USPS = You get what you pay for....I have also heard that the USPS can confiscate your shipments if they think there are live animals in the package and you'll never hear from them again.
I have always wondered if it mattered that there were live fish in the box. But a friend sent me some fish by USPS express and the words "Live Fish" were all over the box...I mean probably 10 times. I received the package at work and the mail guy here brought it up and wanted me to open it because he wanted to see if they were still alive.
I'm just glad the postal service didn't do anything to the box.
I have had good luck receiving fish through the postal service. I have shipped plants a couple times too and while they aren't as critical as fish, you still want them to be alive when someone opens them.
I use enough water to cover the fish by at least 2 times. Make sure that no matter how the bag is positioned the fish is covered with water.
I wish I had seen this post before now. I shipped some fish this morning and I think I put enough water to cover the fish twice, but not sure. I hope they have water if the box is tilted. Its my first time actually shipping fish so I've been all stressed out about it. Hopefully they'll get there safely and alive.
Its kind of cold this week, so I'm still a little worried.