Terms & Conditions

AquaLots (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates an online marketplace at aqualots.com (the “Platform”) that connects buyers and sellers of aquatic life, equipment, and related products across the United Kingdom.

AquaLots acts solely as an intermediary marketplace platform. We are not a party to any transaction between buyers and sellers, and we do not buy or sell items directly unless explicitly stated. The contract for the sale of any item is formed directly between the buyer and the seller.

By registering an account, browsing, buying, selling, or entering competitions on AquaLots, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy.

In these Terms & Conditions, the following definitions apply:

• “Platform” means the AquaLots website at aqualots.com and any associated mobile applications.
• “User” means any individual who accesses or uses the Platform, whether as a buyer, seller, or competition entrant.
• “Buyer” means a User who purchases or bids on items listed on the Platform.
• “Seller” means a User who lists items for sale on the Platform.
• “Listing” means any item, lot, or product advertised for sale on the Platform.
• “Auction” means a Listing sold via a competitive bidding process with a defined end time.
• “Buy Now” means the facility to purchase a Listing immediately at a fixed price.
• “Offer” means a proposal submitted by a Buyer to purchase a Listing at a price lower than the listed price.
• “Competition” means a prize draw hosted on the Platform where Users purchase tickets for a chance to win a stated prize.
• “Buyer Fee” means the fee charged to Buyers by AquaLots on each transaction.
• “Stripe” means Stripe Payments UK Ltd, our third-party payment processor.

To use AquaLots you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be a resident of the United Kingdom or, where specifically permitted, another country that AquaLots serves.
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract.
• Not be prohibited from using the Platform under any applicable law.

By creating an account you confirm that all information you provide is accurate, current, and complete. AquaLots reserves the right to refuse registration or suspend any account where eligibility cannot be confirmed.

The Platform is intended for personal and small-scale hobbyist or commercial use in relation to aquatic life and associated products. Use of the Platform for any other purpose is subject to AquaLots’s prior written consent.

Registration. You must register for an account to buy, sell, or enter competitions on AquaLots. You may register using an email address and password, or via a supported third-party provider (e.g. Google).

Account security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You must notify us immediately via our contact page if you suspect unauthorised access to your account. AquaLots will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to protect your credentials.

Usernames. Your username must comply with our username policy: 3–30 characters, lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores only. Usernames must not impersonate another person, brand, or entity; contain offensive, discriminatory, or misleading content; or infringe any third-party intellectual property rights. AquaLots reserves the right to reclaim or change any username that violates this policy.

One account per person. Each individual may hold only one active account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions, bans, or rate limits is strictly prohibited and may result in permanent suspension of all associated accounts.

Account suspension and termination. AquaLots reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or permanently terminate any account at our sole discretion, including for breach of these Terms, fraudulent activity, harmful conduct, or extended inactivity. We will endeavour to provide notice where reasonably practicable.

Binding bids. Placing a bid in an Auction constitutes a legally binding offer to purchase the item at that price. You may not retract a bid once placed except in exceptional circumstances at AquaLots’s sole discretion. Winning an auction creates a binding contract between you and the Seller.

Buy Now. Clicking “Buy Now” and completing checkout constitutes a binding purchase at the listed price. The sale contract is formed between you and the Seller upon payment confirmation.

Offers. Submitting an Offer is a binding commitment to purchase at the offered price if accepted by the Seller. Once a Seller accepts your Offer, you are required to complete payment promptly. Offers may be withdrawn before acceptance. Sellers have 48 hours to respond; offers not responded to within this window expire automatically.

Payment. All payments must be completed via the Platform’s Stripe checkout. Payment is taken immediately upon checkout completion. You agree not to attempt to pay or be paid for any AquaLots transaction outside of the Platform.

Buyer fee. A Buyer Fee is added to each transaction at checkout. The fee is displayed clearly before payment is confirmed. By completing checkout you agree to pay both the item price and the applicable Buyer Fee.

