It is sad when a package goes bad. I really can't say who's to blame, obviously. However, I have had outstanding success using USPS Priority Mail.
I thought that I would share my method for shipping shrimp. I have had very good luck. It is not the only way to do ship, and I hope that I don't come accross as preachy, since I'm not even licensed to soap box!
I've shipped shrimp (mostly Macrobrachium shrimp) all across the continental U.S.
Here's how I pack them.
First I create a
inner foam box that fits snugly inside the
USPS flat rate priority box. Depending on the weather I use 1.5" to 3/4" foam liner.
I make dividers, using foam core posterboard, if the order requires more than one bag of shrimp. Think of something like a tackle box, or jewelry box, just for invertebrates.
I put two juvenile shrimp per Kordon breathbag, with a large amount of boiled (and cooled) yarn floating in the water, making it impossible for the shrimp to swim about freely. This was an excellent tip I got from Mustafa at petshrimp.com, a few years ago. Yarn not only acts as a stabelizer, it ensures that no unwanted hitch hikers will arrive, for those who find snails pests.
If a customer specificly requests an adult shrimp, I only put one shrimp per bag.
I secure the bags with a knot and then use an elastic band over that.
Each bag is placed in it's nitch with crumpled newspaper, if weather is warm, I dampenit.
If the weather requires, I make slots on the outer portion of the foam liner (top and or bottom) and put the heat/cool pack there. I place metalic reflective insulation over the pack, with the metal side next to the heat/cool pack, to prevent the heat or coold from escaping directly out the cardboard box.
Prior to sealing the box I give it a shake, to make sure nothing moves. If I'm satisfied I seal the box and ship it out. The boxes are always clearly marked fragile/parishable/ live shrimp.
I only ship on Monday mornings, so my shippments never sit in a post office over a weekend. Of the ~150 shippments I've sent only one shrimp has died, which happened to be an adult.
The large volume shippments, that I make to pet stores, I always do personally. I use large plastic coolers, with a battery powered sponge filter. The coolers have been modified with plastic partitions, that have 1/4" holes drilled about every two inches.
Good luck
Kary
I hope that this helps out someone.