Aquarium and fishkeeping retail serves a passionate hobbyist community — from beginners setting up their first tropical tank to specialist planted aquarium enthusiasts and marine reef keepers. The market spans equipment, livestock (fish and invertebrates), live and artificial plants, food, medications, and water treatment. Selling live fish online is legal in the UK but requires appropriate carrier arrangements and compliance with animal welfare requirements. Migrating to Shopify suits the category, with careful attention to livestock and invasive species compliance.

Product categories

Aquariums and tanks: Starter kits, glass tanks (various volumes), nano tanks, marine systems.
Filtration: Internal, external (canister), HOB (hang-on-back), sump. Flow rate in litres per hour.
Lighting: LED, T5, plant growth lighting. PAR value and spectrum for planted tanks.
Heaters and thermometers: Submersible heaters (wattage), inline heaters, thermometers.
Substrate: Gravel, sand, planted tank soil, coral sand for marine.
Livestock: Tropical fish, cold water fish, marine fish, invertebrates (shrimp, snails). Live animals.
Plants: Live aquatic plants, mosses, floating plants.
Food and medications: Flake, pellet, live and frozen food, medications, water treatments.

Tank and equipment specifications

product.metafields.aquarium.tank_volume_litres = "120"
product.metafields.aquarium.dimensions_cm = "80x35x45"
product.metafields.aquarium.glass_thickness_mm = "8"
product.metafields.aquarium.tank_type = "Freshwater / Marine / Brackish / Coldwater"
product.metafields.aquarium.filter_flow_lph = "1200"           // litres per hour
product.metafields.aquarium.heater_watts = "200"
product.metafields.aquarium.light_par = "80"                   // PAR at substrate level
product.metafields.aquarium.light_spectrum = "6500K / Full spectrum / Planted"

Water chemistry parameters for livestock

Fish and invertebrates require specific water chemistry — this information is essential for customer success and reduces livestock mortality:

pH range: freshwater fish typically prefer pH 6.5–7.5; African cichlids 7.8–8.5; marine reef 8.1–8.3
Temperature: tropical fish 24–28°C; coldwater 10–18°C; discus 28–30°C — note clearly
Hardness: GH (general hardness) and KH (carbonate hardness) in °dH or ppm — important for soft water species like discus
Salinity: marine fish require specific gravity 1.023–1.025; note refractometer requirement
Minimum tank size: ethical consideration — note minimum tank volume for each fish species
Compatibility: note whether species is compatible with community tanks or requires species-only setup

product.metafields.aquarium.species_ph_min = "6.5"
product.metafields.aquarium.species_ph_max = "7.5"
product.metafields.aquarium.temp_min_celsius = "24"
product.metafields.aquarium.temp_max_celsius = "28"
product.metafields.aquarium.min_tank_litres = "100"
product.metafields.aquarium.community_safe = "true"
product.metafields.aquarium.care_level = "Beginner / Intermediate / Expert"

Livestock shipping: live fish regulations

Selling live fish online is subject to specific requirements:

Animal Welfare Act 2006: sellers of live animals have a duty of care — fish must be packaged to minimise stress and mortality
Specialist couriers: live fish cannot be shipped via standard parcel carriers — require specialist aquatic couriers (APC, Parcelforce) or overnight services with live-animal handling
Next-day delivery only: live fish should only be dispatched for next-day delivery; never economy shipping
Packaging: double-bag system in oxygenated water; insulated polystyrene box; heat pack in cold weather
Day of dispatch: do not dispatch live fish on Fridays (risk of weekend transit); dispatch Monday–Wednesday
DOA (Dead on Arrival) policy: clear policy for livestock arriving dead — typically photographic evidence required within 2 hours of delivery

Invasive aquatic species restrictions

Several popular aquarium species are legally restricted in the UK:

Schedule 9 species: certain fish, plants, and invertebrates are listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 — illegal to release into the wild
GB Invasive Non-Native Species Framework: includes aquatic plants such as water hyacinth and certain aquarium plants — check current restrictions before stocking
Red-eared terrapin: popular as juveniles but illegal to sell in EU/UK under certain interpretations — verify current UK status before stocking
Note on all livestock product pages: "Please never release aquatic animals or plants into the wild — it is illegal and environmentally harmful"

Post-migration checklist for aquarium and fish stores

Tank specs: volume (litres), dimensions, glass thickness on all tanks; filter flow rate in LPH
Livestock water parameters: pH range, temperature range, minimum tank size, care level on all fish/invertebrate listings
Livestock shipping: specialist carrier configured; next-day only shipping; no Friday dispatch
DOA policy: clear dead-on-arrival policy on livestock product pages and in FAQ
Invasive species: Schedule 9 species not listed; environmental note on all livestock product pages
Compatibility: community safe/species-only noted on all fish listings

Migrating an aquarium and fish supplies store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)