Our Pure Strain N Class Endlers are guaranteed to arrive alive and healthy when you are present to receive the package on the first delivery attempt.
Dead-on-arrival (DOA) incidents are rare due to the hardy nature of Endlers; however, if a DOA occurs, please email The Endler Shop within one hour of delivery with clear digital photos. Once verified, a refund for losses will be issued or replacements shipped. Photo guidelines will be included in the shipping and tracking notification sent when your order ships.
The health and safe arrival of your Endlers are our top priorities. Endler orders are carefully prepared and sent with with expedited shipping via Priority Mail, primarily on Mondays to avoid weekend delays, and typically ship the week following purchase. Because live animals require special care, these shipments are temperature and weather dependent and may be delayed until conditions improve. You’ll receive email updates with a scheduled ship date and tracking details, so you always know what to expect.
Every order is packed with care and backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee
Secure, insulated packaging
Weather & temperature aware based shipping practices
Packed and shipped by experienced aquarists
Responsive customer support
Order Cancellations & Processing Fees
To cover non-refundable payment processor fees and order processing time, customer-initiated cancellations will incur a $10 processing fee, deducted from the refund amount.
Healthy Young Adults Ready to Thrive
We typically ship robust young adult fish, which are well suited for safe transport. At this stage, both males and females are at or near breeding age. Non-gravid females are selected by age (young females) so may be gravid, while visibly gravid females are usually within 1–2 weeks of dropping fry.
Shipping Methods & Rates
USPS First Class — $5 (2–5 days)
For up to to 4 non-fish / non-shrimp items
USPS Priority Mail — $16 (1–3 days)
For orders over 4 items or any order containing fish or shrimp
The USPS tracking number is emailed on your ship date
Ship days: Primarily Mondays. This helps prevent packages from being delayed at USPS facilities over weekends.
Non-continental destinations (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, etc)
Shipping prices are calculated in the shopping cart
International orders
Please order on the International page
Order preparation:
Preparation may take a few days so most orders ship the week following purchase.
An order confirmation email is sent approximately one day after your order is placed with a scheduled ship date.
Please check your spam / junk folder, as some email providers may filter these messages.
We monitor weather forecasts and ship only when several consecutive days are within safe parameters for the fish, shrimp and plants.
Orders Over $50 (excluding shipping)
Shipped only when temperatures along the shipping route are between 35°F lows and 90°F highs (the operating limits of heat and cold packs)
Insulated packaging with heat or cold packs included as needed
Orders Under $50 (excluding shipping)
Shipped only when temperatures along the shipping route are between 50°F lows and 80°F highs
Once your fish or shrimp arrive, they must be properly acclimated to your tank’s water parameters before release. We strongly recommend using the Drip Acclimation Method, as it provides the safest transition and minimizes stress.
After acclimation and introduction to the tank, feed your fish as soon as possible. To prepare for shipping, fish are not fed for a day prior to shipment, and combined with transit time, this may result in 2–4 days without food.
It’s normal for shipping stress to temporarily affect appearance and feeding:
Male color may initially appear lighter
They may eat lightly or pick at food initially
This typically resolves within a few days. Once fully acclimated, males will display full coloration and feeding will be vigorous. Maintaining a consistent routine (lighting, feeding schedule, and stable water conditions) helps speed acclimation.
Drip acclimation slowly introduces your tank water into the shipping water, allowing temperature and water chemistry to adjust gradually. This significantly reduces shock and potential losses due to acclimation.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare a drip cup
Use a plastic cup (such as a sports drink cup) and insert 3–4 inches of airline tubing through the side.
Add tank water
Fill the cup with water from your aquarium and warm it slightly (5–10°F above tank temperature) to account for cooling during the drip process.
Prepare the fish container
Place the fish and shipping water into a separate container. Remove some water so only about 1 inch remains, just enough to fully cover the fish. Cover the container to prevent jumping – this is critical.
Position containers
Place the fish container below the drip cup of tank water.
Start the drip
Begin dripping water slowly from the drip cup into the fish container.
Increase volume gradually
Continue dripping until the container holds at least four times the original volume of shipping water. Water chemistry and temperature should closely match your tank at this point.
Final check and release
Confirm the Endlers aren't distressed, then gently pour the fish into the aquarium.