Live Medaka Shipped to Florida
Yes, I ship live Japanese rice fish to Florida. Boxes leave Raleigh, North Carolina on Mondays by UPS 2nd Day Air, so a Monday box is normally due Wednesday. I have no shop or pickup in Florida. Firefly fish have already landed in Florida.
Florida weather and your fish
Florida's challenge is summer heat and hurricane season, not winter. Please take the never-release rule seriously here, because a warm wet state is where escaped fish and plants can settle in.
Keepers in Miami or Tampa rarely think about ice at all, but a shallow pot in July sun is a real danger. North Florida and the Panhandle do get occasional frost, and a sudden cold front there is more of a surprise than a threat.
When to order
Fall through spring is usually easiest. Peak summer heat and tropical storms can hold a box.
Keeping medaka here
Roughly USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11. Medaka handle the mid-80s°F if changes are gradual, so favor shade and plant cover. A 10-gallon or larger indoor tank avoids the heat. More in my winter guide.
Plants for Florida
I do not ship Dwarf Water Lettuce and Floating Plant Variety Pack to Florida. The rest of my plant shop can go, and the free floating plants in a fish or snail order are chosen from what is legal to send you.
Rates, holds, and the live arrival guarantee are on my shipping page. Never release fish or plants into local water, and ask your state wildlife agency about local rules.
Common questions
Can you ship live medaka to Florida?
Yes, from Raleigh, North Carolina, by UPS 2nd Day Air on Mondays, with a live arrival guarantee.
Can medaka live outside all year in Florida?
Usually yes. Summer heat is the bigger concern.