Help & FAQs

• Returns can be processed within 14 days from purchase. 
• To return products, they must be in original condition
• Shipping expenses are not refundable
• If your items have been damaged in shipping, please contact us within 24 hours of receipt with photos, and we will assist you.

Livestock Refunds, Returns & Guarantee

• We ship livestock across Canada, as well as offer local delivery and store pickup

Because we ship live animals, livestock purchases are subject to stricter conditions.

a. General Conditions

• We do not accept returns of shipped livestock due to biosecurity risks.
• Local customers may return livestock within 72 hours of purchase for a refund, provided the animal is alive and in original condition. Returns must be brought to the store; we do not provide pickup services.
• We may ask questions, request a photo, request your receipt, and/or request a water sample to determine proper care
• We cannot guarantee the sex of any animals unless bought as a PAIR.
• We do not have any guarantees for your other pets, and we recommend quarantining new arrivals
• We are usually not able to take in surrendered pets but we will when possible; we do not offer store credit for pet surrenders (if you are a local breeder, please contact us at shipping@aprilsaquarium.com)

b. 7-Day Livestock Guarantee (Local & Shipped Orders)

• We guarantee our livestock for 7 days from purchase/delivery if our care recommendations and tank requirements were followed.
• If a loss occurs:
•  Proof Required: We may require photos of the deceased animal, proof of purchase (receipt/order number), and/or a water sample from your tank for testing.
•  Replacements: If available, we will provide a replacement animal. If not, a store credit will be issued.
•  Exclusions: No guarantees apply if:
• The animal was housed in unsuitable conditions (e.g., incompatible tank mates, uncycled tanks, incorrect water parameters).
• The loss occurred during acclimation due to failure to follow our acclimation instructions.
• The animal was subjected to neglect, improper diet, or non-recommended tank mates.

c. Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy – Shipped Orders Only

• We guarantee live arrival on all shipped livestock when:
• The package is received on the first delivery attempt.
• Clear photos of the unopened shipping bag and deceased animal are emailed to us within 2 hours of delivery confirmation.
• If these conditions are met, we will provide a replacement or store credit. Shipping charges are non-refundable.

Your Local Fish Store prioritizes the health of our livestock, and the happiness of our customers. To that end, we have several requirements and several recommendations.

• All livestock that arrive at Your Local Fish Store will undergo a required period of quarantine; staff will monitor to ensure they are in perfect health before releasing them for sale. Quarantine times vary. If at any point livestock appears ill or malnourished, we will extend quarantine as necessary. We will never knowingly sell livestock that isn’t 100% healthy, which means that we cannot sell quarantined animals
• We recommend slow acclimation of livestock to your aquarium
• We recommend quarantining new fish and plants for at least 14 days if you are adding them to an established aquarium. See our post about quarantine procedures.
• We recommend that aquariums be fully cycled before adding fish.
• If not cycled, we require that all newly set-up aquariums to be running for at least 7 days with the use of beneficial bacteria
• We recommend that you stock your tank slowly, and add the fish you plan to keep over a period of weeks
• We require all livestock to have adequate conditions (at or above the minimum size aquarium, filtered and appropriately heated water) before allowing a sale. For bettas, this is a minimum of 2.5 gallons.

Please feel free to reach out to us on Facebook at any time for advice and support! We will always make educated care and stocking suggestions, but you are also encouraged to do your own research. Our policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time. Please inquire if you have any questions.