About us

Helping beginners fall in love with the hobby

Hi, and welcome to Tails & Fin! We are here for anyone setting up their very first tank. Our mission is simple: make it easy, and fun, for beginners to get into fishkeeping.

Our mission

Why Tails & Fin exists

A first aquarium should feel exciting, not overwhelming.

  • Small tanks, big joy

    Shrimp, snails, nano fish and live plants are some of the most rewarding animals to keep, and they are happy in small tanks that fit on a desk or a shelf. That makes them a perfect way in.

  • No guesswork, no jargon

    Every product tells you the tank size it needs, who it gets along with, the water we keep it in and how to feed it, in plain words. If you still have a question, a real person answers it.

Who we are

What we promise you

A few principles we follow on every single order.

  • You come first

    We are here when things go great and when they don't. Shipping live animals can be tricky and rare issues happen for reasons outside anyone's control. When they do, we listen, we care, and we make it right.

  • Healthy, high-quality animals

    We work with breeders who share our standards, and animals we bring in are quarantined and cared for before they ever ship to you.

  • We share what we know

    We are fishkeepers ourselves. Ask us about cycling, tank mates or feeding and we will happily help, whether it is your first tank or your fifth.

    Read the FAQ

  • Animals' health above everything

    Each shipping service has temperature cutoffs, and we hold boxes until the weather is safe. We genuinely care about every animal we send out, and their safety always comes first.

    Shipping info

Getting started

Your first tank in four steps

  1. 1

    Pick your tank size

    See which animals have room to thrive in the tank you have, from 40 oz micro tanks up.

    Shop by tank size
  2. 2

    Let it cycle

    Give your filter a few weeks to grow the helpful bacteria that keep water safe. Live plants help a lot.

    Be patient
  3. 3

    Choose easy animals

    Start with hardy, forgiving picks like cherry shrimp, nerite snails and small schooling fish.

    Easy care
  4. 4

    We ship them safely

    Packed for the trip, shipped early in the week in safe weather, and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

    Arrives alive

Live Arrival Guarantee

Arrives alive. Guaranteed.

Every eligible fish and invertebrate is covered from our door to yours. Here is how it works if something goes wrong.

  1. 1 Your order arrives Open the box as soon as it lands and check on everyone.
  2. 2 Something wrong? Snap two photos One in the unopened bag and one on a paper towel, then email us within 12 hours of delivery.
  3. 3 We make it right Approved claims get a replacement or store credit.
  • Snails can rest up to 5 days after a trip
  • Plants need about 15 days to settle
Read the full policy

How we ship

Packed for the trip

  • Early in the week

    Live animals ship Monday to Wednesday, so boxes are not stuck in a warehouse over the weekend.

  • Only in safe weather

    We check the forecast first and add heat or cold packs when needed. If it is not safe, we wait.

  • All the details

    Shipping days, delays, cancellations and returns are all on one page.

    Shipping info

Talk to us

Say hello

  • Questions? We would love to hear from you

    Thank you for stopping by to learn about us. Whether you are picking tank mates or sorting out an order, we are here to help.

    Email hello@tailsandfin.com

  • New to fishkeeping?

    Our FAQ covers cycling, acclimation, feeding and the questions first-timers ask most.

    Read the FAQ