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Seller Guide

Everything you need to know about selling fish, plants, invertebrates and equipment on AquaLots — from setting up your account to getting paid.

Getting started

Before you can sell on AquaLots you need a verified account. Here's what to do:

Create an account — Register at AquaLots with your email address. Verify your email — you cannot list until your email is confirmed.

Complete your profile — Add a profile photo, bio, and your general location. Buyers are more likely to trust sellers with a complete, genuine-looking profile.

Connect Stripe — Go to Account → Seller → Connect with Stripe. This links your bank account so you can receive payouts. Without Stripe connected, buyers cannot purchase from you.

You're ready to list — Once your email is verified and Stripe is connected, you can create listings immediately.

AquaLots is open to both hobbyists selling surplus stock and commercial sellers. If you earn over £1,000 per year from sales, you may need to register with HMRC and obtain an Animal Activities Licence from your local council. See the Rules section for full details.

Creating a listing

Auction vs Buy It Now

Auction — set a starting price and let buyers bid. Great for rare or high-demand fish where the final price could exceed your estimate. Set a reserve price to protect yourself from selling too cheaply.
Buy It Now — set a fixed price. Ideal for common species or when you know exactly what the item is worth. Faster and simpler for both you and the buyer.

Writing a great title

Your title is the most important part of your listing for search visibility. Use words buyers actually search for:

Include the common name and scientific name where relevant (e.g. “Bristlenose Pleco – Ancistrus sp.”)
Include size, age, quantity, colour morph, or grade if applicable
Avoid filler like “beautiful” or “rare” — be specific
Keep it under 80 characters

For example: Beautiful rare tropical fish for sale → Albino Bristlenose Pleco 4–6cm – captive bred pair

Description tips

Include water parameters the fish has been kept in (pH, temperature, hardness)
State the age, size, sex (if known), and health of the animal
Mention diet and feeding behaviour
Note any tank mates or be clear about compatibility
Be honest about any defects or concerns
Mention how long you have kept the animal

Photos

Good photos sell listings. Use natural light or a bright aquarium light, clean the front glass before shooting, and use a fast shutter speed to avoid motion blur. Always include at least one photo of the actual animal for sale — not a stock image. Your first photo is your thumbnail, so make it count.

Pricing

Research what similar fish are selling for before setting your price. Check completed listings on AquaLots and other hobbyist groups. Factor in rarity, size, quality, and whether the price includes shipping.

Listing duration

For auctions, 3–7 days is typical. Ending on a Sunday evening tends to attract the most bidders. For Buy It Now, listings can run for up to a year — relist promptly if they expire unsold.

Fees & payments

Listing fees

AquaLots listings are free to create. There are no upfront costs to list an item.

Seller fees

There are no seller fees on AquaLots. You receive the full item price plus any shipping costs. A small platform fee is charged to the buyer at checkout, not the seller.

Payment processing

All payments are processed securely by Stripe. Buyers pay at the time of purchase. Funds are held briefly to allow for disputes, then released to your connected Stripe account.

Payouts

Stripe pays out to your bank account on a rolling schedule (typically every 2–7 business days). You can view your payout schedule in Account → Payments.

Tax

If your total gross trading income from selling (across all platforms) exceeds £1,000 in a tax year, you are required to register for Self Assessment with HMRC and declare this income. The £1,000 trading allowance means income at or below this level is tax-free and does not need to be reported.

From the 2027/28 tax year, the Self Assessment filing threshold for trading income will rise to £3,000 — but the £1,000 tax-free trading allowance itself stays unchanged. If in doubt, speak to an accountant or visit HMRC's guidance on trading income.

Shipping & packaging

Do not use Royal Mail for live fish — it is prohibited under their terms and you may be liable under the Animal Welfare Act. Always book a next-day guaranteed service. The couriers most widely used in the UK fishkeeping hobby are APC Overnight and DPD. See the full Shipping Guide for detailed packing instructions.

