Frequently Asked Questions

Aquarium AND Lounge?

Yes! Isn’t it cool? One of my greatest takeaways from being in the aquatic trade has been that hobbyists need a place to socialize! Not only do you get all the conversational benefits of warm drinks and comfortable seats, but shop stock is constantly changing, so there’s always something new to see. Stop by and see for yourself, have a seat, sip some tea, and learn what fish keeping is all about!

What If You Don't Have What I'm Looking For?

Not a problem! We do special orders! For peaceful community fish or for bettas under $50, there is no deposit. To place a special order, you may visit the shop, call, or email us, and we'll ensure your special order makes it on our list! Specialized species (reef, brackish, niche feeders, etc.), large fish (arrowana, oscars, pacu, red-tailed catfish, etc.), aggressive/destructive fish, or fish whose retail value exceeds $50 will require a non-refundable deposit of 25% pre-tax cost. The deposit will be applied to the final price of livestock at the time of purchase.

I’ve Placed a Special Order. Now What?

Congratulations! Most orders are fulfilled within 14 business days. All of our fish receive a standard 7-day quarantine. During the quarantine period, our fish receive a combination of Hikari Ick-X and Mardel Maracyn to ensure they are healthy and ready for their new homes. While we do our best to take care of every special order, there may be a rare case where it takes longer to fulfill a specific order. If this occurs, we will continue to maintain the order request for up to 90 days. After 90 days, Emmaquatics will reach out to determine if you would like to remain on the order list or be removed.

Home Safe with Our New Friend! What are the Next Steps?

Check out the handy infographic found here:

Cycling a New Tank Guide

Do I Need to Quarantine My New Fish Before Adding Them to the Tank?

While we pride ourselves on sanitary practices, preventing cross-contamination, and using a broad-spectrum antibiotic in addition to Hikari Ick-X, we cannot guarantee the health of our fish once they have left store doors. It is generally considered best practice to quarantine fish for 14 days once they have been received from the distributor. Here at Emmaquatic’s, we are able to cut that time down by sourcing our fish as close to home as possible through close breeder relationships.

Where Does the Livestock Come From?

Thank you for asking this question. It is one of our key responsibilities to ensure our livestock is ethically sourced in our community. Supporting the local community has been at the focal point of this entire journey. What began as a community service endeavor has blossomed into something more wonderful than we could have ever imagined, and this support is at the center of everything we do. We aim to source more than 80% of our shop's stock within Whatcom County. Even more so, Emma visits each supplier regularly, in person, to ensure ethical and appropriate husbandry. This is assessed through a variety of markers; ample, appropriate tank sizes and habitats, proper water quality management, and sustainable feeding practices. Through these safeguards, we're confident that our fish are bred for vitality and genuine love of the hobby as well as your peace of mind! For fish/plants sourced outside the county, we stick as close to home as possible with suppliers in Seattle, Centralia, and a small family plant farm on the East Coast.

I Bought a Fish Yesterday, and Today It's Dead. What Now?

Emmaquatics works hard to prevent cross-contamination and quarantines all fish for a minimum of 7 days (with the exception of Bettas) before sending them to new homes. We will never send you home with a sick fish and will always provide you with honest feedback on community compatibility and the readiness of a new tank for aquatic life; based on the information provided to us by the customer. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to offer a live fish guarantee, and revoke all responsibility for their care once they have left the premises. Therefore, we will not replace fish who die after leaving the store. That said, we understand that life happens. We will always do our best to support the success of your tank. If you experience the loss of life shortly after adding a new animal however, give us a call and bring in a water sample. Most deaths are caused by shock due to improper acclimation, always follow instructions for acclimation as told by staff and listed above. If those instructions were followed accurately, we will take a look at water chemistry and move forward based on those results.