Accuracy of listings. AquaLots does not verify the accuracy of Listing descriptions. Buyers should review listings carefully and contact the Seller with any questions before bidding or purchasing. AquaLots is not responsible for inaccuracies in Seller-provided content.

Confirming delivery. Once your item arrives, you must confirm delivery or collection in your account within a reasonable timeframe. Confirming delivery releases the Seller’s payout. Do not confirm delivery if you have an unresolved issue with the item. You have 7 days from the item being marked as delivered to raise a dispute before the payout is automatically released.

Seller responsibility. As a Seller you are solely responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and legality of your Listings. You warrant that you have the right to sell any item listed and that all descriptions, photographs, and information provided are accurate and not misleading.

Listing standards. Listings must accurately describe the item including its condition, species (for live animals), age, size, health status, and any known issues. Misleading, incomplete, or fraudulent Listings are prohibited and may result in immediate removal and account suspension.

Seller fees. There are no seller fees on AquaLots. Sellers receive the full item price plus any shipping costs. A platform fee is charged to the Buyer at checkout and is not deducted from the Seller’s payout.

Stripe Connect. To receive payouts, Sellers must complete payment account onboarding. Payouts are subject to Stripe’s terms of service and standard processing timelines. AquaLots is not responsible for delays caused by Stripe’s processing systems.

Payout hold. Seller payouts are held until the Buyer confirms delivery or collection, or until 7 days after the item is marked as delivered or collected with no dispute raised. AquaLots reserves the right to extend this hold period where a dispute is under investigation.

Dispatch obligations. Sellers must dispatch items promptly after payment is confirmed. For live animals, Sellers are responsible for appropriate packaging to ensure welfare during transit. Failure to dispatch in a timely manner may result in order cancellation, refund to the Buyer, and/or account suspension.

Off-platform transactions. Arranging or accepting payment for any sale outside of AquaLots is strictly prohibited. Doing so voids any buyer or seller protection and may result in permanent account suspension.

Taxes. Sellers are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling any tax obligations arising from their sales on AquaLots, including but not limited to income tax, VAT, and any other applicable taxes. AquaLots does not provide tax advice.

Nature of competitions. AquaLots hosts prize competitions where Users purchase tickets for the chance to win a stated prize. These competitions are prize competitions requiring the exercise of skill and are not lotteries within the meaning of the Gambling Act 2005. Entry is conditional on correctly answering a skill-based question as described below.

Skill question. Before purchasing tickets, entrants must correctly answer a multiple-choice question relating to fishkeeping, aquatics, or related subject matter. Entrants are given two attempts to answer correctly. If both attempts are unsuccessful, the entrant will be temporarily unable to attempt entry for 15 minutes, after which they may try again. Only entrants who answer correctly are eligible to purchase tickets and be entered into the draw. Incorrect answers result in no entry and no charge. The skill question is designed to require genuine knowledge and cannot be answered correctly by chance alone.

Entry. To enter a competition, Users must first answer the skill question correctly and then purchase one or more tickets via the Platform. Each ticket purchased by a qualifying entrant constitutes one valid entry into the draw. The number of tickets available per competition is stated on the competition page.

Draw and winner selection. The winner is selected at random from all valid entries once all tickets are sold or the stated draw date is reached, whichever is earlier. AquaLots will make reasonable efforts to conduct draws in a fair and transparent manner. The draw result is final.

No refunds on tickets. Competition ticket purchases are non-refundable. Once payment is confirmed, tickets cannot be cancelled or exchanged except where required by applicable law or where AquaLots cancels the competition.

Competition cancellation. AquaLots reserves the right to cancel a competition at any time prior to the draw. In the event of cancellation, all ticket purchasers will receive a full refund of the ticket price paid. AquaLots will not be liable for any additional losses arising from a cancelled competition.

