Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I may be moving soon from California to Florida. What would you all suggest as the best way to move my snakes? Shipping them to myself? (If I can since it will probably be a 4 day drive... Would they be ok in some Sterilite containers as long as I take them out at night for a bit of fresh air? I have a burmese (4 feet), red tail (4 feet) ball python (4 feet), red tail (9 feet) and a baby water dragon.

Widj

I would put them in snake bags in an ice chest (without ice). Get an indoor/outdoor thermometer and put the probe in the ice chest with the snakes. If it starts to get above 85° in the icechest, you might want to put a SMALL ziploc bag or deli cup with a few ice cubes in there with them.
Take them out when you stop for the night, and if you stop to eat, gas up, etc., during the day, make sure you shade the icechest and put some ice in the ziploc baggy. Again, use the thermometer's outside probe to monitor the icechest temperature.

Since it is a long drive, you might want to have a sterlite with a hidebox and a waterbowl that they can get into at night in your hotel room. Of course, you will have to bring them into the room in the cooler as no hotels will allow the snakes.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I would recommend having a friend ship them when you arrive.
There are some places that have weird laws - like no snakes over 3 feet, no snakes that can grow over 3 feet, no constrictors, etc.

It would be terrible if you happened to stop at a hotel in one of those towns, and someone saw them or something and called the law authorities.

Also - it would be terrible if you stopped somewhere to eat and they overheated - which can happen very quickly in a car, even in an ice chest. You can have a friend properly pack them with an appropriate cold pack and ship them to you overnight, and they will probably be OK when they get to you.

I don't reccomend shipping. a move is very stressful on animals- so is shipping- to combine the 2.... I haven't traveled 4 days with anything but I have gone 2. I had 2 RTBs a BP, corn, soloman ground boa, and a green iguana. I stayed in 1 hotel room. NO MAID SERVICE!!! I just put the snakes in a pillowcase. I put my bigger RTB in a 'body pillow' case so it was not as cramped. I used the ice chest thing to get them IN the hotel. when my husband was getting the key, i put the boas and corn in the ice chest. I took my big luggage bag in the hotel and dumped everything on the bed. I took it back to the car and put the iguana's kritter carrier in it and took it in the hotel. didnt have any problems. as far as stopping to eat/drink/rest/etc- for eating i would stick with yucky drive through food and maybe park in the parkinglot to eat and walk around a bit- leave the car running or the doors open. I misted our guys down in the afternoon just in case they were getting too hot or thirsty. Just an idea.... and they should be fine traveling 4 days. I've heard of people doing more. I have a friend thats moving from NJ to OK which is about a 3 day drive with a green ig.
Beth
Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

i would say have a friend take care of them for the time that you will be on the road and then have your friend ship them delta dash WITH HEAT PACKS! it may be pretty hot on the ground but at 35,000 ft it is pretty cold. Espescially in the cargo hold of an airplane.
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas (normals)
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons (normals)
1.0 Black Blood Python (normal)
1.0 Dumeril's Boa (normal)
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Surinam Redtail Boa (normal)

*cheers* yay another snake person in FL
First off... no real snake laws on non-venmous,Just common sense (like just because a neighboor has a dog in back yard, doe not mean free food, same with small children), so you're fine there. I personally woud say take 'em with you. You have more control over their temps, sterlite boxes with air holes should be fine. Obvously try and keep 'em out the sun. If you can and willing to then drive-thru food during the day. At night eatting in a resturant shouldn't be any problem. and also,could any carrier care for your scalely ones as well as you?
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Rex- "normal" orange fire)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Glutany- German Giant Mix)
0.1.0 Okeetee Corn (Okatee)
1.1.0 Spotted Python (Hotdog and Shoelace)
0.1.0 Jungle Carpet (Teprak)
0.2.0 Dwarf Hamsters (Tipsy and Bubblegum)
1.0.0 Rose Hair Tarantula (Goopy)
1.0.0 Boyfriend (Brian)