FAQ's
Question: Are all of your corals aquacultured?
Answer: More than 95% of the corals offered at Golden State Corals are aquacultured.
Coral farming is at the core of what we do, and the overwhelming majority of our inventory consists of established aquacultured corals that are grown and propagated in captivity.
On occasion, we also offer select wild-sourced or maricultured specimens, such as certain Bubble Corals, Lobophyllia, and other unique pieces that are not commonly available as aquacultured livestock.
These specimens are quarantined, inspected, and conditioned in our systems before being offered for sale, with the same focus on health and cleanliness that we apply to our aquacultured livestock.
Question: Are all of your clams aquacultured?
Answer: No. Our clam collection includes both farmed and select wild-sourced Tridacna clams.
Every clam we offer is hand picked for its color, pattern, health, and overall quality. Each product page identifies whether the individual clam is Farmed or Wild, along with its species, origin, placement recommendations, and care information.
Question: What does WYSIWYG mean?
Answer: WYSIWYG means “What You See Is What You Get.”
When an item is marked WYSIWYG, the coral, clam, or other livestock pictured on the product page is the exact specimen you will receive.
We photograph our livestock ourselves and make every effort to represent its appearance as accurately as possible.
Question: Do you hold or condition livestock before selling it?
Answer: Yes. Livestock is given time in our systems to settle in and establish before being offered for sale.
Many specimens remain with us for weeks to months, giving us time to observe their health, coloration, behavior, and overall condition.
Question: Do you have a retail store?
Answer: Golden State Corals is not open for public walk-in shopping.
Our primary focus is coral farming, online livestock sales, and professional aquarium services.
Question: Can I pick up my order locally?
Answer: Yes. Local pickup is available by appointment in Southern California.
Select local pickup at checkout when available, or contact us to coordinate your order and pickup time.
Question: Do you offer local delivery?
Answer: Yes. Local delivery may be available depending on your location and the size of your order.
Contact us before ordering if you'd like to discuss local delivery.
Question: Do you ship nationwide?
Answer: Yes. We ship live coral, clams, and other eligible livestock throughout the continental United States using FedEx or UPS overnight service.
Orders of $300 or more qualify for FREE shipping.
For complete shipping rates, weather policies, and guarantee information, please see our Shipping & Arrive Alive Guarantee page.
Question: Can my shipment be held at FedEx or UPS for pickup?
Answer: Yes, when an eligible carrier location is available. We recommend hold-for-pickup during periods of extreme heat or cold whenever practical. This can reduce the amount of time your livestock spends on a delivery vehicle and provide a safer shipping experience during challenging weather. Contact us before your order ships and we'll help determine the best available option.
Question: Can I request a specific delivery date?
Answer: Absolutely. If you need your order delivered on a particular day, contact us before shipping or leave a note with your order. We'll do our best to accommodate your requested date, provided weather and carrier conditions allow us to ship safely.
Question: Can you hold an order for me?
Answer: In many cases, yes. If you need us to hold livestock for a future shipping or pickup date, contact us before ordering or immediately afterward so we can make arrangements. Extended holds may require additional arrangements.
Question: Can I combine multiple orders?
Answer: Usually, yes. If you've already placed an order and would like to add additional livestock before it ships, contact us. When possible, we'll combine the orders into a single shipment.
Question: Why does a coral sometimes look different from the website photo?
Answer: Coral coloration can vary depending on lighting spectrum, intensity, nutrients, water chemistry, viewing angle, and the aquarium in which it is kept. We photograph our livestock ourselves and make every effort to represent its appearance accurately. However, some variation between our systems and yours is completely normal.
Question: Will my clam look the same from every angle?
Answer: Not necessarily. Tridacna clam mantles can look dramatically different depending on viewing angle and lighting. Their reflective and iridescent coloration can become more or less pronounced as your viewing angle changes. This is one of the reasons we provide individual WYSIWYG photography whenever possible.
Question: Do you guarantee livestock will arrive alive?
Answer: Yes. Our livestock is covered by our Arrive Alive Guarantee, subject to the requirements outlined on our Shipping & Arrive Alive Guarantee page. If you experience an issue with your shipment, contact us within 2 hours of delivery and provide clear photos of the affected livestock in its original shipping bag.
Question: What if FedEx or UPS delays my shipment?
Answer: Contact us as soon as you become aware of the delay. Carrier delays and circumstances outside of our control are reviewed case by case. We'll work with you and the carrier to determine the status of the package and the best course of action.
Question: Do you offer aquarium installation and maintenance?
Answer: Yes. In addition to our livestock business, Golden State Corals provides professional aquarium installation, maintenance, and reef-system support for clients throughout our service area in Southern California. Contact us to discuss your aquarium and service needs.
Question: Still have a question?
Answer: We're always happy to help. Whether you have a question about a coral, clam, an existing order, shipping conditions, local pickup, or aquarium services, contact Golden State Corals and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.