Prize delivery. If you win, AquaLots will contact you using the details provided at the time of ticket purchase to arrange prize delivery. Winners must respond within 14 days of being notified. Failure to respond within this period may result in the prize being forfeited and a redraw taking place. AquaLots is not responsible for prizes lost or delayed in transit once dispatched.

Prize substitution. AquaLots reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize becomes unavailable for reasons beyond our control.

Buyer fee on competitions. A Buyer Fee is applied to competition ticket purchases in the same manner as standard purchases and is shown at checkout prior to payment.

Buyer Fee. AquaLots charges Buyers a platform fee on each transaction. The fee is calculated as a percentage of the item price and shipping cost plus a fixed amount. The fee is displayed clearly at checkout before payment is taken.

Selling. There are no fees charged to Sellers. Sellers receive the full item price plus any shipping costs. The platform fee is paid entirely by the Buyer.

Payment processing. All payments are processed by Stripe. By making or receiving payments on AquaLots you agree to Stripe’s terms of service.

Currency. All prices on the Platform are displayed and charged in pounds sterling (GBP).

Failed payments. If a payment fails, no funds are taken and no contract is formed. AquaLots is not responsible for losses arising from failed payments caused by your bank or card issuer.

Fee changes. AquaLots reserves the right to amend its fee structure. Changes will be communicated to Users with reasonable notice via the Platform or email. Continued use of the Platform after fee changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised fees.

Seller responsibility for welfare. Sellers listing live animals are solely responsible for the welfare of those animals from the point of listing through to delivery or collection. Sellers must comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and all other applicable legislation governing the keeping and transport of live animals.

Packaging and transit. Live animals must be packed appropriately for the species and journey time to minimise stress and risk of harm. Sellers must use suitable containers, oxygen, heat packs, and other materials as required. Failure to package live animals appropriately constitutes a breach of these Terms and may be a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Health and condition. Sellers must not list animals that are visibly diseased, injured, or otherwise unfit for sale and transport. Animals must be accurately described in terms of species, age, size, and health. Misrepresentation of an animal’s condition is a breach of these Terms and may constitute a consumer protection offence.

Protected and invasive species. The sale of species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), or any other applicable legislation is strictly prohibited. The listing or sale of invasive non-native species (as defined by UK law) is also prohibited. Sellers are responsible for ensuring compliance.

Dead on arrival (DOA). AquaLots operates a dispute process for buyers who receive animals that arrive dead. Buyers must photograph the animal and packaging immediately upon receipt and contact AquaLots via our contact page before disposing of any animals. AquaLots will mediate between buyer and seller in good faith but cannot guarantee outcomes. AquaLots is not itself liable for DOA animals.

Courier restrictions and shipping legality. It is the Seller’s sole responsibility to ensure that any courier used to ship live fish and other live aquatic animals accepts live animals in accordance with that courier’s terms and conditions. Many mainstream couriers — including Royal Mail — explicitly prohibit the carriage of live animals. Shipping live fish with a courier that does not permit it may breach that courier’s terms, void any transit insurance, and in some circumstances may constitute an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 if the animals suffer as a result.

AquaLots does not endorse, recommend, or take responsibility for any courier service used by Sellers. Sellers must independently verify that their chosen courier permits the shipment of live aquatic animals and must comply with all relevant courier guidelines regarding packaging, labelling, and journey time. AquaLots accepts no liability for losses — financial or otherwise — arising from a Seller’s use of an inappropriate or non-compliant courier.

Buyers should be aware that the risks associated with shipping live animals exist even when appropriate couriers are used. AquaLots makes no guarantee as to the survival of live animals during transit. These risks are inherent to the live aquatics trade and are understood and accepted by both parties to a transaction.

AquaLots not liable. AquaLots is a marketplace and does not handle, breed, or transport any animals. We are not responsible for the welfare, health, legality, courier compliance, or condition of any live animals listed or sold on the Platform. All welfare, legal, and courier compliance obligations rest entirely with the Seller.

