Can i send fish via Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®

[ashleyprytherch1994@gmail]

i have been checking on royal mail and it mentions nothing of live fish yet i see people sending via Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed® on ebay ? so was just wondering if you can currently use them to ship fish,

thanks

 

[PheonixKingZ]

No clue... are you in the UK?

 

[ashleyprytherch1994@gmail]

No clue... are you in the UK?

yeah im in the uk )

 

[Sunnyspots]

Could you ring a main post office or sorting office to ask? Alternatively, and possibly more cheaply, ring a major carrier like dpd?

 

[Ichthys]

Best ring them. Their website says “No live animals”, then it gives packaging requirements for sending live animals....

 

[Essjay]

According to Royal Mail's website, fish cannot be posted. But that doesn't stop people doing it and lying about what the parcel contains.

Prohibited goods - items you can't send through the post

There are certain restrictions and banned items which you can't send through the post. See the full list of what items are considered 'dangerous goods'.

personal.help.royalmail.com

Live animals and reptiles(including snakes, mice and rodents)

• International destinations - Not allowed in the mail
• UK destinations - Not allowed in the mail

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, an animal is defined as

“animal” means a vertebrate other than man.

Royal Mail's website does permit the posting of "live creatures, insects and invertebrates" with clearly defined packaging.



Since fish are vertebrates, they come under the "live animal" restrictions which is "not allowed in the mail"

My understanding is that only licensed couriers can transport animals, including fish, which is why 'postage' costs are so high. But shrimps and snails are invertebrates so they can be posted using Royal Mail - provided they are packaged correctly.

 

[VeryFatbloke]

Interesting, I ordered a male betta from a UK betta specialist and it arrived via Royal Mail. I think it was guaranteed next day delivery, however the bag in which the fish was contained split and the box arrived very soggy. The fish survived, and is currently swimming quite happily in my 240L community tank. The packaging was clearly marked with a big sticker saying live fish

https://imgur.com/20OQ3pa

 

[Essjay]

My understanding is that fish should not be posted via Royal Mail, only a licenced carrier. Whenever I've posted anything in the last few years I've always been asked what is in the parcel.

Did the postman/driver make any comment on the wet box? I once received a rooted houseplant cutting by Royal Mail and the wet compost had leaked through the packaging. The postman asked me to open it on the doorstep. I knew what was inside so I was quite happy to oblige.

 

[Sunnyspots]

My understanding is that fish should not be posted via Royal Mail, only a licenced carrier. Whenever I've posted anything in the last few years I've always been asked what is in the parcel.

Did the postman/driver make any comment on the wet box? I once received a rooted houseplant cutting by Royal Mail and the wet compost had leaked through the packaging. The postman asked me to open it on the doorstep. I knew what was inside so I was quite happy to oblige.

They're tough in Teeside! My postwoman always drops and runs - possibly because of my dog....

 

[VeryFatbloke]

My understanding is that fish should not be posted via Royal Mail, only a licenced carrier. Whenever I've posted anything in the last few years I've always been asked what is in the parcel.

Did the postman/driver make any comment on the wet box? I once received a rooted houseplant cutting by Royal Mail and the wet compost had leaked through the packaging. The postman asked me to open it on the doorstep. I knew what was inside so I was quite happy to oblige.

Yes, when he knocked on the door he told me that the package had leaked and did I still want it? Knowing how bettas survive in the wild I thought there was a chance that the fish would still be alive, not accepting him would certainly kill him. As it happens he was still alive and we managed to acclimate him and he seems to be okay. He should be a navy blue colour but is currently showing a pinkish white on his body and red fins and tail. Hopefully he will return to the colour he should be in due course.

 

[dmaccy]

Try APC, when I've ordered fish online that is the courier that's always turned up