The process of international shipping continues to move along- current update:

     Canada- Many shipments went out to Canada this past year, while they are in the midst of establishing new
     policies regarding the shipment of live ornamental fish into their country. New rules regarding the need for
     import permits that must be obtained by the buyer did not go into effect last December, but are said to go into
     effect December 2012. I do not know if this will involve any extra costs on the part of the buyer, or whether import
     tax fees may be put into place. So far that has not been the case. However, during this transition, boxes of fish
     have been held for up to a week, resulting in fish arriving 7-12 days after being sent Express Mail, a service that
     advertises 3-5 day delivery. In the past a box shipped on Saturday from Denver would arrive the following Monday.
     This past year boxes would arrive as early as the following Friday, and occasionally as late as the next Tuesday.
     I anticipate that as the process solidifies, that will improve.

     However, various provinces have been formulating their own policies that may be stricter or different than
     the national practices being put together. For example, the process and paperwork, or restrictions on various
     species of either fish or plants required to arrive in British Columbia is different, at the moment, than a box
     arriving in Alberta. It then becomes necessary for you to check beforehand to ensure that any preparation is
     met regarding your province before shipping. I will do all I need to do for you, but a box held because a proper
     form is not included, or a species that is fine in one province but not in another may result in the delay of the
     shipment. Currently Guppies and danios offered are not allowed into Canada at all, there may be others.
    
     I wish to ship to Canada regularly, and a small 3 lb. box that ships in the US overnight Express Mail generally 
     runs about $35. To Canada, Express Mail is 3-5 days, and runs about $40 to many large city locations. The  
     actual price may vary slightly based on your specific address.

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     Singapore-

     Thanks to the local efforts of a customer in Singapore, it is permissable to ship fish from Select Aquatics
     into Singapore without an import permit or US inspection, when shipped for personal use only. Regarding
     the shipping of fish, using USPS or FedEx for home aquarium use, this response was sent from Singapore 
     import government authorities:

     "Alternatively, you may import these fishes via parcel post, provided the total quantity to be imported in
     the consignment is not more than 30 pieces of ornamental fish (except koi and endangered species) in
     not more than 3 litres of packing water, whichever is less, per person per shipment into Singapore for
     personal keeping without the need to apply for an import licence.

     Upon arrival the parcel of fishes will first be delivered to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of
     Singapore at Sembawang Research Station, Lorong Chencharu 17 km Sembawang Road, Singapore
     769194 for verification. You will then be contacted to pick up these fishes from Sembawang Research
     Station after verifications are completed.

     We wish to remind you that these fishes are to be imported for the purposes of personal keeping only.
     You are required to apply for licence to import and export ornamental fish if the fish are imported on
     regular basis for local sales. The AVA will consider enforcement action against any importer who imports
     ornamental fish for local sale without a licence.

     Please also note that the individual permissible limit cannot be combined for the import of ornamental
     fish via parcel post."

     A 5 lb. box sent from Colorado to Singapore 3-5 day Express Mail is $63.     

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    Select Aquatics would like to ship anywhere, provided the fish arrive in no longer than 3-5 days. In the
    There have been many requests to ship to other countries, and if you would like to purchase fish from
    Select Aquatics, you will need to contact your local postal authorities in your country to determine how
    a package needs to be prepared and/or documented. We will do our best to meet those requirements.
    Many European countries, in particular, require a veterinarian inspection before they are shipped by a
    US government certified veterinarian inspector. Unfortunately, this is not possible at this time, as the
    fee for such an inspection is cost prohibitive. Combined with the shipping expense, a $30 box of fish
    can cost hundreds of dollars! A recent effort to start a transshipping business has not been successful,
    which would have affordably supplied this need. We are continuing to work on this.

    These regulations are all for very good reasons as the invasion of foreign species into habitats where
    they do not belong is a big problem around the world (particularly the US), and Select Aquatics has no
    desire to violate the laws and regulations in your country.

    There are 3 primary ways to ship fish internationally using the US Postal Service (USPS). Priority and
    Express Mail both have extended delivery times with international delivery. Priority is 7-10 days,
    Express Mail is 3-5. To ship for a delivery longer than 5 days is obviously risky for the fish. The third
    option is called Global Express, and this is the service that provides overnight delivery. The cost for
    Global Express is the most expensive.

    Our experience has been that small fish when shipped as we do in breather bags, each fish sealed into
    its own chamber, will generally survive up to 6-7 days. At that point losses begin to occur, and at 9-10
    days up to half of the shipment may expire. The fish are not fed for 1-2 days prior to shipment, so they
    may experience 2 weeks without food. Surprisingly, many still survive, but the customer must absorb the
    loss. On a case by case basis we may resend a shipment with no charge for the fish, but the customer 
    must again pay for the shipping costs. We cannot refund for fish that are lost in shipment.

    The cost of shipping is probably of greatest concern, but it is affordable and we have shipped numerous
    fish to Canada in the last 3 months. A 5 lb. box- about 10 smaller fish, to Quebec from Denver, 3-5 day
    Express Mail, costs approximately $40. Global Express Overnight is about $80. I understand that delays 
    are common with international delivery, and I will always send extras of each species to cover any 
    possible losses.

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    I understand that some of these fish are difficult if not impossible to find in other countries, and we would
    love to introduce them to the hobby where you are. With email and text, we can discuss shipment to you,
    and then look for ways to make the transport best for the fish, and as inexpensive for you as possible.

    Greg Sage, owner
    selectaquatics.com
    selectaquatics@gmail.com
    303-204-8662   

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