BUYING GUIDE

Buying Betta Fish
from Indonesia

First time importing live fish? We ship to dozens of countries worldwide. This guide walks you through every step so nothing catches you off guard.

Important for International Buyers

There are additional domestic shipping and import costs paid directly to a Transshipper in your country. We ship to the airport cargo — not to your door.

24–72h

Transit time

30+

Countries served

LAG

Live arrival guarantee

Purchase flow diagram — 6 steps from finding a transshipper to fish arriving at your door

THE PROCESS

6 Steps to Your Fish

Click each step to see the full explanation

STEP 1

Find & Decide on a Transshipper

You must have a Transshipper before placing an order

A Transshipper is a trusted third party — usually an experienced betta hobbyist or small importer — who picks up the fish from airport cargo in your country and delivers them to you.

How to find one:

→Join local aquarist Facebook groups or forums in your country
→Search Instagram for #transshipper[yourcountry]
→Ask in international betta communities (Reddit r/bettafish)
→Contact us — we have a list of trusted Transshippers in many countries

Tip: Always ask your Transshipper for estimated fees, shipment schedule, and domestic delivery options before placing your order.

STEP 2

Order & Pay for the Fish

Once you have a Transshipper lined up, choose your fish

Ordering from Pop BettaKoi is straightforward:

1Browse our Shop and add fish to your cart
2At checkout, enter your Transshipper's address as the shipping address
3Complete payment — we accept bank transfer, PayPal, and credit card
4You'll receive an order confirmation email. Notify your Transshipper too

Note: Listed prices do not include international shipping, import fees, or Transshipper fees. These are settled separately.

STEP 3

BettaKoi Ships the Fish

We prepare and pack your fish to the highest live-export standards

After payment is confirmed, our team prepares the fish using industry-standard live-export practices:

→Fish are fasted 24–48 hours before shipping (standard live export protocol)
→Packed in sealed bags with pure oxygen
→Placed in insulated boxes with ice packs or heat packs depending on season
→Accompanied by an official Health Certificate for customs clearance

We ship via direct or connecting flights — total transit time is usually 24–72 hours depending on your country.

Tracking: You'll receive an AWB (Air Waybill) number by email once shipped. Forward it to your Transshipper immediately.

STEP 4

Fish Arrives at Destination Airport

Your Transshipper handles customs and airport pickup

When the fish land at the destination airport, your Transshipper takes over:

→Transshipper collects the package from airport cargo
→Handles import customs clearance and documentation
→Pays import duties and airport handling fees on your behalf
→Inspects fish condition and reports back to you

Important: All fees incurred at this stage — import duties, customs, airport handling — are the buyer's responsibility and are paid to the Transshipper, separate from the fish price.

STEP 5

Pay Your Transshipper

Settle all local costs with your Transshipper

Once the Transshipper has received and checked the fish, you'll settle costs with them directly:

→Import duty & customs they paid at the airport
→Transshipper service fee (handling and coordination)
→Domestic delivery from the Transshipper's location to yours

Tip: Ask for an estimated total from your Transshipper before ordering so there are no surprises at this step.

STEP 6

Your Fish Arrives Home!

Acclimate your new fish carefully for a smooth transition

Congratulations — your fish has arrived! Follow these acclimation steps to minimise stress:

1Float the sealed bag in your tank for 15–20 minutes to equalise temperature
2Add a small cup of tank water to the bag every 5 minutes for 15 minutes
3Net the fish into the tank — do not pour the bag water in
4Keep lights off for the first day — give your fish time to settle

Live Arrival Guarantee: If a fish arrives dead, photograph/video within 2 hours of receiving the package and contact us or your Transshipper immediately.

PRICING TRANSPARENCY

Cost Breakdown

Understand every component before you order

PAID TO BETTAKOI

Fish + International Shipping

•Fish price as listed in catalogue
•Packing & handling fee
•Air freight: Indonesia → destination airport
•Official health certificate & export docs

PAID TO TRANSSHIPPER

Local Costs in Your Country

•Import duty & local customs fees
•Airport cargo handling fee
•Transshipper service fee
•Domestic delivery to your address

Transshipper costs vary by country. Always confirm your estimated total with your Transshipper before ordering.

FAQ

Common Questions

Yes. We offer a Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG) — if a fish arrives dead, you'll receive a replacement or refund. You must photograph or video the fish within 2 hours of the package being received from the airport, and report via WhatsApp or email within that window.

We ship to most countries across Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Americas, Australia, and Europe. A small number of countries prohibit live fish imports. Contact us to confirm whether your country is covered.

Typically 24–72 hours from Jakarta to the destination airport, depending on flight availability and country. Some destinations require connecting flights, which can extend transit time slightly.

No. For international orders, a Transshipper is mandatory. They handle customs clearance and ensure the fish are safe after landing. Without one, the package cannot be collected from airport cargo.

We don't run a fixed schedule — shipments go out once your order is confirmed and fish are ready. We often batch orders for efficiency. Message us on WhatsApp for current availability.

Absolutely. Message us on WhatsApp with the product name or number and we'll send you the latest footage of that specific fish before you commit to buying.

Buying Betta Fish from Indonesia