~Zena
WHAT'S EXACTLY IS "TRANSHIPPING"?
"Transhipping" is a bridge that connects Asian tropical fish sellers and Canadian buyers who otherwise would have difficulty acquiring their fish mainly due to logistic reasons. Importing from Asia into Canada is an expensive venture. To safely import tropical fish in a timely matter, the minimum costs start in the range of hundreds of dollars. There are more unsafe but much cheaper methods such as by express mail, but this method often ends up with lots of dead fish involved. In a transhipping order, we group every individual's order into one large bulk order, and by doing so we minimize the shipping cost for each person.
WHAT'S INVOLVED IN TRANSHIPPING?
Many people ask me, "do you need a special license to import bettas?". My honest answer is "no". At the time I completed writing up this page (early 2008), Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans governs the importation of ornmaental fish. Canadian law does not require a license if the tropical fish imported are for personal hobby use, are not on any restricted lists (CITES), are not for resale, are not genetically modified, and are not to be released into local habitat. The fish imported must comply with local laws and regulations (e.g. see BC rule for Carp family e.g. goldfish/koi). You will need to obtain a certificate of origin for your fish. If you're importing for business purposes, however, you would be required to obtain the necessary licenses, permits, registrations, and so on, on the federal, provincial as well as municipal levels. In addition, there is currently work in progress by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans (MFO) to revise legislature regarding importation of ornamental fish species, import permit and health inspections. The proposed effective date is March 2011. For more info please visit CFIA
With the help of our Thai shipper, we can obtain the proper documentation to legally import tropical fish into Canada. Our job as transhippers is to take care of the rest of the paperwork and deal with Canada Customs, and to pay the outstanding duties and taxes on your behalf. We then take the fish home, check for their health, give them clean water and food, and take care of them until we ship them out to you.
Okay. So now you got the idea, and you want to buy a fish. What do you need to do?
HERE ARE THE STEPS TO FOLLOW:
1) Background researchUnderstand all the costs associated with purchasing an auction fish from the Internet because the sum may shock you! There are several parts to transhipping fees:
a) Import + handling (see table at the bottom of this page, click here to access the table now) - this covers the cost for freight, documents, airport dues, Custom duties and taxes, and administration
b) Packaging + box charge (starting at $10 depend on number of fish)
c) Local shipping (starting at $25 depend on location and size of box)
d) Paypal service fee (+4% to your total) - if you're paying us by paypal, not applicable if you're paying us cash during pickup - we must charge this or else we'll run short in offsetting our costs. Please remember, we're not transhipping for profit
e)Optional: Heat pack ($4) for colder months
** When we receive your fish in our shipment, this means that you have ALREADY COMPLETED your background research, that you FULLY UNDERSTAND the procedures, costs and risks, and that you have CHOSEN to use our transhipping service. By choosing to use our transhipping service, you hereby AGREE to abide to all of our transhipping policies, rules and terms as stated on this page. If you're not clear about any of our policies, rules or terms, please contact us for clarification PRIOR to having your fish leave its country of origin.**
2) Buy your fish
Bid on the fish you wish to purchase and have FUN doing it. Pay the seller after you win your auction. For most Thai sellers (except those in remote regions), you need to only pay the actual cost of the fish. For Indo and Malay fish (and on rare occasions Thai sellers in remote areas), you may be asked to pay additional shipping from their location to Bangkok, Thailand. You should pay this to the seller as well.
3) Arrange shipment (Asia side)
Tell the seller to include your purchase into the next shipment to Canada. Specify which transhipper you want to use (Hung)
4) Arrange shipment (Canada side)
Email Hung and tell him that you're expecting fish (from whom and how many), and if you want them shipped to you or would you be picking up (The "CC" function on your email is your friend!). If you're buying small fish (under 4"), you don't need to pay us anything just yet. If your fish is big (above 4") such as flowerhorn, then you will need to paypal Hung the full import fee before shipment is scheduled. We will invoice you local shipping cost and any changes in import fees due to discrepancy in fish size after the fish arrives.
5) When the fish arrives
You will be notified by email once your fish arrives. We'll at this point invoice you for payment. If we don't hear from you within 3 days of the fish arriving, and/or make payment within 7 days of our first attempt to contact you, you will lose title to your fish.
6) Getting your fish
mail to you using an overnight service by Canada Post, FedEx, UPS or any courrier of your choice who provide such service. Your fish will be mailed out the first Monday to Wednesday after payment is received.
To estimate shipping rates, use the Canada Post or FedEx website and enter the following information:
- Hung's origin postal code L2H 1M3
- your destination postal code
- 10inx10inx10in and 5lb packaging reference for 1-6 bettas
- 16inx12inx12in and 10lb packaging reference for 7-14 bettas
- make sure to include signature and delivery confirmation options
c) After we mailed out your fish, we'll email you your tracking number.
7) Regarding DOA
If your fish arrive to us dead, it's an automatic DOA and seller would replace your fish. You'll have to pay import for both dead and replacement fish, as well as box and shipping of replacment fish, when we mail you your replacement.
For casualties that occur during reshipping, we work with Thai sellers to honour DOA (dead on arrival) policy only if all the following criteria are met:
a) the fish was shipped by an overnight service
B) you signed for the package on the first delivery attempt
c) you provided us with clear picture proof of dead fish in unopened bag within 2 hours of receiving the package (according to tracking)
DOA fish will be replaced by seller at no cost. We waive all transhipping related costs except local shipping.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REFUND ON IMPORT FEES OR SHIPPING CHARGES FOR DOA FISH. You must understand and agree to accept the risk of shipping livestock by Air.
8) Unclaimed fish
If your fish is still with us after the first 5 days of the fish arriving, DOA policy will be void, and we will not guarantee the health or condition of the fish from this point forward. In addition, you will be charged $1/day boarding fee for your betta until it is reshipped, picked up, or surrendered.
9) List of fish that we deal with on a regular basis
Click here to go back to Importing step (1)
| FISH SPECIES | SIZE | PRICE ($CAD) | QUANTITY | SPECIAL COMMENTS |
| Bettas - regular size | up to 2" | 12.00 | each | |
| Bettas - giant size | over 2" | 15.00 | each | |
| Bettas - wild type | up to 2" | 15.00 | each | Add $3.00 per fish if they're over 2" |
| Livebearers (swordtail, platy, guppy) singles | up to 2" | 12.00 | each | Add $3.00 per fish if they're over 2" |
| Livebearers (swordtail, platy, guppy) pairs | up to 2" | 22.00 | per pair | Add $5.00 per pair if they're over 2" |
| Livebearers (swordtail, platy, guppy) trios | up to 2" | 30.00 | per trio | Add $7.00 per trio if they're over 2" |
| Flowerhorn | 2" or under | 20.00 | each | |
| Flowerhorn | 2.1" to 3" | 30.00 | each | |
| Flowerhorn | 3.1" to 4" | 50.00 | each | |
| Flowerhorn | 4.1" to 5.9" | 80.00 | each | Pickup only. Or shipping without live guarantee |
| Flowerhorn | 6" to 7.9" | 100.00 | each | Pickup only. Or shipping without live guarantee |
| Flowerhorn | 8"-9.9" | 150.00 | each | Pickup only. Or shipping without live guarantee |
| Flowerhorn | 10" or above | 180.00 | each | Pickup only. Or shipping without live guarantee |
Transhipping information last updated Mar 15, 2010. Prices and policies are subject to change without further notice.
