ATTENTION

It is ‘buy two ORDERs and get a third ORDER for free’, NOT ‘buy two bags, get three bags’. This has confused a few people. 😊

  BEFORE PURCHASE PLEASE READ THE LISTING DESCRIPTIONS. I am sadly going to have to be very strict about the DOA rules because I've unfortunately had a few people attempt to scam their way into refunds without following the DOA policy listed. You should be tracking your orders and have it set up to notify you when its scanned delivered so that you can open the package and see the condition of the daphnia IN THE UNOPENED BAG well within the hour limit to contact me for a replacement/refund in the event that they arrived DOA.  I will usually work with you if you are NOT hostile or threatening me with bad feedback if I don’t oblige you and you didn't follow the DOA rules CLEARLY STATED.

 

I use a specific container. I count the number of Daphnia in the sample to get an average density using a digital microscope. I then determine the total number of Daphnia I need to ship.

I multiply the average density by the total volume of water I'll use for the shipment to find the total Daphnia count. I account for shed exoskeletons (molts) in the sample; these aren't live daphnia, so I don't count them. By using density measurements, I can accurately estimate the quantity of Daphnia without needing to count each individual, which is literally impossible to 'eye' no matter your expert level. And can only truly be counted down to the individual daphnia with a D-Counter which is a machine used in labs that’s way out of my price range. lol

 

A couple of negative feedbacks were purposely posted with outright lies in hopes it would deter customers, after exhausting their free replacements, then submitting to ebay for a refund & never taking any photos in the unopened bags or contacting me within 1 hour of delivery. Extortion will not be effective.  :(  I can count just fine & 975+ positive reviews and 100+ return customers can't be wrong. :)

 

The winter fish room.

https://youtu.be/6U0J-Urq21k

 

How I feed in the winter.

https://youtu.be/Iuv_SI9813k

 

These daphnia magna have been raised in a controlled environment and are healthy and active. There will be eggs, newly hatched, and adult daphnia bearing eggs in your order. They have been raised on a natural 'green water only' diet. They are shipped in the same green water to aid in their travels to you, in breather bags so they have proper gas exchange along the way. They normally hover around the bottom of the bag disoriented from the shipping, do not panic. Read the **Note below.  Feel free to message if you have any questions. I usually reply within the hour unless working or sleeping. :)

 

Orders after 12am EST:

Sunday-Ships Monday

Monday- Ships Tuesday

Tuesday- Ships Wednesday 

Wednesday-Ships Monday (during the summer)

Thursday-Ships Monday

Friday- Ships Monday

Saturday-Ships Monday

 

If you are electing to BOGO its ‘buy 2 ORDERS get 3 ORDERS’ not ‘buy 2 bags and get 3 bags’ to be clear.

 

I try to ship Monday-Thursday so they are constantly moving and do not sit anywhere for too long. (This means orders received Thursday thru Sunday will usually be shipped the following Monday.) I try to provide you with the tracking as quickly as possible so you can anticipate their arrival so they aren't sitting outside or in a parcel box overheating. In fact the best thing you can do is be there to receive and open the box at time of delivery or within the hour. Anything longer and they are exposed to the ambient temp as well as any sunlight which can kill them and why we require the photo be of the unopened bag prior to 1 hour passing from their time of scanned delivery. 

In the event of DOA (95%+ arrived dead *you will see no red specks and the bag will just have a white clutter at the bottom but could still contain eggs so AFTER taking the image to validate the DOA claim, attempt to recover them. By the time a replacement batch arrives you'd have twice as many. :) ), clear photos and/or video of the dead culture in its original and unopened bag must be sent to us NO LATER THAN ONE HOUR after delivery. (Sorry its a strict policy because of too many attempts to scam, it's nothing personal.) Shipper errors have become all too common and should a problem occur we'll do our very best to work something out. If you aren't sure if they are alive send a photo and we'll go from there. Previous customers can attest to how reasonable I am as long as we have smooth communication. :) Summer heat and unexpected delays are unavoidable but I do my best to package accordingly. I appreciate attempting a resolution before heading to the reviews without giving me a chance to look into the matter. Daphnia can 'crash', there doesn't have to be a reason and yes it can be frustrating but its no ones fault and all measures are taken on our end to package them for where they are going and how long the could end up in transit, worst case scenario. 

