Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey I have someone thats interested in buying one of my snakes. He works for a distribution company and is planning on having it sent to him through his company. So I dont have to worry about the method. My question is how should I package her and what do I include in her box. Will she need a heat pack in this weather, or a sponge for water or anything? Anything i need to do before I ship her? Shes a 3.5 foot Brazilian Rainbow boa if that helps.

It would help if we knew roughly where you are, and where he is, and expected shipping times. Also, how do you plan to ship? Via Delta, or Air Express? What are the expected temperatures at the takeoff/destination point, and will the animal be guaranteed to be in a climate-controlled environment the whole time?

Every snake I have ever received has come in a styrofoam box packaged inside a cardboard box. The snake is, size depending, placed in either a small or large deli cup, or a pillowcase, and the empty space is packed snugly with newspaper, which helps hold heat and holds the deli cup or pillowcase in place.

Heat packs depend entirely on anticipated temperature drops. If it is likely that the animal will experience radically different temperatures from its day-to-day norm, it is best to include a heat pack of some kind, but I really don't know what brand to use.

Shipping and the resultant stress dehydrates snakes, but I have never been shipped an animal that had been shipped with a sponge. Usually it's the receiver's duty to offer the animal a big drink right out of the bag, and a quiet place to hide for a few days. For neonates or young animals which lose water faster, some sphagnum moss in the cup will suffice. If you choose to use a pillowcase to hold the snake, don't include anything wet in the packing at all as it will soak the pillowcase, and the newspaper. Also, wet pillowcases can theoretically smother a snake.

I hope this helps at least a little.

--Naamah

Thanks for the responce, the snake will be shipped from from Atlanta Ga to Wisconsin. He's arranging shipping trough a distribution company that he works for. So I dont know about specific temperatures and everything, he's supposed to be checking into it. This mostly prevents me from being responcible for mishaps in shipment but I wanted to be sure and make the best accomidations for the travel. Shes a bit too large for a styrafoam cup, and I dont want to put her in a pillow case cause she would get irritated so Ill try to find an appropriate sized styrafoam container I guess.

Irritated as in rubbing herself raw, or irritated as in snarky and in a very bad mood? Because face it, she's going to wind up on the other end of the trip a very unhappy little girl, who will need a few days to unwind. I've never had problems with animals shipped in bags, by the way. They've all arrived just fine, no more or less stressed than animals that arrive in cups.

Shipping just sucks for the snake. All we can do is try to make it suck less, and love the heck out of em when they come to us to make up for it.

Find out from your friend what the conditions will be. If he's willing to take responsibility for it, fine, but I'd still ask. Then again, I'm a chronic worrier.

--Naamah