Frequently asked questions

Instructions

How do i introduce the fish into my pond?
Instructions for introducing fish into your pond can vary depending on the time of year. What we recommend is that, if your pond water temperature is withing 5 degrees Fahrenheit of the water temperature in the box, then release the fish into your pond immediately. It is always best to release fish in a deeper area, such as off the end of a dock, so that they can dive down to the depth at which they are most comfortable temperature wise.

If the discrepancy is greater than 5 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the bag from the box and float it in the edge of the pond for approximately 20 minutes. Leave the bag sealed while it floats and make sure that it is in a shady spot where it will not drift away. After 20 minutes have elapsed, open the bag and release the fish into the pond.

HOW DO I know what species are in my box?
Whenever you receive your fish either from our truck or via UPS, you’ll see a label.

With the exception of Koi, we use an abbreviation for our species followed by a number that indicates how many fish of that species come in your box*

The meaning of those abbreviations are:

BC: Black Crappie
BS: Bluegill Sunfish
CC: Channel Catfish
FM: Fathead Minnows*
GC: Grass Carp
LB: Largemouth Bass
RT: Rainbow Trout
WA: Walleye
YP: Yellow Perch

*In the case of Fathead Minnows the number is indicating the amount of pounds. For example FM 4 means that there are 4 lb of minnows in the box.

How often SHOULD I FEED MY FISH?
Hand feeding your fish can be a fun activity but make sure you don’t over feed or else you can be adding excess nutrients to your pond.

A good rule of the thumb is to not exceed a 5 minute feeding cycle and not to feed more than 3 times per day.

Pond care products

ARE THE Pond care products HARMFUL FOR THE FISH OR OTHER POND WILDLIFE?
The pond care products that we offer are safe for both you and your fish.
HOW to apply THE CLARIFIER and how does it WORK ?
 How to apply:

Clarifier should be dissolved in water and sprayed uniformly across the surface of the pond.

General information:

Nontoxic material that reduces sediment and the amount of phosphorus in the water column.

How to apply the muck pellets and how do they work?
How to apply:

Muck pellets are used as a spot treatment for your pond, dock, pier, beach, or other swimming areas where you may have muck accumulation. It is recommended that you use 4 pounds per week for four weeks. You can then use 1 pound every other week or as needed.

General information:

Instead of reducing nutrients throughout the water column, muck pellets work in localized areas. This option is much more efficient because you can concentrate on cleaning problem areas. The pellets themselves sink to the bottom of the pond, where they will begin to eliminate accumulated sludge and muck.

How Do I apply the Pond Care Package?
Barley Pellets:

Pellets should be broadcast around the perimeter of the pond with higher concentrations being applied in areas with more algae.

Beneficial Bacteria:

Do not open the pouch containing the powdered bacteria. Pouches of beneficial bacteria are dissolvable. To apply, remove the pouch from the zip lock bag and throw it into the center of your pond. Bacteria should be applied when the water temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

Pond Dye:

Do not open the pouch containing the powdered dye. Pouches of dye are dissolvable. To apply, remove the pouch from the zip lock bag and throw it into the center of your pond.

Orders

When do I need to submit my order by?
If a delivery date is listed on the website then it is usually still possible to get fish on that day. However, early orders are always filled first, so we recommend that orders be placed as far in advance as possible to ensure that we reserve enough fish to fill your order. Once our truck is full, or if we run out of fish for a particular delivery date, then we will remove that date or species from the website.
Is there a minimum order amount?
There is a minimum order of $20.00.
Do you offer quantity discounts?
We do offer quantity discounts and our Pond Stocking Packages, for example, already have one applied to them. Most of the species also have discounts that apply automatically based on the quantity you purchase. Larger orders may still qualify for additional discounts though so, please feel free to Contact Us directly if you would like us to provide you with a quote.

Delivery

How do I get my fish?
There are three options for getting your fish, pickup, shipping, or delivery. Fish can be picked up along one of our Delivery routes for free. Mid-Atlantic Stocking transports fish to your area approximately once a month beginning in April and continuing through October. We do not transport fish during the months of July and August however, due to warm weather and the stress that this can cause the fish during transport and stocking. A list of the stops that we will be making in your area, and the species available at that time can be found on the Deliveries page.

Fish can be shipped directly to your home via UPS Next Day Air®. If you would prefer this option, you can select shipping during the checkout process.

We also offer delivery of fish directly to your pond. If you are interested in delivery then please Contact Us by email or phone to request a quote.

How long will I have to get my fish home?
Fish will typically survive for at least a couple of hours from the time that they are picked up. If you have further to go then please notify one of our employees and we can add fresh oxygen to the box before you depart. This will allow the fish to survive for up to 6 hours before they need to be placed in your pond.
What if lose some of my fish?
Mid-Atlantic Stocking will replace any mortality in excess of 5 percent if the directions for transitioning them were followed correctly and it occurs within the first 48 hours after introduction to your pond. Please document your mortality with photographs and use the following link to complete a Mortality Report.
What if I don't make it to the pick up point on time?
If you order fish for pick up along one of our delivery routes, we will email you on the Wednesday prior to pick up day to notify you of what time you need to meet the vehicle. If you don’t arrive at the scheduled time, unfortunately our vehicle cannot wait for you. In that case, we charge a 20% restocking fee and will redeliver on the next date scheduled for your pickup location.
How will my fish be packaged?
Orders that are received at one of our pickup points will be prepackaged with water and pure oxygen in 16″x16″x12″ cardboard boxes. Packaging in this manner allows the fish to be transported safely for long distances in almost any vehicle. If you would like to know exactly how many boxes you will receive, please contact us a few days prior to delivery day and we should be able to tell you at that time.