Packaging live fish

Correct packing is your legal responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act:

Stop feeding 24–48 hours before shipping — This reduces ammonia production from waste during transit, which is the main cause of fish death in the bag.

Use an appropriate-sized fish bag — The bag should be at least 1/3 water and 2/3 oxygen (not air). For larger fish use a double bag.

Seal with pure oxygen — Hobbyists should ideally use an oxygen cylinder to seal bags. Air will work for very short journeys but significantly reduces safe transit time.

Insulate the box — Use a polystyrene-lined box. In cold weather, add a heat pack — never place it directly against the bag.

Label clearly — Mark the box: LIVE TROPICAL FISH / THIS WAY UP / FRAGILE.

Arrange a delivery slot — Notify the buyer and ensure someone is available to receive the parcel. Never send to an unattended address.

Packaging live plants

Most aquatic plants travel well in damp newspaper or paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag. Keep them moist but not waterlogged. Avoid extreme cold — insulate if temperatures are below 5°C. Tissue culture plants can travel in their sealed cups.

Collection in person

Always meet in a safe, public location. Never take fish to a meeting point without confirming the buyer is bringing appropriate transport — an insulated bag or box. Agree on a time that minimises stress to the animals.

Dispatch times

Be realistic about your dispatch time. If you need a day or two to prepare fish for shipping, set your dispatch time accordingly. Buyers appreciate honesty — don't promise same-day dispatch if you cannot deliver it.

Rules & prohibited items

UK law places significant restrictions on selling live animals. Violating these rules can result in criminal prosecution. Please read this section carefully.

Do you need a licence to sell fish?

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone selling animals “in the course of a business” requires a licence from their local council.

You do not need a licence if you are a genuine hobbyist selling surplus offspring and your gross income from all such sales is below £1,000 per tax year.

Hobbyist — no licence needed if:

You breed fish as a leisure activity
You sell surplus offspring infrequently
You don't buy stock specifically to resell
Gross sales income is below £1,000/year
Sales are not your primary source of income

Commercial seller — licence required if:

You buy stock to resell
You sell regularly and consistently
Profit is a primary motive
Gross income exceeds £1,000/year
You operate in a business-like manner

Wales and Scotland have equivalent regulations. Apply to your local council for an Animal Activities Licence if you are a commercial seller. Equivalent Welsh regulations: Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021.

Banned aquatic plants — it is illegal to sell these

The following plants are banned under the Invasive Alien Species regulations. Listing them on AquaLots or selling them anywhere in the UK is a criminal offence:

Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
Water Fern (Azolla filiculoides)
Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii)
Water Primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora)
Floating Primrose-Willow (Ludwigia peploides)
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana)
Curly Waterweed (Lagarosiphon major)
Nuttall's Waterweed (Elodea nuttallii)
Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Broadleaf Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum)
Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Senegal Tea Plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)

Banned or restricted animals

The following species cannot be sold in the UK:

Pond Sliders / Red-Eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta)
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
Signal Crayfish and most other non-native crayfish species
Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
Snakehead (Channa argus) and some other Channa species in Scotland

CITES protected species

Some aquarium species are protected under CITES. For domestic UK-to-UK sales of captive-bred specimens, CITES restrictions generally do not prevent the sale — but you must be able to prove the animal was legally obtained.

Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) — each fish must have a CITES certificate from the breeding farm, a microchip (PIT tag), and full provenance paperwork. Do not sell without complete documentation.
Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) — all species are Appendix II. UK captive-bred specimens can be sold domestically; ensure you can confirm the specimen was captive-bred.
Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygon spp.) — several species are now Appendix II. Retain and pass on documentation from the original importer.
Corals and giant clams — Appendix II. Captive-grown frags and captive-bred clams may be sold domestically with appropriate provenance.

