this time we observe the corals closely and check them for pests and unwanted hitchhikers. Only then do they go on sale. You can read more on the page More about our quality.
Packaging: We pack every coral in transport bags and ship it in an insulated box. This keeps the temperature as stable as possible during transit.
Express: We ship live animals by express only. Within Germany, your parcel usually arrives by 12 noon on the day after dispatch. Weather, traffic or the courier may shift the delivery time. Careful packaging and short transit times are designed to ensure the safest possible arrival.
Shipping costs
Live animals (corals, invertebrates, algae) and products (equipment, food, accessories) have their own shipping methods. These rates apply at checkout:
| Shipping method | Cost | Condition | Free shipping from |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Germany – live animals GO! Express Overnight (delivered by UPS) |
€24.90 | Minimum order value €50 | €250.00 |
|
Germany – live animals Saturday delivery (GO! Express) |
€39.90 | Order value from €150 | €500.00 |
|
EU – live animals Premium UPS Worldwide Express |
€49.95 | – | €650.00 |
|
Germany – products DPD Standard (delivery in 1–2 working days) |
€5.90 | – | €120.00 |
|
Germany – products DPD Express (next working day delivery) |
€18.95 | – | – |
|
Germany – products Express Overnight (GO!, delivered by UPS) |
€24.90 | Order value from €50 | €250.00 |
|
Germany – products Saturday delivery (GO! Express) |
€39.90 | Order value from €150 | €500.00 |
|
EU – products DPD Classic EU (delivery in 2–5 working days) |
€14.90 | – | – |
All prices include statutory VAT. You can see the exact costs for your order at checkout.
Live animals and products in one order: For mixed orders (livestock plus equipment or food), the shipping costs of both groups are added together at checkout. You can see the exact costs at checkout before paying.
Delivery areas
We deliver live corals and products to Germany and to the following EU countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Shipping to Switzerland and Great Britain (UK) is not possible – this applies to both live animals and products.
Shipping days and delivery date
We ship live animals from Monday to Thursday so that they reach you the next day and do not sit in the courier's depot over the weekend.
Within Germany you can also choose Saturday delivery at checkout: we then ship on Friday and your parcel arrives on Saturday. It is available for orders of €150 or more and costs €39.90; from €500 it is free. Without Saturday delivery there is no delivery on Saturdays, and never on Sundays or public holidays.
Please state your preferred delivery date when ordering and make sure someone can accept the parcel on that day. Please also provide a phone number on which the courier can reach you.
In the event of severe weather, extreme temperatures, public holidays or high parcel volumes, we will postpone shipping after agreeing it with you by email. The animals' welfare comes first.
When your corals arrive
Unpack the parcel immediately after delivery. Corals are usually placed in the tank straight after unpacking. Invertebrates such as shrimp, snails or starfish, on the other hand, should be slowly acclimatised to your aquarium water. We explain exactly how step by step on the page Acclimatising livestock.
Check your delivery as soon as you unpack it. If anything is wrong, the deadlines of our DOA policy apply.
DOA guarantee
Despite all our care, in rare cases a coral may not survive transport. For this we have our voluntary DOA (Dead on Arrival) policy:
- Contact us within 24 hours of delivery by phone, WhatsApp or email.
- Photograph the animals in the unopened transport bags and also take a close-up of the affected coral outside the tank against a white background in daylight. If several animals are affected, we also need an overview photo.
- If the shipping box is visibly damaged, have the courier confirm this in writing.
- For a justified claim, you will receive the purchase price of the coral as a store voucher or, where possible, a replacement animal with your next order. Shipping costs are not refunded.
- The DOA policy does not apply to self-collection.
Your statutory warranty rights remain unaffected. You can find all the details on the page DOA claims.
Frequently asked questions about coral shipping
Do you ship corals to Austria?
Yes. Austria is one of our EU delivery areas. We ship live animals via Premium UPS Worldwide Express for €49.95, free from an order value of €650.
How long are corals in transit?
Within Germany, your corals usually arrive by 12 noon on the day after dispatch. To other EU countries we ship by UPS express. The transit time depends on the destination country, and you will receive tracking.
Is there a minimum order value?
There is a minimum order value of €50 for live animals within Germany. There is no minimum order value for products or for EU shipping.
Can I order corals and equipment together?
Yes. For mixed orders (livestock plus equipment or food), the shipping costs of both groups are added together at checkout. You can see the exact costs at checkout before paying.
What happens if it is very hot or very cold outside?
Then we will contact you by email and reschedule the shipment with you to a safe date.
Do you deliver to Switzerland or Great Britain?
No. Shipping to Switzerland and Great Britain is currently not possible – neither for live animals nor for products such as equipment, food or accessories.
Ready for new corals? Browse our new corals or discover our LPS corals.