Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I shipped a trio of timors from Houston to Portland. They all arrived dead. I have never had any problems before and am curious why this happened. They were only in transit for about 18 hours or so. The weather wasn't that extreme in fact I thought it was pretty good for shipping this time of year. The box was insulated with 1/2 inch styrofoam and a 40 hour heat pack was inside. I used newspaper to cushion the pillow case the monitors were in. I am clueless as to how this could have happened. I don't see how one monitor could die in 18 hours little on 3 monitors. It had to be something the carrier did by placing them in a pressurized cargo cabinet or exposing them to extreme heat or cold. By the way I used USPS. Has anyone else ever had this happen or have any reasons how this could have happened.

How where they placed was the heat pack in direct contact with them? Did it break open? Did they bounce around in the box?

Did you have alot of air holes? Did you seal it real well with tape? Did you label the box LIVE? Yet alone Live reptiles??

What size of box? 1 heat pack in a large box will only raise temps 10 -15 degrees, but in a small box will do alot more heating. What are the temps. of the states it went through?

There is alot that comes into play.

The box was filled with crumpled newspaper. After reading TK2's repsonse I think I have an idea what happened. It just got to cold and the heat pack stopped working. Also I think the insulation could have been a bit thicker. Also timors aren't as hardy as other monitor species and I guess they just couldn't take the cold once the heat pack went dead. ANyhow I have spoken with people at the post office and they do deliver reptiles just not snakes. You can find the info on their website. However I am going to look into airborne and UPS after this disaster. Thanks for your repsonses.

when i bought 4 albino nelsoni they were shipped from florida to oregon, total shipping time was 16 hour with a 40 hour heat pack very well insolated box, but then i got the pack it was very cold, and the heat pack had stopped working. i was lucky in the respect that snakes seem to be able to tolerate cooler temps and they all were ok. its just an idea

n/p

Hi,
I tested the 40 hour UniHeat packs twice with an accurite digital thermometer and recorded the high, low and how long it worked for. It was put inside a 1 1/2" thick 9" x9" x9" premade solid styrofoam box taped to the side with shipping peanuts between it and the thermometer filling the rest of the space. This was taped closed on two sides and then placed inside a cardboard box with the top and bottom taped closed but not completely sealed.
In a 56 degree garage the pack lasted about 8 hours before the temperature was back down in the 60's. At around 12 hours it was the same temperature as the garage. The pack did increase the temps up to 84 degrees in about an hour but didn't hold there long and was in the 70's for only a few hours. There were no air holes poked in the styrofoam or cardboard box. I tested a second pack thinking this was a bad pack and got the same results.
I am going to test a 60 hour to see what I get but I would suggest everyone spend the extra $2. and test their shipping package before sending them out. Obviously if you are shipping in weather colder than this test you will need lots more heat for a longer period.

TK

>>I shipped a trio of timors from Houston to Portland. They all arrived dead. I have never had any problems before and am curious why this happened. They were only in transit for about 18 hours or so. The weather wasn't that extreme in fact I thought it was pretty good for shipping this time of year. The box was insulated with 1/2 inch styrofoam and a 40 hour heat pack was inside. I used newspaper to cushion the pillow case the monitors were in. I am clueless as to how this could have happened. I don't see how one monitor could die in 18 hours little on 3 monitors. It had to be something the carrier did by placing them in a pressurized cargo cabinet or exposing them to extreme heat or cold. By the way I used USPS. Has anyone else ever had this happen or have any reasons how this could have happened.

Wow I got way better results then you. I use two air holes one on oppisite ends then the other. Instead of peanuts I use shredded paper as you can pack alot more in (plus its free).

I used 40 hour heat packs tested them in the fridge, in the freezer, and just sitting out. I also tested without heat packs, and with cool packs.

I use a styro lined box, 1-2" styro for winter. I put the two airholes is all. I pack it high with shredded paper so I have to push to close it up. I tape all corners of the box to totally seal it in.

I used a thermometer in each box that would record min and max temps it got overnight. In the freezer it raised it 10 to 12 degrees, fridge 15 , and the one sitting out was around 20 give or take.

But I also threw just plane heat packs inside my fridge they died within hours, in freezer within minutes. So I think it probly has to do with how much airflow you allow.

