Shipping & Handling
All orders are handled professionally and with care and are shipped promptly once payment has been received and verified.
We ship worldwide and offer transportation via ocean, rail, ground, and air freight using major, reliable carriers only.
For express shipments, we use DHL, UPS, and FedEx.
Unless otherwise arranged, all orders are shipped freight collect from Miami, Florida. For prepaid shipments, full shipping costs must be received prior to dispatch.
Standard Packaging
We use high-quality, industry-standard packaging to ensure products arrive safely:
Standard corrugated carton boxes for general shipments
Cleaned and painted shells are sealed in 4-mil, one-gallon plastic bags
Large shells are individually wrapped in protective paper to prevent edge damage
Custom & Contract Packaging
We offer custom contract packaging to meet your specifications, including private labeling.
Please contact us for a custom quote
Live Crab Packaging
Live hermit crabs are shipped in insulated containers to ensure their safety during transit.
Insulated box fee: $7–$12, depending on box size
No additional fee applies for standard corrugated carton boxes used for non-live items
Important: Live Crab Shipping Temperature Policy
To protect live hermit crabs, shipping methods are strictly determined by temperature conditions at the delivery location:
When local temperatures are below 50°F or above 90°F, an insulated box with a heat or cool pack is required. An additional box fee applies.
Please refer to Shipping & Packaging in the bottom menu for details.During these extreme temperature conditions, live crabs ship via Next Day Air only.
All live crabs must be shipped by air.
Second Day Air is permitted only when the expected delivery-day temperature is between 55°F and 85°F.Customers must calculate air shipping costs for live crabs separately.
Ground shipping for live crabs is not available, except for deliveries within Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), West Virginia (WV), and Alabama (AL).
All dried goods are shipped ground by default, unless an alternative shipping method is requested.
These shipping and packaging policies are in place to ensure product quality and the safe delivery of live animals. By placing an order with TropicShells, you agree to these terms.