Never release into the wild

It is a criminal offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release, or allow to escape, non-native species into the wild. This includes fish, invertebrates and plants. Never tip an aquarium into a pond, river, lake or canal. Dispose of unwanted livestock responsibly — sell, rehome, or take to a local fish shop.

AquaLots platform rules

Do not list any species banned under UK law
Do not sell dyed, tattooed or artificially modified fish
Do not sell sick, diseased or injured animals
Do not misrepresent the species, age, size or condition of an item
Do not sell fish to anyone under 16
All listings are subject to AquaLots content moderation

Managing your listings

Editing a listing

You can edit most listing details at any time from Account → Selling → Active. Click the settings icon on any listing and select Edit. Note that on live auctions with bids, some fields (such as price) may be locked.

Deleting a listing

You can delete an active listing at any time from Account → Selling → Active, provided it has no bids. Once a listing has received bids it cannot be deleted — you must let the auction run to completion.

Scheduling listings

You can schedule a listing to go live at a specific date and time. This is useful for timing your auction to end at peak browsing hours (Sunday evenings typically perform well in the UK fishkeeping community).

Offers

You can enable “Allow Offers” on Buy It Now listings. Buyers can send you an offer below your listed price. You can accept, decline, or ignore offers. Offers expire automatically if not responded to.

Relisting

If a listing expires unsold, you can create a new listing. Consider adjusting your price, improving your photos, or updating the description before relisting.

After the sale

Confirm dispatch

Once you have shipped the item, mark it as dispatched in Account → Selling → Sold. This notifies the buyer and starts the delivery clock. Always add tracking information if your courier provides it.

Communication

Respond to buyer messages promptly. Good communication prevents misunderstandings and leads to better feedback. Keep all communication on the AquaLots platform.

DOA (Dead on Arrival) policy

If a buyer receives dead or unwell animals, they may raise a dispute. To protect yourself:

Always photograph your fish bagged and ready to ship before sending
Keep your courier tracking information and any delivery confirmation
Pack correctly — most DOA claims result from inadequate packaging or delays
State your DOA policy clearly in your listing description

Refunds

If a buyer requests a refund and it is found to be justified, AquaLots will facilitate this through the dispute process. Refunds on live animals are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Feedback

After a sale completes, buyers can leave feedback. Your rating is one of the most important trust signals on your profile. Great feedback comes from honest descriptions, good packaging, fast dispatch, and responsive communication.

Tips for success

Invest in your photos — Listings with multiple clear, well-lit photos significantly outperform those with a single blurry image. A £20 clip-on phone macro lens makes a huge difference for small fish and shrimp.

Price competitively at first — New sellers with no feedback should price slightly below market rate to build their first few positive reviews. Once your reputation is established, you can price to market.

Be specific in your descriptions — Buyers want to know exactly what they are getting. Include water parameters, size, age, sex, diet and tank mates. The more detail you provide, the more confident buyers feel.

Build your store profile — Complete your store bio, add a banner image, and keep your profile photo up to date. Buyers browse seller profiles before purchasing — a professional-looking profile builds trust.

Time your auctions well — Auctions ending Sunday evenings between 7–9pm tend to get the most last-minute bidding in the UK fishkeeping hobby. Avoid ending auctions in the middle of the night or on weekday mornings.

Use tags effectively — Tags are searchable. Include the scientific name, common name, colour variant, care level, and any relevant terms a buyer might search for (e.g. 'nano', 'community', 'planted tank').

Quarantine before selling — Shipping stressed or newly acquired fish leads to DOA claims and negative feedback. Only sell fish that have been in your care for several weeks and are actively feeding and healthy.

Communicate proactively — If there is any delay in dispatch, contact the buyer before they chase you. A quick message goes a long way. Buyers remember sellers who keep them informed.

Legal disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulations change — always verify current requirements with your local council, HMRC, or the relevant authority. For invasive species queries contact the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat. For CITES queries contact APHA.

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