That and I am sure not every heat pack works the same, you may get a dud. I open mine atleast 20 minutes prior to shipping to be sure it heats up. Also placement of the heat pack matters as well.

There is more to shipping then simply placing them in a box and taping it up.

So far my methods have worked out great for me.

Just a question...
Someone said "Did you write on the box Live? Or better yet Live Reptiles?" Now I am not sure, and I may be wrong, but isnt shipping live animals through USPS illegal? Not saying its bad or anything. I have done it myself. Just didnt tell them what was in the box! I had called the USPS 1-800 number and asked them and they told me unless it was from a zoo or going to a zoo or circus or something like that, they didnt allow it. Has it changed? Is it legal now? If so I am going to start labeling my boxes! I always get sooo paranoid!
P.S. I prefer using shredded newspaper over the styrofoam. It allows for better oxygen levels. I dont ship during the winter just because I dont want to risk dealing with dead snakes. So I dont know ANYTHING about using heat packs. But I would imagine that using both a styro lined box PLUS styro packing peanuts with the heat pack would make it really hard to breath considering the small amount of air we even allow to get in to begin with!
I havent had anything go wrong with anything I've shipped to anyone yet. "knock on wood"
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"The Critters"

You are correct I did ask that. I did so cause so many do not label.

I do not use USPS so I ahve no idea there rules. I use UPS and had to go through and get written permission with my packages to allow for shipping of live reptiles.

I write on all sides LIVE HARMLESS REPTILES, also putting arrows to indicate this side up. On the top left hand corner I put DO NOT EXPOSE TO EXTREME HEAT OR COLD, top right I put contents: then the common and scientific names. Bottom Left I put Live/Perishable, bottom right I put Keep @ 70-80.

So you can say I label my boxes just a bit LOL.

I do not use styro peanuts as they allow to much air flow. In winter to much air will kill a heat pack, I do the oppisite and I enclose the box seal it real well. I use shredded paper cause you can fit alot more in there and it insulates better. i then only put two small air holes on oppasite sides of each other, This gives airflow with circulation instead of the in one out the other.

Cool,
So if I wanted to do that who would I have to contact or write to get that permission? What did you tell them to get the OK?
I ship lots of reps and other small animals. That would make it alot easier if I could do that. But when I called aparently the people I talked to had no clue about that.
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http://photos.yahoo.com/gwas79
"The Critters"

I did mine all online through there site. Go to UPS and read the tarrif located under the animal section. It says they do not normal ship them unless prior arrangments have been made.

Mine is setup through my business, I told them how much and how often I ship. If you get them telling you no we dont do it, quote the tarrif to them then they will listen. Seems alot of the workers only think they know the rules.

You'll get a kit in the mail, along with your letter of permission.

Let me know if you have any troubles. Feel free to email me if you like.

Later

I have used USPS for years, and only once have experienced an issue. UPS will not ship reptiles in PA unless I have a special account with them. Delta Dash will not ship unless I spend a certain amount per month, and Airbourne Express tells me that they will not ship reptiles at all.

USPS allows harmless reptiles to be shipped, as long as the box is labeled appropriately.

And you dont have any other airlines that will ship? NorthWest? Continental? any????
How do you ship venomous? If you do at all..

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Just Hatched, growing fast!
Http://www.Nifty-Critters.com

Heat packs require air to function, says so right on the pack. Also, one heat pack will only heat a tiny area. You experimented, but you missed the boat.

Its sorta like many conversations here, its far easier to take things in a non-successful direction, then in a successful one.

I have not had any problems, but I build good boxes and do not ship in temps under 25F. So far so good. I also aviod the hottest days here, anything over 110F. Good luck FR

Yup, thanks FR thats why I am experimenting so I get it right before I try to ship something.

TK

>>Heat packs require air to function, says so right on the pack. Also, one heat pack will only heat a tiny area. You experimented, but you missed the boat.
>>
>> Its sorta like many conversations here, its far easier to take things in a non-successful direction, then in a successful one.
>>
>> I have not had any problems, but I build good boxes and do not ship in temps under 25F. So far so good. I also aviod the hottest days here, anything over 110F. Good luck FR