06/11/2026
A Record Shipping Week — Thank You for the Support
Last week, Topick Aquarium broke our own shipping record.
More live fish, shrimp, and plants left our Markham store than ever before — heading to hobbyists across Canada.
First, thank you.
Whether you ordered from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Quebec, Nova Scotia, or somewhere in between, we truly appreciate your trust and support.
But with growth also comes challenges.
This record-breaking shipping week also came with one of the biggest unexpected situations we have faced since opening: a large-scale UPS delay. More than 70% of our packages were delayed by one extra day.
Shipping delays are not something we can fully control, especially once boxes leave our store. But the result still gave us a lot to reflect on and learn from.
Despite the delay, our total DOA loss was under 0.5%.
We are grateful for that result — not because delays are acceptable, but because it showed us that the systems we have been building are working:
✔ Proper quarantine before sale
✔ Livestock stabilized before shipping
✔ One Tank One System for ornamental fish
✔ Fish and shrimp adapted to local tap water conditions
✔ Careful packing with insulated protection
✔ Heat / cold pack decisions based on weather
✔ DOA risk fully covered by us
For anyone who has never ordered live fish or shrimp online before, we understand the hesitation.
Many people are used to shopping only at local fish stores because they want to see the fish in person and avoid shipping risk. That makes sense.
But compared with many traditional local stores, Topick Aquarium is built differently. We focus heavily on quarantine, stability, and selection before livestock ever becomes available for sale.
Our goal is not just to ship fish.
Our goal is to make high-quality, stable aquarium livestock accessible to hobbyists across Canada — especially in cities where selection may be limited.
If you are not sure what to order, start simple:
✔ Nano fish for planted tanks
✔ Healthy shrimp colonies
✔ Peaceful Corydoras
✔ Algae eaters and cleanup crew
✔ Hardy beginner-friendly species
And if you have questions, message us anytime. We would rather help you choose the right livestock than simply push a sale.
This week was a reminder that every shipment teaches us something.
We are proud of the progress, but we also know there is always room to improve. Topick Aquarium will continue refining our packing process, shipping schedule, livestock selection, and communication — one shipment at a time.
Experience alone does not make the hobby better.
Iteration does.
Thank you again for helping us reach a new milestone, and thank you for trusting us with your aquariums.
Canada-wide live fish & shrimp shipping available weekly
Local pickup available in Markham, Ontario
Find more details on www.topickaquarium.com
Topick Aquarium
