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Shipping live coral
Practical packing and receiving notes for peer-to-peer sales. Coral Auction does not ship or arrange couriers.
You deal directly with the other party. We do not ship, insure, guarantee livestock, or process payment during community launch.
Agree this before packing
- Who pays postage, and which courier or service
- Ship day (avoid Friday drops that sit over a weekend)
- Heat or cold packs for the season
- What happens if the coral is DOA (photos, refund, partial, nothing)
- Buyer available on delivery day
If you are packing (seller)
Kit that usually works
- • Sturdy outer box and insulated inner (styrofoam or equivalent)
- • Thick bags, double-bagged, sealed well
- • Enough water for the journey; no thrashing air pockets on soft tissue
- • Heat packs in cold weather; cool packs in heat (not touching bags)
- • Fill voids so bags cannot bounce
Good practice
- • Ship early in the week when you can
- • Prefer services with next-day or tracked progress for livestock
- • Send tracking as soon as the label is live
- • Photo of the packed piece and closed box before handover
- • Hold the box in extreme heat, freeze, or courier disruption
- • Tell the buyer if the ship date moves
If you are receiving (buyer)
On delivery day
- • Be available; livestock should not sit on a doorstep
- • Open soon after arrival
- • Photograph sealed bag / condition before you fully acclimate if you may claim DOA
- • Have a plan for temperature and salinity match ready
Simple acclimation outline
- Float sealed bags to equalise temperature
- Slowly introduce tank water (or use your preferred method)
- Dip if that is your pest practice
- Place with suitable light and flow; quarantine if you can
Acclimation mistakes are on the keeper, not the platform. Agree care notes with the seller if you are unsure.
Weather
- Hot: cool packs, early-week ship, delay if heatwave
- Cold: heat packs, extra insulation, check destination forecasts
- Storms / strikes: hold the box; both parties should agree a new date
Coral Auction does not approve or manage weather holds. That is between buyer and seller.
Legal and welfare notes
- • Only ship species and methods you are allowed to under UK (and destination) rules
- • Do not ship known diseased or heavily pest-ridden stock without disclosure
- • CITES and restricted species need the right paperwork if applicable
- • Couriers are not livestock specialists; packing is your job
DOA process between peers: live arrival and DOA
Site issues only: hello@coralauction.co.uk