U.S. Postal rules and regulations...

hb3133 · Post by **hb3133** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:50 am

I have been breeding Red Cherry shrimp and my populations have grown to the point that I need to start trading/selling. I have researched the packing of shrimp but I have questions about the USPS. Is there regulations when it comes to shipping shrimp within the United States? When I send the shrimp, do I need to tell the postal clerk the live contents of the package? Also, is it better to ship priority or express mail?
Any help will be greatly appreciate.

carbon etc · Post by **carbon etc** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:17 pm

If you tell them what's in the box they'll probably push extra fees on you, like a special handling fee.

If the weather isn't extreme in either location and the shrimp bag is surrounded by styrofoam, priority mail (with no special handling) is usually quite sufficient.

I would use express mail in cases where the shipment is expensive enough to warrant the extra security, or if the weather is really bad. My priority shipments haven't had any deaths, but I don't ship when it's over 80F either.

So I wouldn't mention what's in there. Just send it off.

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:51 pm

There are no extra fees for shipping shrimp. They fall under the category of "live tropical fish". Be sure to use an insulated box, tripple bag, and put enough absorbent material in the outer bag to absorb all the water if the inner bags rupure. I use Priority Mail. Be sure to put live plants in the bag for them to cling to in shipment. This reduces stress.

hb3133 · Post by **hb3133** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:56 pm

I will be shipping the shrimp in Kordon breather bags. I don't believe you have to or should double bag. I didn't think of the styrofoam insulation. I was planning on using a small box to ship the shrimp but I guess I could make my own insulation.

YuccaPatrol · Post by **YuccaPatrol** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:55 pm

You can cut sheets of styrofoam to fit a box if you don't have access to insulated boxes.

hb3133 · Post by **hb3133** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:08 pm

Yucca Patrol..... That's exactly what I was thinking. I am a veterinary tech so I have access to daily shipments of items that are shipped to us in insulated boxes. I will just cut them to fit my needs.

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:57 pm

The postal regs require a waterproof liner with absorbant material capable of absorbing all the water from a ruptured bag. Double bagging does not mean you need to use 2 breather bags. You can put the breather bag in a larger bag with lots of air.