Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about ordering aquarium plants, freshwater shrimp and aquascaping supplies from The Wet Leaf, including Canadian shipping, winter delivery, plant care, returns and our live-arrival guarantee.
Shipping & Delivery
Where are you located?
We are based in the Springbank area, approximately 15 minutes west of Calgary, Alberta, and ship across Canada.
The Wet LeafWhere do you ship?
We ship across Canada. We also ship non-living aquarium products to the United States; live plants, shrimp and other livestock cannot be shipped to the U.S. See the U.S. shipping question below.
When will my order ship out?
Live aquarium plants and freshwater shrimp normally ship on Mondays. When Monday is a holiday, we ship on Tuesday. We also ship on Tuesday when needed for high order volumes, and occasionally when we can accommodate additional orders. All live shipments depend on the destination and suitable weather conditions.
Place your plant or shrimp order before 6 p.m. Sunday, Calgary local time. This follows Calgary’s seasonal clock changes, including daylight saving time. Orders are processed first come, first served. We ship late orders when possible, but orders placed after the cutoff may wait until the following shipping week.
Non-perishable orders usually ship within two business days. Shipping volume, sales and weather can cause delays.
When will I receive my tracking information?
All orders include a tracking number, sent by email and available through your online account. Please allow 24 hours during regular business hours for tracking updates. Packages are shipped with a signature request.
Check tracking frequently and arrange to be present for delivery. We are not responsible for lost or stolen packages, but we do our best to provide after-purchase support. Discrepancies and lost packages are handled case by case, and The Wet Leaf reserves the right to offer alternative solutions for each situation. If you believe your package is lost, email info@thewetleaf.ca. Claims filed on your behalf can take a minimum of 7–14 business days to process.
Does The Wet Leaf ship live plants in winter?
Yes. We ship live aquarium plants and freshwater shrimp throughout the year in Canada when weather conditions permit. Plants are packed with Styrofoam insulation and heat packs when needed, depending on the weather.
Shrimp are shipped in insulated boxes with heat packs using a priority shipping method. Plants and shrimp follow the same dispatch schedule and temperature restrictions. We pack live orders in the best possible condition with appropriate protective materials. Please monitor your local weather and request a hot or cold pack as necessary.
When is it too hot or cold to ship?
For both live plants and freshwater shrimp, temperatures above 20°C or below −15°C in Calgary or at the destination are too hot or cold to ship. We monitor temperatures across Canada and hold affected orders until the next shipping day in the hope of more favourable conditions. We will contact you if we cannot ship.
What is UPS Access Point?
UPS Access Point lets you collect your parcel at a participating pickup location, such as a UPS Store. Our existing FAQ describes this as a free service with free signup. It can reduce exposure to freezing temperatures and time spent in delivery trucks or unheated warehouses, including periods longer than a couple of hours. In many cases, parcels may be available sooner; we have had great success with these services.
Canada Post offers a similar service called FlexDelivery. Check the carrier’s current signup instructions and eligible locations before arranging delivery.
How should I choose a fast shipping time of less than three business days?
You do not need to select a service solely to meet a less-than-three-business-day target. Choose from the shipping methods shown in your cart. We offer a 100% dead-on-arrival (DOA) guarantee, subject to the published claim requirements.
The shipping policy says to assume the longest delivery estimate shown for your rate, unless you are in a large metropolitan area or close to Calgary. Check your address carefully at checkout. Shipping costs are non-refundable. Read our shipping and live-arrival policy before ordering.
Do you offer local pickup for Calgary customers?
No. We are unable to offer local pickup. Our focus on shipping across Canada means we cannot accommodate missed appointments, late arrivals or last-minute rescheduling. Please choose an available shipping rate; all Calgary rates include the 100% DOA guarantee for live orders.
Calgary orders use a one-business-day shipping service. From our dispatch process to your door, you will usually see about two business days: one day for us to prepare the shipment and hand it to the courier, followed by one business day for transit and delivery. Check your checkout estimate for your order.
Is local delivery an option?
Yes. Available local delivery rates appear at checkout.
Can I order live aquarium plants online in Canada?
Yes. Order from our live aquarium plant collection for delivery across Canada. There is no minimum order. Check the Sunday plant-order deadline, weather restrictions and live-arrival claim requirements before ordering.
Do you ship live plants, shrimp or dry goods to the United States?
We ship non-living aquarium products to the United States, including aquarium stones, hardscape, ADA products, fertilizers, tools and other dry goods. Orders travel by Canada Post with USPS handling U.S. delivery, or by an alternative courier.
We cannot ship live aquarium plants, shrimp or other livestock to the U.S. because of varying customs, import and state-specific restrictions. U.S. recipients are responsible for applicable customs duties, tariffs, import taxes and additional cross-border fees. These charges are not included in our shipping rates.
Can aquarium plants and dry goods be ordered together?
Our shipping policy describes carts containing plants and dry goods: when plants are in your cart, only fast plant-shipping rates are available. Dry-goods rates depend on weight and volume, since heavier items require larger boxes. Expedited shipping is described as the cheapest option for dry goods alone; unlike plants, those items are unaffected by a week in transit or a weekend in a truck.
The policy does not confirm that mixed orders always travel in one box, or that separately placed orders can be merged. Contact us before ordering if you need to confirm packaging or combine separate orders.
Aquarium Plants
What should I do when my aquarium plants arrive?
