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

Well heres what I would probably do,
First off if I were to ship them I would make sure thier cages or housing would be ready at the cabin before they arrived, then I would have them shipped at the latest possable pick up time, in my area UPS will pick them up at 6pm latest , I live in Florida so I know about the heat, thats why a later pick up is not that bad and you could always throw in an ice pack and they should arrive by 10am the next day.
Traveling with them seems like a lot of worry and stress, to give them water and some fresh air time and the chance of an escape, all we need now is a loose bearded dragon in some state park to ban all lizards.
Hope this info helped, its just my opinion but its what I would do.
take care,
Nick Gancarz
Boa's Ark c.b.r.

I understand your concern for escapes (don't worry though, I can guarantee that mine wouldn't. I won't let them off of me as I won't be the one driving so I'd have nothing to do but sit there with them and even at the hotel, they will be let out one at a time and then closed totally up to let another one out). As a herper, educator, rescuer (we all know my long list. LOL) I too would shudder to hear of someone losing their poor herp in a park and hearing about it on the news blown out of proportion but nonetheless, further condeming our community of animal loving people.

I'm not worried about checking on them. I'm sometimes an overly concerned herp mommy but it's totally worth checking on every one of them multiple times throughout the trip, just to know they are with me the whole way and totally safe. They'll have heat packs, cool packs, at least three misting bottles with me and Vic and I will watch out for them. I just feel so much safer taking them with us and spending the extra time to check in on them than shipping them during this heat.

Hugs!

Amanda Rose

Amanda,
Besides my reply below, I thought of more to add.... Maybe you should contact some of the breeders/dealers that attend shows all across the country. I know there were alot of dealers from California and Florida, etc at the NARBC show in Philadelphia. Some of them had animals in the $10,000 on up price range so I'm sure they know from experience how to handle transportation accordingly. I'm not sure how far it is from Tx to Fl but I think Gus from RioBravo Reptiles is making the drive to attend the Daytona herp show. He is just one of many breeders that may be able to provide you with excellent tips.

I'm not sure if misting the snakes will be helpful or harmful for them during the trip. If you are staying overnight in a hotel, maybe bring some rubbermaid containers with large enough water bowls to set them up in temporarily for the night. Also, I know you would not intentially plan on losing one BUT I have seen people accidentally drop snakes and faster than the SNAP of a finger, they're gone. Some snakes can really move when given the opportunity.lol. I personally would not ship my snakes simply b/c I think shipping is THE BIGGEST imposed stress imaginable on a snake by us humans. I HIGHLY recommend a TempGun by ProExotics b/c it can instantly tell you the surface temps in case you have sun coming in from different angles as you're driving along the highways. I know when I'm driving through mountains on long road trips, it really sucks if the sun is shining directly on my side of the car.lol.
well...if I can think of anything else helpful...i'll be sure to write. once again, best wishes.
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Sincerely,
Jason
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0.2 Green Tree Pythons
2.2 Bismark Ringed Pythons
2.3 Ball Pythons
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa
1.2 Hogg Island Boas
1.1 Sonoran Desert Boas
2.2 Nicaraguan Boas
7.8 Cornsnake morphs
1.1 Northern Pine Snakes
2.2 Bairds Rat Snakes
1.2 White-Sided Black Rat Snakes
My Website & Pics (click here)

I wrote you an email too but just to clarify a couple things. I won't be continually misting the animals, just those that the humidty gauges tell are NOT getting their amount of humidity during the trip. Even then, I'll probably only mist them in the evenings at the hotels we stay at.

I do have one of those temp guns. I've posted this message on other forums in the snake area and I cannot remember which one I mentioned that I'd take my temp gun with me. ;D
I love my temp gun, just an outstanding piece of equipment that every herper should have. *thumbs up*

Hugs!

Amanda Rose

Amanda,
First, I must say that you should not worry so much. I think the snakes will be fine with you on your journey as long as they are in a somewhat controlled environment. I think if you take them out too much during the trip, you'll stress them out more.

I am actually moving in about 2 months and while its only 3 miles from where I currently live, its still an ordeal trying to move 50 snakes. I recently ordered cloth snake bags from LLL Reptile for the big move.

Also, when I was in college, I made several 10 hour road trips home with snakes in the car. I would not ship b/c too much could go wrong if you're not able to receive them yourself. Otherwise, if you're up for the risk, you could contact a local herp society near where you're moving and ask if a reliable member would be willing to help you out with this event. You can ask for references so you'd feel better about shipping to an unknown person. Heck I'd offer to help if I were closer but I live about 4 hrs from Massechusetts.

Whatever you decide, keep in mind that they'll be fine as long as you try your best and plan ahead to minimize risk. Take as many precautions as you can and all should work out well. How many snakes are you moving? Good luck and feel free to contact me if you want to chat more about it.
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Sincerely,
Jason
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0.2 Green Tree Pythons
2.2 Bismark Ringed Pythons
2.3 Ball Pythons
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa
1.2 Hogg Island Boas
1.1 Sonoran Desert Boas
2.2 Nicaraguan Boas
7.8 Cornsnake morphs
1.1 Northern Pine Snakes
2.2 Bairds Rat Snakes
1.2 White-Sided Black Rat Snakes
My Website & Pics (click here)