Shipping information
Thank you for choosing Kentucky Tortoise for your live animal purchases. Please review our shipping policy carefully to understand how we handle the transportation of live animals.
Setting Up A Shipping Date:
Upon placing an order for a live animal, we will contact you via text message to coordinate a suitable shipping date.
We typically ship live animals via priority overnight on Tuesdays, ensuring arrival on Wednesday morning, which is considered the safest day with the least likelihood of delays. However, alternative shipping dates can be arranged to accommodate your schedule, the animal's well-being, and our shipping policies.
Live Arrival Guarantee:
To qualify for our live arrival guarantee, we require cooperation in selecting a safe shipping day that works for you, the animal, and us.
In some cases, particularly for live arrival guaranteed shipments, you may need to pick up your animals from a nearby FedEx hub. This ensures the package is insured by FedEx, protecting your investment in case of any issues during transit.
Shipping Schedule & Carrier:
We ship live animals via FedEx Overnight from Monday through Wednesday, with priority given to shipping on Tuesday and Wednesday. Your shipment will require a signature upon delivery and typically arrives before noon.
A tracking number will be emailed to you the evening of shipment from UPS or FedEx, using the email address provided during purchase.
Temperature Considerations:
We closely monitor temperatures at carrier hubs located in Western Kentucky, as well as the destination zip code. If temperatures are below 32°F or above 90°F, we will not ship as it is not safe for the animals. Shipping will resume on the next available shipping day when temperatures allow.
We recommend selecting the "hold for pickup" option during checkout to avoid shipping delays due to temperature restrictions.
Order Processing & Shipping Times:
Reptile orders placed by 12:00pm CST Monday through Wednesday will be shipped the same day, excluding holidays and unsafe weather conditions.
Shipping Costs & Options:
Reptiles ship Tuesday and Wednesday for a flat rate of $75.00 via priority overnight service with an early morning arrival.
We offer a "hold for pickup" option during checkout for live animals. This allows you to select a convenient pickup location to retrieve your order.
Signature Requirement & Responsibility:
Our carriers do not require a signature from us to leave the package. Once tendered to the carrier, Kentucky Tortoise is not responsible for any package.
If you will not be available to receive the package, we recommend adding specific instructions in the order notes or choosing the "hold for pickup" option.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding our shipping policy. We are committed to ensuring the safe and timely delivery of your live animals while adhering to the highest standards of animal welfare and customer satisfaction.