Inspect your plants promptly, before opening the shipping bags if there is a problem. For dead plants, email us within two hours of receiving the package, with clear, well-lit photos showing the plants inside the sealed shipping bag. See the guarantee question below for details.
For healthy plants, follow the planting instructions for the species. Inspect and rinse new plants before adding them to your aquarium. Our shipping policy recommends rinsing, dipping and quarantining new flora if pests are a concern; choose a treatment suitable for the plant and your livestock. For placement and care, read our aquarium plant guide.
What is the difference between tissue culture and potted aquarium plants?
Tissue culture plants, also called in vitro plants, are grown using sterile laboratory methods. A cup contains numerous small plant portions that can be separated for planting. Our shipping policy says tissue culture cups arrive pest-free.
Potted aquarium plants are more established plants with larger root systems, giving a layout more immediate impact. Choose the format and species that suit your aquarium, lighting and care routine.
Are your aquarium plants free of snails, algae and pests?
We maintain clean aquariums and remove unwanted organisms when we see them. However, traditionally grown aquarium plants may carry snails, pests, algae or duckweed; we cannot guarantee they are free of them. If pests are a concern, our shipping policy recommends rinsing, dipping and quarantining new flora before adding it to your tank.
Tissue culture cups arrive pest-free under our published policy. Browse our tissue culture collection for this option.
Which plants are suitable for beginners, and do I need CO₂?
Many easy aquarium plants can grow without injected CO₂. Anubias, Java Fern, Bucephalandra, Cryptocoryne and many mosses are good starting points for a low-tech aquarium. Match each plant to your lighting and provide appropriate nutrients.
More demanding plants, stronger lighting and some carpeting layouts benefit from consistent injected CO₂. Read our guide to plants, lighting, CO₂ and care before choosing your setup.
When do you update your stock?
We update stock continually and restock monthly or biweekly, depending on availability. Browse our aquarium plants for current stock.
Freshwater Shrimp
What should I do when my freshwater shrimp arrive?
Arrange to receive the delivery and inspect your shrimp promptly. If any shrimp arrive dead, email info@thewetleaf.ca within two hours of receiving the package for a refund under our 100% DOA guarantee. Include clear, well-lit photos showing the shrimp inside the sealed shipping bag, along with your order number. Photograph the bag before opening it.
The same claim deadline and sealed-bag photo requirements apply to plants and shrimp. Shipping costs are not refunded. For healthy shrimp, follow the acclimation guidance below and any instructions supplied with your order.
How should I acclimate freshwater shrimp?
Prepare a mature, stable aquarium before your shrimp arrive. Our shrimp aquarium guide advises matching temperature, gradually adjusting shrimp to aquarium water, avoiding sudden changes in water chemistry and keeping the lighting low during introduction.
Follow species-specific requirements and any instructions supplied with your order. The public guide does not specify one acclimation duration or drip rate for every shrimp shipment. Ask us before delivery if you need help choosing a method for your water conditions. Browse our freshwater shrimp and livestock.
Orders, Returns & Guarantees
What if I need to make a change to my order?
Email info@thewetleaf.ca with your change request as soon as possible. We are happy to make adjustments while your order has not shipped and will respond as soon as we can.
How do I choose my substitution preferences?
If your cart contains a qualifying aquarium plant, you will see “If a plant in your order is unavailable, may we send a replacement?” above the special instructions field.
The default is “No — refund the unavailable plant”. Choose “Yes” to select a preferred replacement from the available plants, or choose “You choose a similar plant” to let our team select one. Your preference applies to any unavailable plant in your order.
Replacements must be of equal or lower value, and we refund any price difference. If your chosen plant is unavailable or costs more than the plant being replaced, we refund the unavailable plant. If you let us choose and no suitable replacement is available, we refund it instead. Without recorded permission, we do not substitute plants.
Do you have an order minimum?
No. There is no minimum order. Shipping rates decrease as your cart value rises, with thresholds at $50, $75, $100 and $150. Rates vary by province, so compare the rates shown at different cart values to find the best value for your order.
Do you accept returns?
We accept returns of non-perishable products within 30 days. Live plants, freshwater shrimp and all other living items are not returnable. If a live item arrives dead, please follow our DOA claim process instead.
We do not provide return shipping labels. You are responsible for all return shipping costs and any damage during return shipping. Please send returns using a tracked shipping service. Original shipping costs are non-refundable.
Contact us before sending your return so we can help with the return details.
Can I request specific stone shapes, sizes and colours?
Yes. Add your request at checkout and we will do our best to accommodate it. If you want a specific piece, browse our WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) collection.
Do you have promotions or discounts?
We run sales and offer discount codes from time to time. Sign up for the email list using the newsletter form below, and follow our social media links on the contact page to view updates, like, comment and follow us.
What does the live-arrival guarantee cover, and how do I report dead plants or shrimp?
We offer a 100% dead-on-arrival (DOA) guarantee for live plants and freshwater shrimp. If plants or shrimp arrive dead, email info@thewetleaf.ca within two hours of receiving the package for a refund. Include clear, well-lit photos showing the affected plants or shrimp inside the sealed shipping bag, along with your order number. Shipping costs are not refunded.
Dead aquatic plants typically look like a ball of green mush. Aquatic moss is an exception: once removed from the bag and gently fluffed up, it should look like moss. If you suspect a problem, photograph the sealed bag and contact us before opening it.
Monitor your tracking and arrange to receive the parcel. Read our shipping and DOA policy for shipping information and customer responsibilities.
Still need help? Contact The Wet Leaf or email info@thewetleaf.ca.