How Ordering & Shipping Works

Purchase your Koi first — then pay for shipping once we know exactly what it costs to get your fish home safely. Local pickup in Tustin, CA is always free.

Why We Do It This Way

Two Payments, One Reason: Your Koi's Safety

Every koi we ship is a living animal, not a box of inventory. The cost to move it safely — water volume, oxygen, box size, insulation, distance, and courier — can't be known accurately until your fish is selected, health-checked, and ready to travel. So we separate the two costs instead of guessing.

1

Choose and Purchase Your Koi

Browse our current Japan harvest or visit us in person by appointment. When you find the Koi you want, you pay for the fish itself to reserve it. This locks in your purchase at today's price — your Koi is set aside and taken off the market for other buyers.

2

We Prepare Your Koi for Travel

Before any fish leaves our facility, we confirm it's healthy and holding well, then pack it using proper live-fish shipping methods: oxygenated, insulated, and boxed to size. This is also when we decide the exact box dimensions and weight your shipment will require.

3

We Send You a Shipping Quote

Once your Koi is boxed and ready, we calculate the actual shipping cost to your address — based on real weight, box size, and destination — and send you a quote. Nothing is estimated in advance and marked up; you see the real number.

4

You Pay Shipping, We Send Your Koi

Once you approve and pay the shipping quote, we schedule your Koi for the next available live-animal shipment and provide tracking. Your fish travels as quickly as possible to minimize time in transit.

Prefer to Skip Shipping? Pickup Is Free.

You're always welcome to pick up your Koi in person at our facility in Tustin, CA, by appointment, Monday through Friday. There is no charge for pickup — you only ever pay for the fish.

The Bottom Line

You'll never be asked to guess at shipping or pay a padded flat rate. You pay for your Koi to secure it, and you pay for shipping only once we know exactly what it costs — or you skip that cost entirely and pick your fish up yourself.

What Affects the Quote

What Goes Into a Shipping Cost

Live Koi shipping isn't priced like a standard package. A handful of factors determine the final number, which is why we wait until your fish is packed before quoting it.

Factors we account for

Speed of delivery — live animals ship overnight or via expedited air cargo, never standard ground.
  • Koi size and quantity — larger or multiple fish need more water volume and larger boxes.
  • Box weight — water, oxygen, and insulation add real, billable weight.
  • Distance and destination — domestic vs. international, and how remote the delivery address is.
  • Season and weather — extreme heat or cold requires heat packs or extra insulation to protect the fish in transit.
  • Speed of delivery — live animals ship overnight or via expedited air cargo, never standard ground.

Local pickup

FREE
If you're within driving distance, pickup removes every one of the factors above. Schedule an appointment, visit our facility in Tustin, CA, and take your Koi home the same day at no additional cost.
Monday–Friday, by appointment only. Call ahead so we can have your fish ready.

Your Peace of Mind

Health & Live Arrival

Because our Koi are living animals, we can't offer refunds or exchanges the way a typical retailer would — but we stand behind the health of every fish we ship. If a Koi arrives showing signs of serious distress, contact us immediately.

If something looks wrong on arrival

Call Roland de Aenlle directly at (714) 931-0125 as soon as you notice an issue — ideally within 7 days of receiving your fish. Take clear photos and video right away, and keep the original shipping box and bag. We'll work with you from there.
View our Return Policy

Common Questions

Shipping Questions?

Shipping cost depends on the exact fish, box, and destination — not a flat average. Building in an estimated shipping fee upfront usually means most customers overpay to cover the few costly shipments. Quoting after packing keeps the price honest for everyone.

After your Koi purchase is complete and your fish has been health-checked and boxed. We’ll reach out with the shipping quote and an easy way to pay it before your fish ships.

We currently only ship within the United States.

Yes. If you’d rather avoid the shipping cost altogether, just let us know and we’ll set up an appointment for you to pick up your Koi in Tustin, CA at no charge.

Each fish is bagged with oxygen and insulated inside a properly sized box built for live animal transport, then shipped via expedited courier or air cargo to minimize time in transit.

Multiple Koi can often share a shipment, which can make per-fish shipping more efficient. Let us know everything you’re purchasing together so we can quote the full shipment at once rather than piece by piece.

Questions About Your Order?

We're happy to walk you through purchasing, shipping, or scheduling a free pickup.