Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone!

Well the time is drawing near for my big move to MA! This is the first time I've moved out of state so I need some advice.

I have several snakes and lizards that are coming with me (I would never leave my babies behind). So, here's the situation and my delimma:

#1. I'm afraid to ship my animals in TX summertime. It's well up in the 90s every day now and unless I find a break of rain real soon (within the next 2 weeks) then I'm paranoid about shipping them in this weather. Most of my animals are under 4' in lenght, man are neonates (hence they would roast quicker). I've shipped many times without any complications in shipping via UPS or VedEx, but...I'm just worried.

#2. My boyfriend and I will either be driving just my car up north and having all the cages and belongings transported via a moving company, or my car attached to a UHaul and doing it ourselves. If I have keep my herps in the cabin with me where it will be climate controlled to not get too hot or cold and have all my babies packed as if they were for shipping but with extra room so they are not cramped....would this be alright for them? Keep in mind, this will be approx a 3 day journey.

So here's what it comes down to. I can ship them all and just hope for the best like we all usually do. Or, I can keep them with me in the cabin where I know they will be nice and safe.

I do plan to ship out the ones who stress easily (which is only two neonates) and the one adult who has been fasting and just started back to eating. My friends receiving them have offered to take these guys in until my arrival.
Here's my concern though. Regardless that my cabin will be climate controlled and I can let them out for roaming time when we stop to "camp" for the night (no pun intended), is it likely they will stress for a three day trip more than the risk of shipping them in the heat? I know that's an odd comparison but I guess I'm asking, when faced with this decision, what would you do?
Bare in mind, all but the adult that fasted and the two neonates that are still adjusting attitude-wise, my animals are supherbly docile and laid back. I take almost all of them with me to educate the public with and so they are used to car rides and going out and not one of them has ever changed their placid attitudes during these field trips. However, 3 days is a lot longer to be in a vibrating car than a few hours ya know? In thinking that they are all that laid back....do you think they'd be fine with climate control and daily handling to know I am there (almost all of my snakes recognize me and seek out my shirt to wander through, many sleep with my previously worn t-shirts and refuse their hides so they can stay in the shirt, lol!)?

Any and all thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. I'm just really paranoid about shipping them in TX heat when I've never done that. I don't wish to stress them out but again, these animals don't stress easily (even though yes, it can be difficult to see if a reptile is stressing or not).
Please bare in mind what I mean by "they don't stress easily" is that they've never gone off feed or not been "regular" with their defecation or shed cycles and their activity levels and attitudes have never changed really. When I moved into the house I'm renting now, only two stressed because they smelled squirrels in the attic...pretty annoying dodging all those feeding responses. LOL!

Anyhoo I'd love to hear advice, opinions and experience from anyone else that has moved. I want to do what's easiest and best for the animals maximizing their safety.

Hugs and thank you,

Amanda Rose

If you have someone to ship them to, I'd opt at shipping. Imagine a breakdown somewhere around Georgia in hot weather?
Thats a long haul, and I dont know about traffic down your way, but here in the Northeast, we have a name for interstates...parking lots.
Imagine losing your a/c around NY,and sitting in traffic?
Plan for the worst case scenario, then when it does'nt happen, you'll be mildly pleased.
NOTE...I am a direct descendant of Murphy's Law...lol
Welcome to New England...wave to your neighbors here in Connecticut...also...plan now on keeping your herps warmth needs for winter. Especially if it is like last winter.
Wear your woolies!

I personally would be more concerned about heat related illnesses than anything. If you could ship them Delta Dash, that would be the way to go (and safest); but if that isn't an option, then driving them would be my next choice. When our wildlife center is traveling great distances to shows, we like to pack the animals in ventilated snake bags which are then placed inside appropriately sized coolers. We always have lots of ice packs on hand should we have a break down (has never happened but we always like to be prepared). We also have spray bottles that are used to occasionally mist the animals. When we stop overnight somewhere, we will unpack the animals to let them drink, stretch out a bit, and then its back in the bag and cooler. We've never encountered a problem with this method. Have a safe move. Rob

on this. It seems most are saying the same thing. Take them on the move with me. I'm planning to do just that. I've got a few misting bottles, several heat packs and ice packs (just in case) as well as letting them out at night in the hotel to offer water, misting time and stretch out a bit after being cramped up in a bag for the trip.

Thanks and hugs!

Amanda Rose