At TortoisesWorld, we take care to package and ship every live animal securely. Please review the shipping information below before placing your order.
Live Animal Shipping
Reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas, and scorpions are shipped by overnight delivery directly to your destination address.
The standard shipping charge is $45.99+, regardless of the number of live animals included in your order. The quantity, weight, and species of the animals do not change the standard shipping charge.
All live reptile, amphibian, tarantula, and scorpion deliveries require a signature upon delivery.
If you cannot be available to receive your shipment, you may request to have the package held at your local carrier facility for pickup, where this service is available.
Feeder Insect Shipping
Shipping methods vary depending on the type of feeder ordered.
Crickets and fruit flies are shipped by overnight delivery.
Roaches, ants, earthworms, giant mealworms, mealworms, waxworms, hornworms, and other feeder insects are generally shipped by 2–3 day Priority Mail.
Feeder insect orders placed after 12:00 PM PST on Wednesday will ship the following Monday. This helps prevent feeder insects from remaining at a carrier facility over the weekend.
If feeder insects are purchased together with a live animal order, the feeder insects will arrive separately.
Shipping Schedule
Orders placed on:
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday: Ship the following day.
- Thursday, Friday, or Saturday: Ship the following Monday.
A tracking number will be emailed once it becomes available on the evening your order ships, usually by approximately 8:00 PM EST. Tracking may not be available for cricket orders.
Please use the shipping schedule above when determining your expected shipping date.
Secure Packaging
Every live animal order is carefully packaged for safe transportation. Our goal is to ensure that reptiles, amphibians, tarantulas, scorpions, and other live animals are properly protected throughout transit.
Inventory Availability
We make every effort to keep our website’s inventory accurate and up to date. However, occasionally multiple customers may order the same animal before our inventory has been updated.
If an animal becomes unavailable after your order is placed, we will contact you and let you know that we are unable to fulfill the order.
Important Shipping Information
P.O. Boxes
Live animal orders cannot be delivered to P.O. boxes. P.O. box delivery is available only for eligible feeder insect orders.
Future Delivery Dates
We cannot hold orders for a requested future delivery date. Orders are shipped according to our regular shipping schedule.
Shipping Delays
Occasional shipping delays may occur, particularly because of severe weather or carrier-related circumstances. If a delay affects your order, we will notify you as soon as possible.
Major Holidays
Live animal deliveries are not scheduled on major U.S. holidays, including:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
Wildlife Laws & Regulations
Wildlife laws and regulations vary by state and local jurisdiction. TortoisesWorld will not knowingly ship reptiles, amphibians, or invertebrates in violation of applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Customers are responsible for researching the laws that apply to the animal they intend to purchase before placing an order.
Cancellation Policy
Orders may be canceled before shipment.
Once an order has shipped, it cannot be canceled and no refund will be issued for cancellation.
If you need to cancel an order, please contact us as soon as possible before the scheduled shipment date.