Buying coral or fish online means trusting someone else with the trip. Here's how we handle it at The Coral Boutique, from the day you order to the moment you open the box.
We set the delivery day with you
Every livestock order is scheduled with you. Before it goes out, we contact you to confirm a delivery day when someone can be home to receive it. If an animal needs a little more time in quarantine, we hold it until it's ready to travel and let you know.
Have a special request, like a particular day? Place your order first, then email hello@thecoralboutique.com with your order number and what you need. We answer emails Monday through Friday during business hours, Eastern Time.
We ship Monday through Wednesday
Livestock ships Monday through Wednesday only. Orders placed Thursday through Sunday are scheduled for the next available ship day, so nothing sits in transit or at a carrier facility over the weekend.
We won't ship during extreme heat or cold if we think the trip puts your animals at risk. When a weather hold comes up, we'll contact you to talk through options. Every order is packed for transit and inspected the morning it ships.
Where we ship, and what it costs
We ship to the contiguous 48 states. We don't ship to Hawaii, Alaska, US territories or P.O. boxes.
Coral orders over $399 and fish orders over $599 ship free. Below those amounts, a flat rate is calculated at checkout.
If you're in Miami, you can skip shipping. Free same-day pickup is available at our Design District showroom, 46 NW 36th St. Orders are usually ready within 1 to 2 hours during store hours: Monday to Friday 12 to 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday 11 AM to 7 PM.
When the box arrives
Be there for the delivery if you can. A box left sitting in the sun is the most common way an order is lost, and it's the one part of the trip we can't control.
Before you open anything, take two photos:
- The animal inside the sealed shipping bag. This is the one that matters most. We can't verify a claim without it.
- The inside of the box with the packing still in place.
Shoot under natural or white light. Blue and actinic lighting hides the detail we need.
If something arrives in bad shape
Our Live Arrival Guarantee covers you. Email both photos and your order number to hello@thecoralboutique.com within two hours of the delivery time the carrier records. We review every claim and answer within one business day.
Approved claims are issued as store credit, which doesn't expire and works on anything we sell. If you'd rather have the same piece replaced on our next ship day, say so in your email, and we'll do that when the piece is available. The credit covers the animal, not the original shipping.
The guarantee doesn't cover:
- claims sent after the two-hour window, or without the sealed-bag photo
- packages left unattended
- delays from a wrong address or a refused delivery
- shipping changes you asked for after the order left
- losses after acclimation
- weather losses on a shipment you asked us to send after we recommended a hold
The full terms are in our refund policy.
Common questions
What days do you ship?
Monday through Wednesday, on a delivery day we confirm with you.
Can I choose my delivery day?
Yes. Order first, then email us your order number and the day you want.
Do you ship to Hawaii or Alaska?
Not right now. We ship to the contiguous 48 states only.
What if my coral or fish arrives dead?
Photograph it in the sealed bag before you open it, then email us the photos and your order number within two hours of delivery. Approved claims get store credit, or a replacement of the same piece when it's available.