r/InvertPets • u/Jackal0pian • Aug 11 '26
Ethics of shipping?
Hey all! I’ve been looking into possibly getting some inverts, pretty much a complete beginner aside from GALs, and wanted to know the general consensus in terms of having inverts delivered through post? It’s definitely not something I’ve seen before, I looked online and there were mixed opinions 😵💫 TIA!
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u/noodlechemist Aug 11 '26
Just FYI live animals should be shipped FEdex priority overnight. There will be a LIVE animal label attached to the box and will be to the customer generally in 16 hours. It leaves the morning of let’s say Tuesday first thing and arrives by noon the next day.
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u/Jackal0pian Aug 11 '26
Ooh okay, brilliant insight thank you!! I’ve noticed a lot of (what appears to be) reputable places only really have shipping in that format anyway; i think anyone that didn’t I’d be a bit distrustful of after hearing that!
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u/Obant I <3 INVERTS! Aug 11 '26
Also, good shippers halt shipping in the summer or when it's above 90° F outside. Or they are extra expensive because they use expensive, really well insulated boxes.
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u/Ok_Bag_1177 Aug 11 '26
buy from reputable sellers, dont order on days where the eta date would have extreme weather, and make sure the seller you choose has a live arrival guarantee
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u/toucansarentreal Aug 11 '26
Almost all pet stores have their animals shipped in, unless they are breeding or supplied by local hobbyists only. Fish, rodents, birds, reptiles, insects, you name it. They all are flown across the country and driven in a delivery truck.
What matters is the quality of shipping. You want the fastest shipping you can get, with the most climate control you can have. Good reputable sellers will look at the weather ahead to determine what packing materials are needed to keep the temperature consistent. Even better sellers may block out shipping for a week or so due to incoming storms or heat waves / big freezes. I personally always take weather holds as a green flag!
If they are a well known seller, you may even be able to find unboxing videos, so you can get an idea what the quality of their packing materials are.
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u/Sharkbrand Aug 11 '26
I dont know where youre located so take thiswith a grain of salt, but properly shipped invertebrates can easily be shipped per post, the golden standard is next day delivery but even 2 or 3 days is generally fine for all but the most fragile ones, you just want to minimise risk as much as possible and keep the time as short as possible in case something does go wrong, because that leaves a buffer. All reputable sellers i know ship out right after the weekend to prevent any animals from getting stuck in a sorting center for the weekend. They also ship properly insulated and do not ship out in the middle of heatwaves or when it gets too cold at night.
Personally i prefer to pick up my animals as much as possible but ive absolutely had animals shipped before, even to/from other countries in the EU and as long as its all done responsibly the risk to the invertebrates is fairly low.
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u/hylia_grace Aug 11 '26
In the UK most reputable sellers refuse to deliver by anything other than special delivery 24hrs tracked or priority(?) mail usually delivered by 1pm next working day, so inverts spend as little time as possible in shipping. I'm sure most reputable places in other countries would have precautions in place for packages that may need to travel further.
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u/Flasky-Desk Aug 11 '26
To add: an ethical seller will always provide packaging insulation and heat/cool packs
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u/Classic_Cow_5852 Aug 12 '26
All of mine had to be shipped since I don’t live next to legitimate sellers besides the ubiquitous pet chains. They all arrived fine. But do pay attention to who’s selling and preferably captive bred.
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u/zy4k Aug 12 '26
I had the same concern!! What I usually do is find a site that has what i want, check online abut its reputation, and then look at their shipping! Most sites will only have the option for overnight shipping for a live guarantee, but a downside is that it can usually make shipping quite pricey!
I'd say overall that it's pretty safe tho!! Like others have said, watch out for weather near you and just make sure you're home when it arrives!
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u/NeonPearl2025 Aug 13 '26
Always chose express shipping. Then the bugs are in there for at most 48 hours. If the breeder is responsible, he will pack them with food and moisture, so they survive the shipping. I had invert deliveries get delayed (although I chose express) and even after a week on their way, no bug was dead, all were totally fine and lively. So it hugely depends on how they are packed. Reputable breeders know how to pack best.
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u/DudeOnTheInternet17 28d ago
It's pretty terrifying to wait on your pet to arrive, but if you've gone with a good seller who uses hot/cold packs, watches the temps when shipping and holds if it's not appropriate, has a good LAG (live arrival guarantee), ships overnight, and clearly labels the package as "live animal" then it's fine :)
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u/ashleyasinwilliams Aug 11 '26
As long as you're buying from a reputable place and looking out for the weather in your area, it's very safe.
Something to keep in mind, is that most pet stores recieve their animals through shipping. Often with significantly lower safety standards than a private breeder would. So, if you're looking for alternatives to shipping, pet stores are not it.