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Will (2) 3' boas survive (in good condition) a UPS next day air trip from CA to the east coast shipped in foam peanuts with a heat pac? I am about to make a major purchase for a Ihle salmon and an anery and I don't want DOA. After some email conversation, I realized that this supposed breeder has no idea how to ship live! Aaackk! What do most people pack their live shipments in? Or, should I run, run, run, awaaaayyyyy . . .

I have been buying reptiles for over 12 years and have NEVER seen anyone pack with packing peanuts. A cardboard box with a styro liner is the only safe way that i know of. Correct me if i'm wrong here, but i dont think i would be accepting a snake shipped in a cardboard box filled with packing peanuts.

Styrofoam box and the question was the peanuts for helping in the packing......... sorry

Foam peanuts work well as does the boa in a pillow case with shredded newspaper. I use newspaper. Check and see what the weather will be. You don't want to use one (heat pk) in the weather is hot.If you do use a heat pk make sure your box has some holes for ventulation. Heats pks use alot of oxygen. Hope this helps. Dave@ East TN Reptiles

I agree with thinking that packing peanuts in a cardboard box with a heat pac doesn't seem right. I would think that the snakes would have a hard time breathing through a pillowcase with packing peanuts all around it; stuffed in a cardboard box. The whole thing just made me back up a bit and go: "wait a minute". At first, the person didn't even want to put a heat pac in. The problem is, and I could be wrong, but - UPS doesn't exactly heat their cargo holds do they? At 20,000 ft. it gets real cold, fast. I don't know - I would rather buy from someone who at least will give me a guarantee against DOA. (sigh)

Packing peanuts should work fine. In a pillowcase with shredded newspaper is better. You should not need a heat pack now. UPS, fed ex, and airborn holds are all heated and pressurized. I have used them all before and never use heat packs unless it drops below 55 anywhere on the way. Today in california it was in the mid 90's. You might be better of waiting to ship until the weather cools down. If you do ship now definitely no heat pack.

n/p

I bought a Suriname last week and it was shipped via Airborne on Thursday to be delivered before noon on Friday. Well, It never showed up. The Airborne guy said that they didn't know where it was and that I should get it the following day. It never showed up Saturday either. Because it was a long weekend, I didn't receive the package until Tuesday! Fearing the worst, I opened up the package and he was still alive, but very cold and dark. I gradually warmed him up and he seems to be doing better this morning, having a perfect shed last night. Hopefully, my new little guy is going to be ok. He is a real screamer..... I'll post some pictures tonight.
Good luck,
Eric

I wish ya the best of luck with that Suri! as far as airborn when I was out east I never had a problem with them but once I moved here (IL) it was nothing but a headache, packages not showing up on time they triple billed me once etc, I never did pay that bill either lol they stuck several packages on one bill and I refused to pay any of it till they corrected it, well that was 2 yrs ago and I havnt heard from them in over a year so I would assume they got the point, I think Fedex is the most reliable, it kind of sucks to because I refuse any shipments with live coming via Airborn and me and a buddy had a trade deal for some awesome JC's pythons he had but I cancelled because he couldnt get them here any other way but airborn, so be carefull and best of luck with the Suri, Jason
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Jason & Danica
Your the life and the death of the party...You got my heart right by the throat...Your the life and the death of the party...and when the stage lights rise you stop and start the show. By Alice Cooper.
www.Dumerils.com

The worst part about the whole thing is that I am in NY, the seller is in Mass. We are only 6 hrs. apart from each other and Airborne still screwed it up!!!! My boa ended up in Ohio, which I found out by tracking the package on-line. Why the boa went to Ohio is totally beyond me... that is WAY out of the way if your going from Mass. to NY. Unbelievable! Anyway, Airborne sucks, plain & simple. I will no longer give them my business.
Thanks for your reply, hopefully he will be alright. Oh, and the guy I bought him from was amazing throughout the whole deal. He even e-mailed me telling me that he is extending my guarantee for another two weeks! He has been nothing but professional through this entire shipping mishap.
Take care,
Eric

Not a problem I hope all works out. Once you get the little guy back up to par show us some pics and let us know how hes doing! Jason
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Jason & Danica
Your the life and the death of the party...You got my heart right by the throat...Your the life and the death of the party...and when the stage lights rise you stop and start the show. By Alice Cooper.
Classic Dums

I am going to try to handle him for the first time tonight. Hopefully, I can snap a few pics while I have him out. He just shed last night, so he is looking pretty sweet today. I'll post the pics later tonight.
- Eric

I've had trouble with Airborne as well-never had anything live shipped by them, but I've had frozen rodents arrive late and thawed.

about getting him...
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"If woody would of went to the police, none of this would have ever happened!"

Hopefully, his progress continues.
- Eric

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