● Keeper guides
How live invertebrates should be shipped
Overnight or two-day only, heat and cold packs by forecast, Monday–Wednesday ship days, and what a live arrival guarantee really covers.
Before you buy, check the seller's shipping method. Live invertebrates should only ship via overnight or two-day service. Anything longer in transit risks the life of the colony — temperature swings and stress add up quickly inside a shipping box.
What to ask
- Which carrier and service — and whether they ship to a FedEx or UPS hold location in bad weather.
- Heat packs, cold packs, or phase packs based on the forecast at both ends.
- Ship days: Monday to Wednesday, so nothing sits in a hub over the weekend.
- What their live arrival guarantee requires (photos within a set window, someone home for delivery).
A seller who ships ground or standard mail for live animals is a red flag, full stop. Sellers on this site agree to overnight or two-day shipping for live animals as part of the seller policies, and each publishes their own policy on their profile.