How Do You Return Fish?

In-store Returns

• Freshwater fish purchased in-store can be returned with a receipt within 30 days for a full refund to original form of tender. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to return one of these animals you have 14 days from date of purchase to do so.

Return Policies at Pet Stores

• It is possible to get a refund on dead fish depending on the place of purchase. Some pet stores, for example, may have a policy of providing a refund or exchange for dead fish if they are returned within a certain time period from the date of purchase.

Fish Return Processes

• Returning to Petco: You can return live fish within 14 days as long as you have the receipt, original transport cup/bag, and a water sample. Petco refunds the purchase price if the fish dies within 30 days of buying it online.
• Returning to Petsmart: Petsmart gladly replaces or refunds fish within 14 days too. You need the receipt and packaging. Proper documentation and containers ease the return process.

Identifying and Returning Dead Fish

• Checking for Dead Fish: You can tell if your fish is dead by checking for signs like lack of movement, unusual coloring, clouded over eyes, and floating oddly in the tank.
• Returning Dead Fish: When returning a dead fish, put it in a plastic bag with water from its tank so PetSmart can analyze it. Try to minimize transport time by going directly to PetSmart.

General Return Summary

• General Summary: PetSmart, Petco, and Petsmart accept returns on live and dead fish. If issues come up within the initial 14-30 day window, you can easily exchange or get a refund. Check with your local store too – managers sometimes make exceptions past the window.