When will my fish arrive?
All of our delivery routes begin at our facility in upstate New York and radiate outward. Below is an example of a typical schedule. What time we arrive at each pickup point can vary significantly though depending on the distance of a stop from our facility, the number of vehicles we are running that day, and how many stops we have to make. We contact all of the customers that have placed orders with us via email, on the Wednesday prior to delivery day, to let them know exactly what time we will be at their pickup point. Late customers can significantly affect our schedule for the rest of the day so, if you do not arrive at the designated time, our vehicle can not wait for you.

*This is only an example and does not correlate to the actual schedule*

  • Stop 1: 7:00AM
  • Stop 2: 9:00AM
  • Stop 3: 11:00AM
  • Stop 4: 1:00PM
  • Stop 5: 3:00PM
  • Stop 6: 5:00PM

shipping

how will my fish be shipped?
Fish are shipped via UPS Next Day Air® and typically arrive by 3:00pm the following day. It is important that you be available to receive your package when expecting fish, since they need to be placed in your pond immediately.
When will my pond care products be shipped?
Pond care products, aerators, and accessories are available year round. If shipping is selected at checkout for any of these products, they will be packaged and shipped out as quickly as possible.
how will my pond care products be shipped?
Pond care products can be picked up along one of our Delivery routes or they can be shipped via UPS Ground, UPS 2nd Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air® depending on what is selected at checkout. Orders are packaged and shipped from our facility as quickly as possible and a shipment notification will be sent to you via email to let you know when your products have left our facility and are on their way.
when will my fish be shipped?
We do not ship fish from November-March or July-August. Your fish will only ship during the months in which they are available. For example, bluegill sunfish are only available during April, May, June and September. Orders that are placed outside of available dates will be shipped on the first Wednesday of the normal season. For example, if an order is placed in February for shipment of bluegill sunfish, they will be shipped on the first Wednesday in April. Shipments may be postponed in excessively warm weather due to the potential for higher mortality in transit. If your shipment is postponed for any reason, you will be notified in advance.

Fish shipments are sent out every Wednesday, weather permitting. Please note that the cutoff time each week is Tuesday at 5pm. Orders received after this deadline will be shipped the following week. For example, if shipping is selected for your fish at checkout and your order is placed on a Saturday, your order will be shipped the following Wednesday and will arrive at your home the next day. Having a designated shipping day allows us to quickly pack multiple orders and transport them to the UPS facility at a specific time to minimize the time spent in transit.

what if my fish are doa?
Mid-Atlantic Stocking will replace any mortality in excess of 5 percent that occurs in transit. For this reason, it is important that you be home to receive your fish in person. Fish shipments that are left unattended may be subject to dramatic temperature changes due to exterior temperatures or direct sunlight.

If more than 5 percent of the fish in the box are dead on arrival, take a photograph of them and email it to us at [email protected] and we will ship new fish out the following Wednesday.

where do you ship to?
We currently ship fish to Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Pond care products can be shipped nationwide. If you have any questions regarding where we ship, please feel free to Contact Us.

Fish

Do I need to do anything special in preparation for my delivery?
Please be sure to bring a copy of your order and any necessary permits with you.
Are the fish disease free?
All of our fish are certified disease free and certificates can be provided as proof at your request. Prior to transport, fish are held in indoor tanks that are supplied with well water which is only passed through each tank once prior to discharge from the facility. Quarantining the fish in this manner eliminates the possibility of introducing disease and ensures that our customers will receive healthy fish on delivery day.
How many fish should I stock?
Fish descriptions and stocking recommendations can be found under the Fish section of our website. If you have questions which are not answered there or would just like to discuss your order with us prior to placing it, then please feel free to Contact Us.
Should I feed my fish?
Feeding your fish is optional as long as you have a well-established source of food for them in your pond such as fathead minnows. However, feeding your fish will encourage them to grow more rapidly.
Do I need a permit?
Some states require that pond owners obtain a permit in order to stock certain species of fish. Currently, all states that allow the importation of grass carp require a permit. Permit application forms can be obtained by visiting the Permits page of our website.

Payment

When do I pay for my fish?
If you submit an order online, we will process your credit card immediately and you will receive a copy of your order and receipt via email. If you Contact Us to request a quote and decide that you are interested in purchasing fish after receiving it, a 50 percent down payment will be required prior to the delivery date. This down payment ensures that we will hold enough fish to fill your order and can be paid by either check or credit card. The remaining 50 percent will be required upon delivery or pickup.
Is my credit card information safe?
Yes, our website and order form are secure and your payment information is submitted immediately for processing. After submitting your order, you will receive a copy of your order and receipt via email.

DOCKS

How Much Is a dock?
Docks are 100% customizable therefore, depending on your preferences, we can design the perfect dock for you. You can add the components that you are interested in to the quote request form and we will provide you with a drawing and quote for the requested pieces.
Do you offer dock installation?
Yes, although they are fairly easy to install yourself, we do offer installation. If you would like us to include the cost of installation on your quote, let us know in the “Customer Notes” section of the quote request form.
How LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY DOCK TO ARRIVE?
We have many common pieces in stock however, some components may have to be ordered through the manufacturer so lead times can vary. We can let you know current lead times when we provide your quote.
How is the dock anchored?
There are multiple ways to anchor your dock but the most common is to use galvanized steel pipes. Other methods include dead-weight brackets, pilings, attaching to an existing dock, and many others. A representative can discuss the best options with you based on the configuration and location of your dock.