Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys-

I'm a very rare poster but fairly consistent lurker looking for a little advice.

I'll be moving cross-country from San Diego, CA to Houston, TX in about a month's time. I would like to take my almost 2-year-old BRB along with me. I'm not sure what's the best way to do that, or if there is even a good way to do so.

I will be moving myself and (the rest of?) my stuff by car over 3-5 days.

I could pack the snake up in a ventilated, temperature-controlled container of some sort, like a locking plastic storage container or modified-for-slight-ventilation cooler and then take it with me when stopping overnight/for food. Or, I've heard of shipping reptiles by air, like for an internet sale of a snake. Shipping by air seems like the expensive/risky option, relatively speaking, and assuming I don't ever want to get out of my car and leave the snake in the car (which seems dangerous without some sort of effective temperature-control system.)

Does anyone have any experience with this, or any advice regarding unforeseen issues to be aware of, or reasons to prefer air shipping, etc.? If someone knows of a system for a temperature-controlled environment that would allow me to get out of the car for periods of a couple hours while the snake stays in the car, I'd like to listen, though I am pretty reticent about that.

Thanks for all the help guys!
-Chris

Keep it in a cage with no water while you drive. Whenever you stop for the night offer it a water bowl. This won't hurt the snake over the course of only 3-5 days. Or use shipyourreptiles.com to ship him to someone that you trust down there. I ship reptiles all the time, it's cheap and safe.

If you have someone you trust at one end or the other shipping would likely be best. I ship snakes all over the country without problems. Admittedly it's mostly babies but I also ship the occasional older animal. Properly packed and shipped during safe temps and not one single serious mishap. I have had a few that were delayed to second day and even one that took almost a week. All arrived safe and sound.

To take him/her with you I'd opt for a large ice chest. Opened periodically for a fresh air exchange or maybe even with some ventilation holes drilled in it.

How long are you planning on taking to drive that far?
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Use an insulated shipping box like the ones we use to ship snakes. The 12X9X7 inch size would probably be just big enough. If you do not have one ask at aquarium fish stores. They get many of their fish shipped to them in 17X17X10 insulated boxes. We used these same boxes for shipping reptiles before shipping rates went so high and we started using smaller reptile specific insulated boxes. Many larger snakes still get shipped in the big fish boxes. As long as you do not leave the car parked in the sun the temperature will be okay. Open the box every six hours or so just to check on the snake and to get an air exchange in the box. Give it water every couple of days.

back in 05 I moved from Miami FL to the Houston TX area, it took me about 2-2 1/2 days due to detours but this is just what I ended up doing.
Very last thing to pack was the snakes and cages. I put them all in pillow cases and let them on the passanger floorboard. I just tried to not over think it. The temp stayed in the 70's in the car while driving and when I stopped for the night I just brought them in with me so they weren't sitting overnight in the car, of course I didnt tell anyone tho. When I got to my new home, first thing to unload were the cages and snakes.

I'm not sure what the weather is like in SD right now but it's getting into the high 90's and 100's here already so I wouldnt leave the snake in the car for more then 20 mins in the day, even in the shade.

That's just what worked for me, Good Luck

Zack
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Zack Greens Reptiles