 

DOA REPORTS SUBMITTED MORE ONE HOUR AFTER 'DELIVERED' SCAN ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT OR REFUND! However, I am more than reasonable if you simply contact me before leaving feedback to address the issue. Unfortunately a few have elected to skip that. If your package is left in a locker/outside/desk/bench for a bit before you collect it, that is NOT on the delivery agent and is noted by the proof of delivery image. When you are expecting a live delivery it is your responsibility to pay attention and receive the package immediately, there is plenty of time inside of one hour to open the box, take the photo(s), msg me IF you receive it as soon as it arrives. Now if transit causes issues (which can happen occasionally), or if the daphnia 'crash', that's out of our control and we'll work something out. It's usually obvious when someone is just trying to get free things hence the photo IN UNOPENED bag within an hour of arrival being a requirement. There may not appear to be the amount but they are counted so if there is a significant amount missing from your order then something went wrong and we'll need to address the matter. Message me. I try to reply as soon as I'm able but will work with anyone that has an honest issue with any of my shipments. :)

 

**Note**

• Live daphnia vary in color: Live daphnia can be transparent with a green or yellow tint or white or salmon-pink. They can also appear bright red under conditions of shipping shock or low oxygen.
• It's important to distinguish between dead daphnia and molts: If you see debris that looks like dead daphnia at the bottom of a culture, it's often shed exoskeletons. Live daphnia will be swimming slightly above the bottom. 

Symptoms of transfer shock can include:

• Settling at the bottom of the container: Instead of actively swimming, Daphnia may settle near the bottom and be sluggish.
• Appearance of bright red coloration: This can be another sign of shipping or environmental stress. The fragile stickers are not always affective and the box they are shipped in can be tossed around quite a bit. I do my best to secure/cushion their bags. 

To minimize transfer shock and ensure successful Daphnia transfer:

• Allow for acclimation, for example, mixing water from the new environment & the shipping bag in steps can help equalize parameters.
• Use suitable water: Employ clean, purified water, natural spring water, or properly prepared tap water (dechlorinated) are generally recommended.
• Maintain optimal water temperature: Keep the water temperature within a suitable range, usually around 20°C (68°F) for optimal health and reproduction.
• Ensure adequate recovery time: If Daphnia exhibit symptoms of stress, allow them 12 to 24 hours to recover. 

 

Message from seller:

 

All orders are shipped in 'Breather Bags'. You do NOT leave air in them or wrap them in an outer bag defeating the purpose and function of the breather bag.

 

Breather bags are specialized, gas-permeable bags used for transporting live fish and other aquatic animals. They allow oxygen to enter and carbon dioxide to exit through the bag's material, maintaining a healthy environment for the fish without needing to fill the bag with extra air. This technology is particularly useful for shipping daphnia over long distances or for extended periods. 

 

Gas Permeability:

 

Breather bags are made from a material with microscopic pores that act as a semi-permeable membrane. This allows for the exchange of gases – oxygen can pass in, and carbon dioxide can pass out – through the bag's walls. 

 

No Extra Air Needed:

Unlike traditional fish bags that require a large air pocket, breather bags are filled with water and the daphnia. The gas exchange through the bag's material provides the necessary oxygen for the daphnia to breathe. 

 

Benefits:

Reduced Risk of Ammonia Buildup: By allowing carbon dioxide to escape, breather bags help prevent the buildup of toxic ammonia in the bag's water, which can harm the daphnia. 

 

Proper Acclimation is Crucial:

It's important to properly acclimate daphnia to their new environment when using breather bags. This involves slowly mixing the water from the breather bag with the water in the receiving tank to minimize temperature and water chemistry shock. Never float the breather bag directly in the tank, as this can cut off the oxygen supply. 

 

Your package may contain several bags or just one bag depending on the amount that is being shipped. If it's a large amount spreading them out into several bags is easier on them, but in some instances a larger bag is sufficient. Each order is counted into a basin, checked for visible issues, placed into fresh green water, and then bagged accordingly. I will send you exactly what you order, if not extras given I do not count the newborns or look for eggs. If for whatever reason that does not appear to be what survived the trip, contact me instead of attacking me, even if you've missed the one hour window and more than 5% survived, opening non hostile communication before leaving inaccurate feedback is appreciated. These are live animals, sometimes no matter how well packaged they are, things can go awry. If you are reasonable with me, I am reasonable with you. I cannot control unreasonable people or their actions but wish them nothing but happiness. You should attempt to recover your shipment in the event that things look like they didn't go so well on the trip. You'd be amazed at how fast these lil swimmers bounce back once they're out of the bag again. Don’t toss them out without first seeing if anything moves after 12hr. :)

Return/Refund policy: The shipping is $20+ with materials on my part, eBay takes another 15% which leaves me with a literal couple dollars as ‘profit’. If a DOA occurs en route, you will get the refund less the SHIPPING EXPENSE or a replacement. People are scamming and abusing the return policy to the point where I have to do this, you would not believe everything I have been told. Example: "They were left on my porch for a week, I was on vacation, resend a new order/full refund now or I'll leave bad feedback". 99% get through the shipping process and my feedback and sales record prove this fact but I cannot afford to refund for things that are out my control like the weather, negligence, or shipping delays any longer and extortion DOES NOT WORK WITH ME. As reflected in the few negative feedbacks I got after they couldn't get more free stuff.