As long as one goes through the process of being certified to ship reptiles through FedEx, they will ship them. As a general rule, no ground carriers will ship snakes, but some will issue waivers under certain conditions. Many reputable breeders and dealers use FedEx, and given the current options, I feel they are one of the best. Before Delta contracted out many of their cargo services, I would only recommend using them for shipping. Unfortunately, their service has deteriorated lately. I won't say you have nothing to worry about, but if shipping is your only option, FedEx, in my opinion, is your best option.

Just make sure you verify when the animal is to be shipped and get tracking information. If you live in a rural area and FedEx will not guarantee delivery before 10:30am, arrange to have the package sent "Hold for Pick Up" at your nearest facility. This will allow you to pick it up at the earliest possible time and avoid having it sit in a hot truck half the day, or longer. If they will guarantee early delivery, and the seller will ship to your residence (FedEx's waiver specifically states no residential delivery but some do it anyways), make sure you are there to sign for it. I also highly recommend that you only have reptiles shipped in the beginning of the week. All carriers experience delays from time to time, and a delay of 1 day nomrally does not cause any problems if the animal is packed properly; however, if shipped towards the end of the week, this delay could be compounded by the weekend. Many sellers refuse to ship after Wednesday but some just don't care.

Also keep in mind that no carrier will accept any responsibility if the animal is delayed or if it perishes in transit. Be sure you verify the sellers terms of sale, including live arrival guarantee, before purchasing from them. Many state they guarantee live arrival but will not be responsible for carrier errors, meaning if it doesn't arrive on time, the seller's live arrival guarantee is out the window. This is typically the case if no one is there to accept and sign for the package also.

Hope this helps but there is nothing I or anyone can say that will keep you from being a nervous wreck the night before receiving an animal via shipping.

Bart

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