Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have to ship a bunch of babies today. Where they're going, it will be 100 degrees tomorrow. I haven't needed to use any cold packs for a few years, and when I did, they were readily available at my work. I was in the Safety Office, and we had dozens of them. Can I find them sold individually at drug stores, Wal Mart? I have to do this at lunch, so I figured the best way to get an answer quick would be here. Thanks a lot for any pointers. Ryan.

Best bet is to not ship. Cold packs help but not when it is that hot.
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J&J REPTILES
www.jnjreptiles.com
sales@jnjreptiles.com
(207)479-6658

I agree it is better not to ship when its very hot. As far as I know, cold packs used in shipping are the same chemical gel type cold packs used in coolers to keep food cool during the summer. Just freeze them, wrap and ship them. But they don't last very long...couple hours or so before thawed, depending on the temperature.

Unless there are more long lasting types out there than I know of. i doubt any will last more than 10-12 hours and that is in a cooler kept in the shade.
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PHLdyPayne

Don't ship - you'll fry the snakes - cool packs will only last maybe 6-8 hours before fizzling depending on a number of factors.

It might work if the high temps were on your end - but by the time it reaches your customers end and the 100* temps the packs will be far past being useful.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

(CJBianco explaining the origins of the BP market.)
"In the beginning Bob created the Ball Python market. And the market was without morph, and wild traits were upon the industry. And Bob said, Let there be morph, and there was morph. And Bob saw the morph, that it was good; and Bob divided the morph from the wild trait. And Bob called the morph Albino, and the wild trait Normal. And the Albino and the Heterozygous Albino were the first investment.
-- Christopher 1:1-1:5"

I agree 100%. I wouldn't ship them in that kind of heat. I think the person getting them will agree. I think the safety of the animals is much more important than getting your snakes sooner. I think the people receiving them will be willing to wait a few days. In reality he should want to do that since it will protect his snakes from potentially dying. If he says to ship them anyway, I'd refuse. That's just my opinion though.

>>I have to ship a bunch of babies today. Where they're going, it will be 100 degrees tomorrow.

I am shipping every day nationwide wide and no problems. Ice packs (literally ice in a ziplock) protect from the SoCal heat and the animal(s) are delivered by 10:30 before it gets hot almost anywhere.

Check the nightime lows. If the reciever is below 80F for the lows you are likely to be fine.

This is my experience. YMMV
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

I agree. If the nighttime low is below 80, the temp will be nowhere near 100* at 10:30am when the package is delivered. It generally takes until noon and later to start reaching the daytime high temps.

If you're even remotely worried about shipping, I highly suggest nixing it and waiting for a cooler day. Also make sure you get an INSULATED proper box -- cool packs or not, it is not safe to use your past methods.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors