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Yes. Although our model organisms are intended to support and advance scientific inquiry, you do not need to be affiliated with any particular institution to place an order. We welcome individuals with a genuine interest in biology, provided they carefully review and can meet the care requirements for each species.

We guarantee that all live organisms leave our facility healthy and alive. However, complications can occur during shipment due to the delicate nature of certain species, especially gelatinous organisms like scyphozoans and ctenophores.

If your organisms arrive dead, send us an email as soon as possible regarding your situation and a replacement order identical to your previous one can be sent to you at no extra charge. Please ensure that all attempts are made to maintain the organism in culture for a few days as the animals may simply be lethargic. Cash refunds are not available for live organisms.

Yes. We accept Purchase Orders from institutions and organizations. Please email us your PO details before placing your order so we can confirm availability and begin processing. Orders will ship once the PO has been approved.

If you require a quote for PO approval, you can generate one by clicking the “Download Quote as PDF” button in your shopping cart.

Many organisms we distribute such as the polyp stages of cnidarian species which do not appear to senesce and can be kept indefinitely, this presents a unique predicament. You have a few options:

1. Send the organisms to us

   If you no longer wish to keep them, we can take them off your hands for you. These returned organisms will be maintained separately from our other cultures to prevent cross-contamination. Please contact ralph@whalore.com so we can provide shipping instructions and confirm the best way to handle your specific species.

2. Dispose of the organisms

   If you can’t keep them and returning them isn’t feasible, you may humanely end the culture. Choose a method appropriate to the species and your local regulations, and avoid any approach that risks unnecessary suffering or contamination. Do not dispose of aquatic organisms (even dead ones) into a sink or toilet.

DO NOT RELEASE YOUR ORGANISMS INTO THE WILD OR LOCAL WATERWAYS.

We comply with local and federal collection regulations. If your institution requires documentation, please let us know at the time of ordering.

Absolutely. We can provide precise collection coordinates, collection date, and available environmental context (such as temperature and general weather conditions) upon request. If you require material from a specific population, please contact us prior to ordering to confirm availability.

Some environmental parameters (e.g. wind speed, pH, or salinity) may not be recorded at the time of collection but can often be reasonably approximated. If exact environmental measurements are required, we recommend submitting a custom collection request, where specific data needed will be a priority and communicated with you.

While we cannot store organisms for long-term holding, we can plan ahead for large orders. If you are preparing a culture system and expect it will take weeks to months before you are ready to receive animals, please let us know in advance. This allows us to expand and condition an appropriate population so your order can ship as soon as your system is ready. Exact quantities and details are not necessary.

Not yet. We currently ship primarily within the United States and Canada. International shipping will be offered in the future as our logistics expand.

If your laboratory or institution is located in or near Boston, Massachusetts, we may be able to arrange local delivery at a reduced rate. This option is limited to public facilities and is not available for personal residences. If you are interested, please email us at ralph@whalore.com with “organism drop-off” in the subject line and include your facility name and address.