Prohibited items. The following may not be listed or sold on AquaLots under any circumstances:

• Species protected under CITES, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, or any applicable UK or international law
• Invasive non-native species as listed under UK law
• Animals that are diseased, parasitised, or otherwise unfit for sale
• Counterfeit, stolen, or fraudulently obtained goods
• Illegal drugs, controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia
• Weapons, ammunition, or any item whose sale is restricted by law
• Items that infringe third-party intellectual property rights
• Items whose listing or sale would violate any applicable law or regulation

Prohibited conduct. Users must not:

• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any Listing, profile, or communication
• Manipulate prices, bids, or feedback through artificial or coordinated means (including shill bidding)
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other Users
• Attempt to circumvent the Platform’s fees by conducting transactions outside of AquaLots
• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to access or scrape the Platform without authorisation
• Create multiple accounts to evade restrictions or bans
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Platform or another User’s account
• Upload or transmit any malware, viruses, or malicious code
• Use the Platform in any way that could damage, disable, or impair its operation

Violations may result in immediate listing removal, account suspension, reporting to relevant authorities, and/or legal action.

Dispute process. If you have a problem with an order — including non-delivery, item not as described, or damage in transit — you must contact AquaLots via our contact page within 7 days of the item being marked as delivered or collected. Do not confirm delivery or collection if you have an unresolved issue, as doing so releases the Seller’s payout.

Mediation. AquaLots will act as a mediator between Buyers and Sellers in good faith. We may request evidence from both parties including photographs, messages, and tracking information. AquaLots’s decision on disputes is final.

Refunds. Refunds are not automatic and are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Where AquaLots determines a refund is appropriate, it will be processed back to the original payment method via Stripe. AquaLots cannot issue refunds beyond the amount held in escrow for a given transaction.

Consumer rights. Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or any other applicable legislation. Where you purchase from a seller acting in the course of a business, you may have statutory rights including the right to goods that are as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for purpose.

Buyer-seller disputes. AquaLots is not a party to transactions between Buyers and Sellers. Whilst we will endeavour to assist in resolving disputes, we cannot be held liable for losses arising from transactions between Users. We reserve the right to decline to mediate in disputes that are outside our reasonable control.

AquaLots content. All intellectual property rights in the AquaLots Platform — including its design, software, branding, logos, text, and graphics — are owned by or licensed to AquaLots. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any AquaLots content without our prior written consent.

User content. By uploading photographs, descriptions, or other content to the Platform, you grant AquaLots a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, and reproduce that content in connection with the operation and promotion of the Platform. You retain ownership of your content and are responsible for ensuring you have the right to upload it.

Infringement. If you believe that content on the Platform infringes your intellectual property rights, please contact us via our contact page with details of the alleged infringement and we will investigate promptly.

Platform as marketplace. AquaLots is a marketplace platform that facilitates transactions between independent Buyers and Sellers. We are not responsible for the actions, omissions, content, or conduct of any User. We do not endorse, warrant, or guarantee any Listing or item sold on the Platform.

No warranty. The Platform is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. AquaLots makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the availability, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the Platform for any particular purpose.

Limitation of liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, AquaLots shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, special, incidental, or punitive loss or damage arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of profit, loss of data, loss of goodwill, or the death or injury of any animal.

Cap on liability. Where AquaLots is found liable to you for any direct loss, our total liability shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to AquaLots in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Statutory rights. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits AquaLots’s liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by English law.

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using AquaLots you consent to the collection and use of your personal data as described in the Privacy Policy.

AquaLots processes personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

These Terms & Conditions and any dispute arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, except where you are a consumer residing in Scotland or Northern Ireland, in which case you may also bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence.

AquaLots reserves the right to update or amend these Terms & Conditions at any time. Where changes are material, we will notify registered Users via email or a prominent notice on the Platform with reasonable advance notice.

Your continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must cease using the Platform and may close your account by contacting us.

The date at the top of this page reflects when these Terms were last updated.

If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us:

Contact us

We aim to respond to all queries within 5 working days.