Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to our local UPS, FedEx, and Airborne Express to ship two box turtles, and none of them would ship animals. Delta said they would, but they didn't deliver to anywhere near where I need to send them. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Great question! No one seems to know; results are variable. Have you checked the Shipping Forum? See link below.
Have you checked with turtle "breeders" & "sellers" in the Classifieds?
For instance, "Shipping will be via UPS next day air, and costs $30" http://www.exoticgemsreptile.com to discover how they are able to ship while others are not...

If/when you do find a shipper, please share!
GOOD LUCK!
Link

I just bought a box turtle. She will arrive tomorrow via Airborn Express overnight. Cost: $35.

I have sent—and received—turtles, snakes, fish, and lizards for years by all of the shippers that you mentioned. I’m not sure why your local offices of all of these have refused you.

You should check each company’s customer service department (call them on the phone) to see what the company-wide policies are and to see if each local office has any discretion in this.

Did you go to the places just to get information, or did you go with the turtles already packaged up? If already packaged, did they refuse you because you packed them incorrectly?

One thing: the Post Office is no longer allowed to ship turtles (I just found that out a few weeks ago). Which is a shame because their overnight prices are often better than anyone else’s. They will still ship crocodilians if they’re under 24 inches (that fact was just in the news this week), and also lizards.

I use always use airborne, sometimes i call them for pick ups and they tell me they don't ship turtles, i will call again get someone else and they tell me they do, I was told they ship "tortoises" so i always mark my boxes "live Tortoise" and never have a problem, i have read online that if you mark "live Turtle" they may send it back, the tortoise idea must work, i really don't think many of the airborne emp. are going to know a difference between a turtle and tortoise, since airborne has combined with DHL they are really screwing up alot, i do one shipment a week usually and they always screw it up, and won't cover the bill, I am considering swiching to ups, if airborne fails me again

Andy

RedoFootMan@yahoo.com

My new box turtle arrived today via Airborne Express. The box was marked "live harmless reptile".

So...there ya go!